Aston Martin Lagonda

August 18, 2008 -- On August 14, 2008 Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer Dr Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin China Chief Executive Officer Kenny Chen and the artist Qin Yufen have unveiled Beijing 008 at the city's Today Art Museum in Beijing’s Chaoyang district. This spectacular art installation celebrates the arrival of Aston Martin in China through a striking mix of traditional craft, iconographic imagery and sculpture.

Aston Martin unveils Beijing 008

Beijing 008 debuted before a select group of 100 VIPs on 5 August. Qin Yufen's artwork is a remarkable installation that brings together Chinese handicraft skills, theoretical physics and the undeniably striking form of Aston Martin's 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.

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.

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.

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.”