Aston Martin

30th June 2008 -- The Aston Martin Racing DBR9 which triumphed at the Le Mans 24 Hour endurance race – for the second consecutive year – is set to appear before British fans at the Goodwood Festival of Speed over July 12-13.

Victorious Aston Martin Racing DBR9

In a repeat of the 2007 victory, the 009 car – this time resplendent in the iconic Gulf livery – took the GT1 class victory at Le Mans, driven by David Brabham, Antonio Garcia and Darren Turner after one of the closest GT1 battles in Le Mans history.

Garcia will now drive the winning DBR9 at the Goodwood Festival, up the famous hill route, in front of an anticipated record number of spectators.

June 30, 2008 -- Sports car manufacturer, Aston Martin, and bespoke tailor, Kilgour of Savile Row, teamed up at a unique event yesterday at the BETC Photographic Studio in Paris. At Kilgour’s first-ever fashion show in Paris presenting its spring/summer collection, Aston Martin created its very own haute couture bespoke Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupe for the occasion, inspired by the latest creations.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage Coupe

The special V8 Vantage was finished in a unique Morning Frost Satin paint, with the texture of fine silk. The interior is influenced by Kilgour’s latest collection and finished in Kilgour Midnight Blue, with the seat-inserts adorned with a polka-dot effect.

15th June 2008 -- One year on from Aston Martin’s first victory in the GT1 class in 2007 – which was the first Le Mans win since the company triumphed overall in 1959 – the Aston Martin DBR9 009 car of David Brabham, Antonio Garcia and Darren Turner has claimed another GT1 win at the La Sarthe circuit.

Just like last year, the 009 car – this time resplendent in the iconic Gulf livery – took the class victory at Le Mans, for sports cars based closely on their road-going equivalents.

June 12, 2008 -- The Aston Martin Racing team has enjoyed a successful final qualifying session for the 76th Le Mans 24 Hours, which will get underway at 3pm on Saturday 14 June. This evening witnessed the second of two sessions – following on from the first qualifying period yesterday – to determine the places on the grid for the endurance classic.

Aston Martin DBR9 at 2008 Le Mans 24 Hours

25th May 2008 -- The Aston Martin V8 Vantage N24 – whose model designation is named after the classic 24-hour event – has claimed its best-ever finish at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, with three cars taking the top three positions in the class. A team consisting of Japanese journalist Shin-ichi Katsura, Hong Kong-based writer Matthew Marsh, and German racing driver Oliver Mathai finished 18th out of 220 starters in the endurance classic, clinching the SP8 class victory. This eclipses Aston Martin’s previous best finish at the event of 24th in 2006 using the very same car, nicknamed ‘Rose’.

Aston Martin Claims Class One-Two-Three at Nürburgring 24 Hour Race on May 25, 2008

Gaydon, May 23, 2008 -- Aston Martin’s V8 Vantage – originally launched to widespread critical acclaim at the Geneva Motor Show in 2005 – is to receive significant technical enhancements, reaffirming the car’s position as one of the world’s most desirable and exhilarating sports cars.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage

20th May 2008 -- Since the first auction in 2000, the specialist auctioneer Bonhams has sold more than £14m worth of Aston Martins and related automobilia often at record-breaking levels. This year’s sale was no exception with lot 345, a 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT coupé, selling for £1,079,500 – a new record at auction for this model. One of only 75 built, the DB4 GT is arguably the most sought after of the David Brown Aston Martin road cars.

Gaydon, 12 May 2008 -- Aston Martin’s growing presence on the track continues with the announcement that the British marque will be represented at this year’s ADAC Nürburgring 24-hour race on 24/25 May with a DBRS9 and two Vantage N24s.

Aston Martin DBRS9 Ready for ADAC Nürburgring 24-Hour Race

Aston Martin Salzburg-Wien-Geneve is entering a DBRS9 which will be supported by Aston Martin Racing and driven by Aston Martin Racing works drivers Tomas Enge (Czech Republic) and Stefan Mücke (Germany). The DBRS9 driving squad will be completed by Austrians Robert Lechner and Karl Wendlinger.

May 12, 2008 -- Since the first auction in 2000, the specialist auctioneer Bonhams has sold more than £14m worth of Aston Martins and related automobilia often at record-breaking levels. In 2007 a 1970 Aston Martin DB6 Mk2 Volante sympathetically restored by Works Service achieved a record price of £430,500.

The continued success of the event has been due to the number of interesting cars with fascinating histories that are presented for auction. This year is no exception with a record 41 cars entered into the auction; amongst the most notable being lot 345 a 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Coupé, arguably the most sought after of the David Brown Aston Martin road cars.

28th April 2008 -- New Aston Martin interactive screensaver

A new Aston Martin interactive screensaver is available from the gallery section of the website. It features a selection of current and historic Aston Martin photography and product information. You'll also be kept up to date with the latest news direct to your screensaver.

