Aston Martin marks 100 years with a carbon fibre V12 blast to the past
It must be quite difficult for the Aston Martin designers to come up with exciting concept cars when the brand already makes and sells one of the most alluring, concept-like sportscars ever to turn a wheel; the heart-breaking one-77.
So, when the design team at the Aston HQ in Gaydon were tasked with coming up with something sweet for Aston’s centenary, rather than taking on the future-perfect silhouette of one-77, they went for a blast to the past instead, in the slippery 60s-style shape of this new CC100 Speedster Concept. And while the CC100’s exterior may look a little old school, rest assured that under that lengthy carbon hood is a traditionally-modern big V12 engine…
Hydrogen bomb! New Aston Martin Rapide S hydrogen racecar
Well, this sounds like it could all end in expensive fragments of carbon fibre, aluminium and leather. But fear not, while this new Aston Rapide S racer will indeed be running on explosive hydrogen at next month’s 41st ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nurburgring, and carrying 3.5kg of the pop-juice in four tanks – at a pressure of 350 bar! – Those tanks are ultra-high strength carbon fibre and the whole shebang has been passed for safety by the distinctly rigorous German motorsport’s governing body, the DMSB. If the driver asks, those two hydrogen-fuel-tank-like tanks next to him aren’t full of hydrogen.
New Aston Martin Vanquish 2013
Aston Martin have completed the task of designing the new Vanquish admirably, it is one of the best looking cars currently on the market.
Well apart from the view from the front in my opinion, though the side-on view is near perfect. But then, Aston Martin seem to have a knack of producing good looking cars, you only have to take a peek at James Bond’s DB5 in Goldfinger to remind yourself of this. Let’s face it, any car manufacturer that can make a vehicle look good in shades of ‘sales rep silver’ has to be taken seriously.
Aston Martin unveils Rapide S specification
Performance vehicle manufacturer Aston Martin has announced an updated specification for its Rapide S model, with the luxury GT having been redesigned and engineered as it attempts to retake its position as the world’s most desirable four-seat sports car.
Fitted with a new naturally-aspirated AM11 6.0-litre V12 engine, the vehicle is capable of 620 Nm of torque at 5,000 rpm and accelerates from zero to 62 mph in just 4.9 seconds – shaving 0.3 seconds off its old time.
Aston Martin to celebrate its centenary
Globally-renowned luxury vehicle manufacturer Aston Martin is all set to embark on a year of celebration, with the company commemorating 100 years of production in 2013.
The firm's centenary will launch on January 15th next year and the manufacturer plans to highlight the occasion by showcasing its oldest production model in existence – the Aston Martin A3 – alongside its new Aston Martin Vanquish.
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Guy Kendal
Mercedes 300slr has swing axles, just like a lot of other 1950's/1960's car's. Perhaps that what caught out a younger driver who's unaware of the consequences of lifting off the throttle at speed on a corner?
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Adam
'Put it on a pedestal'
Way off the mark there. You were obviously WAY out your depth!! These cars were made to drive and be driven hard, they are still raced today and still take a hammering, all in their stride.
There is no other classic of its age that can take the abuse a 300SL takes, phenominal cars and probably the best of all time.
Jaguar and Ferrari were using race bred technology in their cars, Mercedes took the engine/gearbox and driveline from their saloon car, took on the world and trounced them all!!
Only Mercedes could do that!!
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richard wosiek
If the paint shop knew their stuff then the shade would be blended in to match the shade of the rest of the car.
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richard wosiek
There's always one eh homersimpson.
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Russell
Reference rolling a Gullwing.
It didn't happen to me but I tried driving one over 30 years ago and found it a terrifying experience. The steering, brakes and tyres of the mid-50s could not cope and being cooped up in the cabin with pedals so close together and heaving the massive steering wheel about inches from your face with all the noise and rattles did not thrill me at all.
Still a great looking car; polish it up and put it on a pedestal. Maybe glide it around a smooth track, but stay off public roads.
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