Autoblog

The noise of other sports car makers getting their lunches eaten sounds just like the twelve cylinder engine in the Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS. A single RS sheep was caught in Italy's Stelvio Pass, being shepherded by a DBS. This Vantage RS gets some shinier wheels and a coat of delicious black paint, but otherwise, it looks like it's ready for the showroom floor. If anything could be cooler than a 600 hp Vantage packing twelve hi-rev punches, it's the DBS... but frankly, the jury's still out until we drive both of them (hint, Aston Martin...). Follow the link to check out the spy shots, and check out the gallery of hi-res pics below. Thanks for the tip, Des!


[Source: GT Spirit]

Prince Charles is not new to the environmental debate. His blue, 38-year-old Aston Martin, however, has had nothing to do with being environmentally friendly. Until now. The car, a gift from the Queen on Charles' 21st birthday, has joined the growing fleet of cars that run on bioethanol, having been converted to run on surplus British wine.

The wine comes from an English vineyard in Wiltshire, and the EU limits how much wine a vineyard can produce, so the vineyard sells the overage to Green Fuels, which turns it into biofuels and supplies it to the Palace.

The Aston can go ten miles on a gallon of gas, which would equate to 45 bottles of wine to go the same distance. The wine, though, puts out 85-percent less CO2 and costs £1.10 per liter, which is slightly less than the cost of gas. However, Charles only goes 300 miles in the car every year, and it's not like he's worried about gas prices, so the car won't make a difference by itself -- but he's got his royal heart in the right place.

[Source: Daily Mail]

Aston Martin shocked the industry when it took the wraps off of the baby-blue V12 Vantage RS concept back in December. The idea was revolutionary yet stunningly simple at the same time: take the lowest car in the line-up and turn it into the highest. Would Aston build it? We all hoped so, and our hopes were vindicated with spy shots of test mules running developmental laps around the race track.

From the latest batch, it appears that all those louvers on the hood will remain – a necessity for cooling the 600-hp V12 that is sitting where a 380-hp V8 usually resides – but the rear wing seems to have been reduced, with a big carbon-fiber diffuser taking over the balance (literally) of the downforce requirements. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the test mule is also wearing the carbon-ceramic disc brakes from the current top-of-the-line DBS, while insiders expect the imminently desirable supercar to bear an equally breathtaking pricetag at double that of the base V8 version. Worth it? We're betting yes.

[Source: NextAutos]

We have to admit, when we heard the next Bond film was going to be called "Quantum of Solace," we kind of scrunched our faces a little bit. Still, Casino Royale was so good that we figured we'd give it the old innocent-until-proven-guilty treatment. Well, now we've seen the trailer, and it looks so bloody good we're all verklempt. We clapped at the end. And then we watched it again.

There's so much action in the trailer that we don't know how there's going to be room for story unless it's as long as Ben Hur, but right now we don't much care. There's only a brief glimpse of the DBS in the trailer at the very end, but whatever it's doing it looks suitably Bond-ish. We'll even admit that the 2-minute clip is good enough to forgive wrecking this Aston DBS, this Alfa, and another Aston DBS during filming. Now you'll have to excuse us while we go watch the trailer a third time. Come on, November 7. Check out the Quantum of Solace trailer for yourself after the jump.

[Source: Moviefone]

Click above for pair of high-res images showing the Kilgour Vantage V8

Supercars and high fashion go together like super models and getting high, so for its first ever fashion show in Paris, bespoke tailor Kilgour of Savile Row has presented its spring/summer collection alongside a bespoke Aston Martin V8 Vantage coupe. The haute couture Aston is dipped in a one-off Morning Forst Satin paint described as having the texture of fine silk, which would be quite a feat if true since metal usually feels nothing like fabric. The interior is also done up in Kilgour Midnight Blue with polka-dotted seat inserts. Apparently circles are Kilgour's trademark shape, hence the gaudy pattern on the seats. We don't understand high fashion very much, like why people care about apparel that's completely impractical and overpriced, but we suppose some could say the same thing about the cars we like. For instance, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Well, those people just don't understand.


