ISSUE 10 WINTER 2009

ASTON MARTIN MAGAZINE

ASTON MARTIN THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE ISSUE 10 WINTER 2009 704198
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 A S T O N M A R T I N M A G A Z I N E

W E L C O M E

Dear Reader

A very warm welcome to the winter edition of Aston Martin Magazine.

This issue, you find us keenly anticipating first deliveries of our new four-door sports car
Rapide, constructed at our new Aston Martin Rapide Plant (AMRP) in Austria. As with our
factory in Gaydon, Aston Martin welcomes customers to its production facilities with open
doors, as we believe that seeing your Aston Martin progressing down our high-tech lines is
an essential part of the ownership experience. The new AMRP facility is well equipped to deal
with such visits, thanks to a dedicated showroom and customer specification area. You can
take an exclusive tour of the factory from page 20, but of course we look forward to
welcoming you there in person.

Here at Aston Martin, we are constantly looking for new ways to innovate, and as a
result our technological abilities and design skills have become great strengths of our
brand, allowing us to push the boundaries of what is possible. On page 32 you will receive
an exclusive insight into one of our most radical proposals yet, the Cygnet city car. This is
an intelligent way of bringing Aston Martin brand values to a whole new sector of the
market – as well as creating something genuinely unique to complement existing customers’
ownership experience. As we enter the New Year, I do hope you enjoy following the
evolution and development of a concept I personally am very excited by.

The Aston Martin driving experience is hard to convey in just words and pictures, but I believe
our magazine does an excellent job of conjuring up the atmosphere and allure of the journey.
True to form, this issue features the concluding episode of our Pony Express story – a majestic
journey across America in our three convertible models, equally at home in their natural
environments. I also hope you’re inspired by our sumptuous cocktailwear fashion story, from
page 40, which demonstrates how Rapide’s versatility and elegance will always ensure a
spectacular entrance for you and your three friends, out on the town.

With the festive season almost upon us, the evening entertainment continues throughout our
winter issue, with features exploring the new breed of luxury-branded hotels springing up
across the globe, the resurgence of the pearl as her jewellery of choice, plus – for those who
prefer to play host instead of guest – an enticing menu of the very latest products from the
world of culinary technology and style.

Naturally, we also feature a round-up of Aston Martin’s recent activity on the track, including
the 007-numbered Aston Martin LMP1’s hugely impressive victory in the second round of the
Asian Le Mans Series in Okayama, Japan, this November, plus of course our 2009 Le Mans
Series championship. These results cement a truly amazing year for both Works and private
racing teams.

As we prepare to launch one of the world’s most eagerly awaited sports cars, we hope you
will share our optimistic view of the year ahead and enjoy the latest issue of our magazine.

DR ULRICH BEZ
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
A S T O N M A R T I N M A G A Z I N E

I S S U E 1 0 W I N T E R 2 0 0 9

C O N T E N T S

1 6 T H RO U G H T H E LO O K I N G G L A S S
Anna Sansom is enchanted by Dale Chihuly’s monumental glass sculptures – bright, colourful,
organic forms, imbued with Alice in Wonderland mystique

20 RAPIDE ON THE LINE

Richard Meaden takes us on a tour of Rapide’s new production facility in Graz, Austria, and asks
just how Aston Martin overcame the challenges of establishing a ‘little Gaydon’ abroad

25 THE PONY EXPRESS RIDES ON

Patrick Paternie saddles up for the concluding episode of our epic drive across Nevada and
California, following the final stages of the Pony Express. Unlike the trailblazing 19th-century
mailmen, however, his means of conveyance boast rather more than a single horsepower each time

32 R U N N I N G C I R C L E S
The city has evolved into a place where expressways abut medieval alleys, parking is scant and
the environment is front of conscience. Aston Martin’s new Cygnet might just be the solution

35 KITCHEN COOL
Any cook worth his salt will appreciate our menu of culinary tools, brought together from all
corners of the globe to suit your taste for design as much as your taste for food

4 0 B Y I N V I TAT I O N O N LY
Out on the town, how you make your entrance is just as important as how you accessorise that
killer dress. It’s party season, and Aston Martin knows exactly how to get the four of you there

50 BEAUTY IS SKIN DEEP

A Berluti shoe, an Hermès wallet, a Dunhill bag – each a tantalising microcosm of the most
rarefied items in the world. Renowned connoisseur Roja Dove sinks into the world of leather

5 4 H A U T E H OT E L I E R S
Examining the rise of luxury-brand hotels, Jake Townsend checks into some of the most
spectacular catwalks on Earth. Plus, enter our draw to win three nights of pure indulgence
at Palazzo Versace, Australia

5 8 FA S H I O N F O R WA R D
Josh Sims asks three major players in the fashion industry to give their recommendations for
spring/summer 2010 and comment on how they see fashion shaping up over the coming years

61 OUT OF THEIR SHELLS

Pearls are officially cool again. Avril Groom hails a welcome revival, explaining how prize pearls
from the South Seas are firing imaginations and slowly becoming a girl’s new best friend

66 ASTON MARTIN COLLECTION

Aston Martin’s Collection is an exclusive range of accessories and luxury goods encompassing the
very essence of the marque. Where better to find that last-minute Christmas gift?