To access the gallery cut & paste this: astonmartin.com/eng/thegallery/screensaver

Aston Martin Magazine Works Service features

Works Service features from the Aston Martin Magazine are now available for you to download. The features include a bespoke glass-roofed Vanquish S and a complete DB6 Volante restoration.

Source: Aston Martin

28th April 2008 -- Following an historic GT1 class victory at the endurance classic last year, the 2008 line-up is once again an exciting blend of youth and experience, with four new drivers joining two members of the winning crew from last year. The evocative colour scheme, a departure from the traditional Aston Martin Racing Green, is also new for this year thanks to a partnership with Gulf Oil International.

Car number 007 will be crewed by Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Germany), Andrea Piccini (Italy) and Karl Wendlinger (Austria).

Car number 009 – the same number as last year’s class-winning car – will be driven by David Brabham (Australia), Antonio Garcia (Spain) and Darren Turner (Great Britain).

Gaydon, 22 April 2008 -- Aston Martin triumphed in both GT1 and GT4 categories in front of a 25,000-strong crowd in the first race of the FIA GT Championship at Silverstone over the weekend.

Aston Martin racing

In poor weather with heavy fog and rain, the famous tourist trophy was won by Karl Wendlinger and Ryan Sharp in the number 33 Jetalliance Aston Martin DBR9. Allan Simonsen and Philipp Peter finished 3rd in the Gigawave DBR9 after holding off intense competition in a thrilling climax to the race.

The second Jetalliance car driven by Lukas Lichtner-Hoyer and Alex Müller claimed an excellent 6th place after starting from 9th on the GT1 grid.

April 7, 2008 -- In a unique competition run from April until October, The Sunday Times will be offering two lucky readers per month the chance to demonstrate their driving skills in an Aston Martin Vantage N24, at PalmerSport’s Bedford Autodrome. Those who prefer not to leave such an opportunity in the hands of Lady Luck might prefer to take advantage of the option to pay for a timed session in one of the cars.

2008 Aston Martin Vantage N24: (Source: Aston Martin)

March 4, 2008 -- Aston Martin will introduce a revised version of the company’s critically acclaimed Aston Martin DB9 at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, which includes significant enhancements to standard specification.

2008 Aston Martin DB9 line

These changes include a revised version of Aston Martin’s 6.0 litre V12 engine to deliver improved power and torque. Peak power of 470bhp (350kW) – increased by 20bhp (30Nm) - is now reached at 6,000rpm, resulting in a power to weight ratio of 267bhp per tonne (199kW/tonne) – an increase of 11bhp per tonne over the existing DB9.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008: Aston Martin has today announced a partnership with automotive specialists Magna Steyr which will see the company’s four-door Aston Martin Rapide built at a dedicated facility in Graz in Austria.

2010 Aston Martin Rapide

The decision to outsource production of this incremental model has been taken because Aston Martin is currently enjoying unprecedented levels of success from an increasing number of markets around the world. Demand for its current models – the DB9, the V8 Vantage and the recently launched DBS - means that their award-winning headquarters at Gaydon, Warwickshire, is fast approaching full capacity of 8000 cars.

Feb. 14, 2008 -- Just two months after opening its first ever purpose-built design studio at the company’s Gaydon headquarters in Warwickshire, Aston Martin has announced plans to establish a new test centre at the famous Nürburgring race circuit in Germany.

Work is underway to convert an existing building at a prime location at Meuspath, adjacent to the famous Nordschleife circuit, and the facility is expected to be operational by the end of May this year.

Gaydon, 13.02.08 -- The newly housed Aston Martin Design team has selected a name for the colour of the company’s Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS concept car, after inviting suggestions from the public at the opening of the company’s new Design Studio last year.

Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS concept

The V12 Vantage RS was unveiled in December by Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez, who, during his speech, invited suggestions to name the colour of the concept. The Aston Martin design team was inundated with suggestions, and after careful consideration has selected ‘Mako Blue’ as the name of the concept colour.

10 January 2008 -- Aston Martin Racing will return to Le Mans in 2008 to defend its GT1 title in the distinctive blue and orange livery of Gulf Oil.

Two Aston Martin DBR9s will look to emulate Gulf’s first victory at the 24 hour race 40 years on.

Aston Martin DBR9

Dec. 11, 2007 -- Aston Martin’s new design studio cements the company's reputation as one of the world's most technologically sophisticated sports car manufacturers. Design is one of Aston Martin's core values, and the new Studio, located in a world class building adjacent to Aston Martin's manufacturing and engineering centre at Gaydon in Warwickshire, integrates the process into the heart of the company. “Aston Martin is about design and it is about beauty,” says Aston Martin's Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez, “yet until now it has never had its own design studio.”

Dec. 11, 2007 -- At the official opening of Aston Martin’s first ever dedicated design centre in Gaydon, Warwickshire, on Tuesday 11 December, Dr Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive Officer, thrilled an audience of more than seven hundred VIP guests with a surprise unveiling of a stunning new 600bhp performance concept car; the Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS.

Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS concept