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Audi Downsizes
Aston Martin DBS 2009
The 2009 DBS promises the best performance yet in a production Aston Martin model, with a zero-to-60-mph time of only 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 191 mph. All that go is courtesy of Aston’s familiar V12 engine from the DB9 and V12 Vanquish models-here 5.9 liters and making 510 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. Power is delivered, with the help of a six-speed manual transmission and limited-slip rear differential, to the rear wheels.
Equipped with a 6.0-liter V-12 engine, the DBS produces 510 bhp at 6500 rpm. That’s 40 more horsepower than the vaunted DB9, which is also V-12-powered. Interestingly, Aston notes the DBS actually produces less torque than the DB9; 420 lb.-ft. at 5750 rpm versus 443. Two tricks are used to increase power output: dual-path intake runners and reprofiled intake ports. When the engine screams to 5500 rpm, a secondary intake path opens up, allowing more air into the engine without sacrificing throttle crispness and torque at lower rpm.
As befits a true sports car, the power from the all-aluminum engine is sent to the rear wheels through a manual transmission, but this one is mounted out back, right in front of the rear axle. This affords two benefits: more leg space for the driver and passenger and better weight distribution. With the transmission not in the middle of the chassis, the engine can be pushed back. Aston Martin considers the DBS a “mid-front engine” design, meaning the engine lies in front of the occupants, but behind the front axle.
While the DBS was launched as a 2-seater, a new 2+2 configuration has been added to the line in response to customer demand. The two covered rear storage spaces of the standard DBS can be replaced with two small jump seats.
Interior materials are more in line with grand touring coupes than some of the performance-above-everything exotic super cars that rank in the same exclusive price range. Seats are trimmed in soft leather and Alcantara, and the interior is trimmed in carbon fiber and chrome, or available wood veneer. The DBS has seating for two, with a small storage area behind the seats, plus a relatively roomy trunk.
The DBS looks the part of a serious super car as well, with distinctive and functional hood vents, an aggressive front air splitter, plus a rear air diffuser and lots of aerodynamic work to help it stay stable at high speed.
Jaguar XK 2006
The Jaguar XK-Series offers a lengthy list of standard equipment. Like all great Jaguar sports cars, the focus of the all-new XK is firmly on the future, while acknowledging the marque’s rich history. It heralds a new era for Jaguar in terms of both design and engineering, and it is the most technically advanced Jaguar ever built. Among the highlights are 18-inch wheels, leather upholstery, 12-way power/heated seats with memory for the driver, automatic climate control, reverse-parking sensors, one-touch power windows and a 320-watt Alpine stereo with a six-disc CD changer in the trunk. The convertible has a power-operated top. Options include xenon headlamps, adaptive cruise control and a DVD-based navigation system.
Under the hood, the new XK features Jaguar’s AJ-V8 engine, making 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The chassis is composed of aluminum castings and extrusions, bonded to its alloy body with a combination of rivets and heat-cured epoxy adhesives, reducing the convertible’s weight by 308 lb. and the coupe’s by 200 lb., down to 3605 lb. and 3516 lb., respectively.
Front and front side head and chest airbags, powerful four-wheel vented antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control systems, and a driver-settable automatic speed limiter are standard safety equipment in the Jaguar XKR. An adaptive cruise control system that automatically resets speed to keep distance in traffic is available. The XK is a quick car, 300bhp ensures that, but in reality that’s not enough to unstick that wide rubber in anything but wet weather.
The all-new XK continues the Jaguar tradition of beautiful, powerful, ground-breaking sports cars, but behind its stunning looks, it bristles with practical, intuitive, modern technology, clearly focussed on enhancing the driving experience. It delivers significant improvements in performance, dynamics, safety, exterior and interior design and equipment, and product quality. When it is launched in early 2006, this first of the next generation of Jaguars will become the sporting flagship of the Jaguar brand.
The XK’s bigger too. Though the length is little changed, it’s wider and more bullish than before. It’s got attitude. Under the skin the differences are even greater. For starters the whole car is built of aluminium rather than steel.