68 ASTON MARTIN WORKS

Steve Wakefield reports from an exuberant Vanquish Celebration Day at Aston Martin Works
Service’s Newport Pagnell facility, where the last Vanquish rolled off the line in 2007. We also
showcase the latest accessories available from Parts Operations – stylish ways to enhance the
look and feel of your pride and joy

80 ASTON MARTIN RACING

Aston Martin Racing and the many independent privateer teams racing their GT racecars have
had an incredible 2009. Brian Laban reports on a season whose highlights include both the 2009
Le Mans Series LMP1 and FIA GT3 European championships

ASTON MARTIN MODEL RANGE

Our regular product catalogue at the rear of Aston Martin Magazine gives the full rundown of
Aston Martin’s formidable production-car line-up, including full specifications and optional extras
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ASTON MARTIN
ISSUE 10
C O N T R I B U TO R S
RICHARD MEADEN
Co-founder and regular contributor
to ‘evo’ – one of the world’s
leading enthusiast car magazines –
Richard reviews the most exciting
and desirable cars on the planet.
This also entails racing, and
Richard has a strong affinity with
Aston Martin, having driven for the
factory team in three consecutive
Nürburgring 24-Hours races.
On page 20 he tours the four-door
Aston Martin Rapide’s history-
making high-tech production
facility in Graz, Austria.
ERIC FRIDEEN
Born and raised in Stockholm,
Sweden, Eric took up photography
aged 11 after being given a
camera on holiday in Crete by his
grandfather. He moved to the UK
in 1997 after working for
‘Wallpaper’ magazine, and has
since shot editorial fashion features
and celebrity portraits for ‘Harpers
Bazaar’, ‘InStyle’, ‘Elle’ and ‘US
Vogue’. You can enjoy his account
of two couples’ glamorous night
COVER: Aston Martin Rapide on the tiles from page 40.
THE EXCEPTIONAL IS OUR INSPIRATION
NIKI BRODIE
Styling our fashion shoot with Eric
was Niki. Having cut her teeth as
fashion editor at ‘Wallpaper’, she
became an independent stylist
working for an eclectic range of T O U R B I L L O N O R B I T A L®
international publications such as
‘Elle’, ‘Tatler’ and ‘Sunday Times WORLD PREMIERE
Style’, as well as clients including
Claudia Schiffer and Pierce Brosnan. O N E M I N U T E F LY I N G T O U R B I L L O N · 6 0-M I N U T E O R B I T
-
She is currently working as fashion
editor for global fashion and art PAT E N T E D M OV E M E N T B Y C H R I S TO P H E C L A R E T
magazine ‘Stimuli’ and has just
collaborated with renowned E A C H WAT C H A U N I Q U E P I E C E
photographer John-Paul Pietrus
on ‘Bag’ (Laurence King).
AVRIL GROOM
Examining the prolific revival
of pearls as jewellery of choice
for the great and good from page
61 is Avril, who has been writing
about fashion and luxury goods,
including watches and jewellery,
for more decades than she cares
to admit. She writes for a wide
range of publications including the
‘Financial Times How to Spend It’
magazine, ‘The Australian’
newspaper and American Express’
‘Centurion’ magazine.

Aston Martin Magazine is A S TO N M A RT I N A S TO N M A RT I N CONTRIBUTORS BY INVITATION ONLY