[Source: Aston Martin]

Since Ford sold it over a year ago, rumors have been flying around regarding a possible re-sale of Aston Martin by its current owners or a large purchase of shares by Mercedes-Benz. While all of these rumors have been denied, a public offering of the historic British brand has been mentioned in the past and is indeed likely. Aston's current chairman David Richards has again alluded to this option, saying that he'd like the company to go public sometime within the next three years. If you long for the opportunity to do your best James Bond impression in an Aston, but couldn't hope to afford one any time soon, perhaps a chance at owning a piece of the company itself would be a fair alternative.

An initial offering on the London Stock Exchange could net £500 million for expansion of the storied British marque. Anything that would allow Aston Martin to continue offering its range of drop-dead beautiful cars is fine by us.

[Source: AM Online]

Despite a couple of disastrous and debilitating setbacks, filming of the next Bond flick, the Quantum of Solace, is back, with production continuing in the mountains of Carrara, Italy. Unfortunately, these newest shots from the set are further proof that the writers and producers have absolutely no regard for the hotness that is the Aston Martin DBS. To their credit, the death of the DBS was deliberate, as 007 is chased through a rock quarry by a handful of villains piloting Alfa Romeos. The 15-minute scene will make up the pre-credit sequence that is the staple of any good Bond film (they're always our favorite), right before they cue the cheesy retro-pop and cut to blacked-out babes wielding heavy artillery.

Thanks for the tip, Miguel!

[Source: MI6]

Click above for a high resolution gallery of the V8 Vantage

Not one to settle, Aston Martin is giving its V8 Vantage a host of upgrades for 2009 highlighted by a larger V8 engine with more power. Originally displacing 4.3 liters, the V8 has been bored and stroked to 4.7 liters for an 11% increase in power to 420 bhp and a 15% increase in torque to 347 lb-ft. Despite these changes, fuel economy has been improved by 13%. Both optional transmissions have been upgraded as well, with the 6-speed manual getting a modified clutch and flywheel, and the Sportshift automatic has been programmed to provide smoother shifts. The suspension has been slightly revised with slightly stiffer spring rates, improved steering geometry, and stiffer bushings in the front suspension to improve handling. The interior has been revamped with a new center console finished in graphite silver as well as an ECU that replaces the standard key. Thankfully the Vantage's beautiful lines have remained untouched, although new 19-inch wheels are available.

Full details on the 2009 upgrades to the V8 Vantage can be found in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Aston Martin]

Click the image above for more classic movie car pics

It's no secret that we're passionate about cars, and we're pretty sure you feel the same way. We're also big fans of the silver screen, especially when a great car or truck is a big part of the plot. The movie mavens over at Rotten Tomatoes feel the same way, and they've compiled a list of the top 50 movie cars in the history of motion pictures.

The list is chock-full of classics from movies like Bullitt and Vanishing Point, but there are also a lot of hidden gems, like Pepe the Little Mule from Romancing the Stone, or the 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT Coupe from Mad Max. One omission that we would have like to have added was Gary's red Ferrari Mondial from Weird Science, but while we could argue forever which vehicle should rank where, we'd say this is a pretty darn good list. We've posted Rotten Tomatoes' top five movie cars after the jump and some of the classic movie cars in the gallery below, but it's definitely worth checking out the entire list. RT even added some great honorable mention vehicles, as well. Thanks for the tip, catgirlshyla!


[Source: Rotten Tomatoes]

So you want to work for Prodrive/Aston Martin, but you don't quite have the qualifications to be a bodyshell fabricator or a chief engineer? Then perhaps you have what it takes to fill the position of estate manager for the chairman of the company. You won't need to know your way around a sheet of carbon fiber, but you will need to be able to manage the garden and domestic staff, have a good sense of humor, and "carry out occasional driving duties," among other things. For your dutiful service, your rewards will include a fully paid-for cottage on the property, a mobile phone, and a company car. But remember, Ford still owns part of Aston, so that car could be a Mondeo... but that wouldn't be too bad, would it, guv'nor? Thanks for the tip, sndkick!

[Source: Prodrive]