The XK’s cockpit has an opulent ambience with supple leather used on the seats, center console, door panels and steering wheel. The leather is matched up with extensive inlays of wood, along with various plastic panels that seem more suited to a Ford than a Jaguar. Occupants will find plenty of room to stretch out in front, but the small rear seats are designed more for shopping bags than real people.
Wood trim on the dash and steering wheel come in traditional dark walnut as well as light-colored poplar, or—for a more technical look—brushed aluminum. The instrument panel has a central touch-screen for climate, 6-CD audio, GPS, etc., but most of the crucial, can’t-wait controls are simple round knobs. Overall, it’s pretty straightforward and non-irritating, menus and all.
The advantage with Jaguar’s choice is that if you want ultra smooth, ultra easy automatic driving, you just stick the lever in Drive and forget it. Or move it to Sport and you get changes higher up the rev range and a willingness to drop down a gear as you are braking, so that you are in the correct gear to power away out of the corner. It works peachily well. But pull on one of the paddles and you are in full manual control. Up and down changes happen at lightning speed – faster even than BMW’s SMG gearbox on its brutal extreme setting – yet the XK system is smooth and sophisticated.
Aston Martin DBS Luxury Sports Car
The Aston Martin DBS is a 6.0-litre V12 powered, race-bred, two-seater shaped by the aerodynamic demands of high performance, with an exquisite interior that marries beautifully hand-finished materials with the very latest in performance technology. A combination of elegant design, innovative manufacturing processes, race-derived materials and components and Aston Martin’s unrivalled hand-build expertise makes the DBS a luxury sports car without equal.
Aston Martin V8 Vantage 2009
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is a supreme example of modern automotive design, a hand-crafted sports car that offers exceptional performance, outstanding agility and everyday usability. Each model shares the same beautiful form, undeniably modern yet with a direct lineage to some of the great Aston Martin models of the past, such as the DB2, DB2/4 and DB4. Externally, the acclaimed V8 Vantage design appearance is enhanced with a range of new standard and optional 19” alloy wheels.
Aston Martin DBR9 fast racing at Dubai Autodrome
The fastest production model ever to be built by Aston Martin made its world debut at Paris Motor Show. With a maximum speed in excess of 200 mph (321 km/h) and a 6.0 liter V12 engine developing 520 horsepower, the Vanquish S has been designed to deliver even greater performance, complemented by subtle suspension and steering changes and a number of interior and external style revisions.
The DBR9 was styled by Aston Martin Racing’s own design team who made extensive use of Computational Fluid Dynamics to optimise the aerodynamics before producing the final body surface. The panels are hand made from carbon-fibre composite, helping the car to meet its 1,100kg minimum weight and giving it a power to weight ratio of 550bhp per tonne – more than double that of the road car.
HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Hasher Maktoum Al Maktoum said: ‘This is a tremendously exciting time for Aston Martin, Dubai and motor-racing enthusiasts world over. The creation of the Dubai GT team provides Dubai with a fantastic opportunity to promote itself in key markets around the world, continuing the Dubai dream.”
Together with the two Dubai GT Team cars, Aston Martin Racing produces a limited run of only 20 customer racing cars, prepared to the same specification, available to selected customers to race or keep in private collections.
The GT2 victory went to Mullen and Niarchos, in the nr 63 Ferrari 430 GT2 of Scuderia Ecosse. The new British GT Champions put in an excellent performance, and have really dominated the category all weekend. However, the ten points were not enough to promote Mullen to third in the Classification, as he was followed across the line by the two AF Corse cars. Jaime Melo and Toni Vilander finished second, giving Melo the GT2 title. Aguas and Salo were third today, struggling with a problem in their car, but it was enough to guarantee their third place and the AF Corse domination in the GT2 driver’s top three.
Aston Martin Racing will run two Works cars at Sebring and then move to Europe to prepare for the Le Mans 24 hours in June 2005. This will mark Aston Martin’s return to the race which was won outright in 1959 with Roy Salvadori and Carroll Shelby. In recognition of this, the DBR9 will follow the Le Mans-winning DBR1 and Works DB3S and carry the same green and yellow livery as the cars which dominated sports car racing in the late 1950s.