published on behalf of
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited
by Affinity Publishing. For all
publishing and advertising
enquiries please contact:
AFFINITY PUBLISHING
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United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)20 7399 9580
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www.affinitypublishing.co.uk
A S TO N M A RT I N
EDITORIAL TEAM
JANETTE GREEN
Director of Brand
Communications
KINGSLEY RIDING-FELCE
Director of Works Service &
Parts Operations
KEN HUTTON
Managing Director,
Affinity Publishing
STEVEN EGAN
General Manager Marketing
Communications
JOHN MUIRHEAD
Marketing Communications
Manager
HEAD OFFICES REGIONAL OFFICES Jonathan Bell, Simon de Burton, Photographer: Eric Frideen; stylist:
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ASTON MARTIN LAGONDA ASTON MARTIN LAGONDA
Kevin Hackett, Brian Laban, make-up: Rosie von Spreckelsen;
Banbury Road NORTH AMERICA
Patrick C Paternie, Anna Sansom, models: Andrea (FM),
Gaydon 9920 Irvine Center Drive
Josh Sims, Jake Townsend, Howard (Models1), Martina (Nevs),
Warwick CV35 0DB Irvine
Steve Wakefield Stuart (Models1). With special
United Kingdom CA 92618
thanks to Carlos Almada and
USA THE EXPRESS RIDES ON
T: +44 (0)1926 644644 all at 17 Berkeley Street.
T: +1 949 3793100 Photography: Joe Windsor-
F: +44 (0)1926 644333 Stockist info:
Williams; transport: STI Fleet
ASTON MARTIN LAGONDA brioni.com
ASTON MARTIN WORKS SERVICE Services. With special thanks
OF EUROPE GmbH cartier.com
Tickford Street to Aston Martin North America
Unterschweinstiege 2-14 versace.com
Newport Pagnell
60549 Frankfurt VOLANTE EXPRESS vancleef-arpels.com
Buckinghamshire MK16 9AN
Germany Photography: Joe Windsor- missoni.com
United Kingdom
T: +49 (0)69 770752001 Williams; transport: STI Fleet ralphlauren.com
T: +44 (0)1908 619264 Services. With special thanks rogervivier.com
ASTON MARTIN LAGONDA
F: +44 (0)1908 216439 to Aston Martin North America pringle-of-scotland.com
MIDDLE EAST
E: service2@astonmartin.com richardjames.co.uk
PO Box 79680 KITCHEN COOL
Photographer: Andrew Penketh; sergiorossi.com
Dubai
READER ENQUIRIES carl-f-bucherer.com
United Arab Emirates photographer’s assistant:
E: ampr@astonmartin.com Anna Stathaki; stylist: Pei-Ru Keh. gievesandhawkes.com
T: +44 (0)1926 644644
With special thanks to jaeger-lecoultre.com
ASTON MARTIN LAGONDA terencetrout.net
PRINTED BY BUXTON PRESS Darren Miller and all at Pedini.
ASIA PACIFIC collettedinnigan.com
Stockist info:
Ark Mori Building 12F lanvin.com
pedini.it
1-2-32 Akasaka, Minato-Ku quentinmackay.com
typhoonhousewares.com
Tokyo burberry.com
japaneseknifecompany.com
Japan 107-6012
davidmellordesign.co.uk OUT OF THEIR SHELLS
T: +81 (0)3 43609244
nico.or.jp/hyaku Photography by Richard Foster.
zaniezani.it Stockist info:
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daylesfordorganic.com www.adler.ch
evasolo.com www.mikimoto.com
wedgwood.com
CREDIT ALSO GOES TO:
fatduck.co.uk
Stewart Charles Cohen (p14);
divertimenti.co.uk
Charlie Magee (pp32–33, 72–79);
emilehenry.com
www.dailysportscar.com
iittala.com
(pp80, 83)
rosendahl.com
globalknives.uk.com
arabicafoodcompany.com

©COPYRIGHT 2009 ASTON MARTIN LAGONDA LIMITED All material strictly copyright and all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without prior permission of Affinity Publishing
and/or Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is strictly forbidden. All content believed to be correct at time of going to print. The views expressed are not necessarily those of Affinity Publishing or
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited. Aston Martin Lagonda Limited does not officially endorse any advertising material or editorials for third party products included within this publication.

DATA PROTECTION STATEMENT Aston Martin Lagonda Limited (Aston Martin) respects the privacy of every individual who receives the Aston Martin Magazine. Any information collected about you will DUE TO THE SHEER RARITY OF JEAN DUNAND TIMEPIECES,
be used to fulfil the delivery of the magazine, for readership profiling purposes and for further marketing of Aston Martin products and events. We do this by making appropriate use of the information.
This information will not be disclosed to anyone outside of Aston Martin, its affiliated or associated companies, its agencies, dealers, partners or licensees. It will be treated in accordance with the
INNATE EXCLUSIVITY DICTATES THAT THEY ARE OFFERED THROUGH A HIGHLY SELECTIVE GROUP OF WATCH AND JEWELLERY SALONS.
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ASTON MARTIN ASTON MARTIN

ASTON MARTIN LIFE ASTON MARTIN LIFE

FOUR DOORS IN LA
Aston Martin played host to over 300 special guests at the SLS Hotel in
Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, on 11 November, for Rapide’s North American
debut. Welcoming the customers, VIPs and local media to the luxurious
surroundings of the Garden Terrace – where Aston Martin’s new four-door
sports car drew avid admirers throughout the night – were Dr Ulrich Bez,
new Chief Commercial Officer Michael van der Sande and Julian Jenkins,
the Vice President and General Manager of Aston Martin North America.
SLS was the perfect venue for such a high-profile launch – a landmark of
sleek sophistication just steps from The Beverly Center, the sparkling
storefronts of Rodeo Drive and favourite celebrity haunts, ideally situated
at the crossroads of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles. The interior design
throughout is contemporary but sumptuous – each of its 297 guest rooms
and suites are designed by Philippe Starck for Cassina, for example –
but on that balmy Wednesday evening, Aston Martin’s guests found the
impeccably mixed cocktails and house chef José Andrés’ canapés to be
the star attractions away from Rapide, partying well into the night.

FOUR DOORS IN FRANKFURT

Some three and a half years after the Rapide Concept won global acclaim at the 2006 North
American Auto Show in Detroit, the production Rapide made its international debut at the 2009
IAA Frankfurt Motorshow on 17 September. Unveiled to capacity crowds by Chief Executive
Officer Dr Ulrich Bez and Design Director Marek Reichman – with the help of two Afghan hounds
as their rear passengers – the first four-door, four-seater sports car from Aston Martin in many
years drew unanimous plaudits from the gathered media and trade representatives.
The evening prior to Rapide’s official launch in its ‘nautilus shell’ enclosure at the Frankfurt
Motorshow, Aston Martin hosted over 250 special guests at Roomers Hotel in the city centre,
for a special preview. Rapide took centre stage on a glass pedestal, while 2009’s other
big debuts, the DBS Volante and V12 Vantage, dominated the patio area. Furthermore,
a V8 Vantage and DB9 Volante greeted the arriving VIPs, media personalities and Aston Martin
customers by the main entrance of Roomers – a stylish hotspot for Frankfurt’s cool set.
From its inception, the Rapide project has inspired superlatives. The production car’s global
unveiling at the Frankfurt Motorshow – this year attended by 845,000 visitors – was equally
praised, with few left in any doubt that Aston Martin had indeed crafted ‘the world’s most OPEN HOUSE
beautiful four-door sports car’.
The doors of Aston Martin’s UK headquarters were thrown open on
26 and 27 September, for the third Gaydon Open Weekend since the
facility’s ribbon cutting in 2003. About 4,500 people, predominantly
ANTWERP CELEBRATES SILVER employees and their families, plus Aston Martin Racing employees and
the local community, toured the administrative, design and manufacturing
On 23 September, the Aston Martin Antwerp dealership, headed by René Michiels, buildings over a glorious autumn weekend, with approximately 90
celebrated its 25th Anniversary in the rooftop hospitality suite above the new employees from various areas of the business showcasing what they do
Formula 1 paddock at Francorchamps circuit in Spa, Belgium – an event marked in Trim and Final, Body in White and Body Frame. Over 40 cars were
in spectacular fashion by a record-breaking 215-strong parade of Aston Martins on display including the One-77, 009 LMP1 race car, the current
around the legendary grand prix circuit. Attended by more than 500 VIP guests, Aston Martin range and the complete Aston Martin Racing GT range.
the day’s festivities were an appropriate way to mark the quarter-century long list Children were well catered for too, with Scalextric sets replicating the
of achievements by the small family-owned dealership. Father and son Michiels led legendary twists and turns of Silverstone, the latest Xbox and Playstation
the line-up in the brand new DBS Volante with Marcel Beci, General Manager of games featuring Aston Martins, and face painters, balloon modellers
Aston Martin Lagonda of Europe GmbH, following in a V12 Vantage. and a magician adding a carnival atmosphere to proceedings.

10 ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 11

ASTON MARTIN

ASTON MARTIN LIFE

WELCOME TO GRAZ
To coincide with the first cars coming off the line at the Aston Martin Rapide Plant
(AMRP) in Graz, Austria (see Richard Meaden’s report from page 20), customers are being
invited to the manufacturing facility to complete the specifications for their new sports
car, due for delivery this spring. While regular customer tours are set to start in mid-
January, approximately 50 customers attended the preview week in October, travelling in
from a number of mainland European destinations to enjoy a factory tour followed by
individual specification consultations. The all-new customer showroom fronting the
AMRP building reflects Aston Martin’s distinctive modernism across 300 square metres,
with a travertine-clad reception area and two dedicated customer specification rooms.
If you are interested in arranging a tour at any Aston Martin site, please contact
your local Aston Martin Dealer who will make a booking on your behalf.

RIDING RAPIDE
Aston Martin’s Gaydon headquarters played host
to 18 journalists in September – 8 all the way from
Japan, Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Australia,
another 8 from the Middle East and 2 from Europe
– all of whom enjoyed passenger rides in the new
Rapide, as well as experiencing Aston Martin’s
current model range first-hand along the winding
lanes of the surrounding Warwickshire countryside.
Feedback from all the drives was very positive, and
initial impressions from riding the Rapide bode
extremely well for the four-door sports car’s
market entry in spring 2010.

EYES ON THE PRIZE

This year has seen the launch of no fewer
than four stunning new Aston Martins, and
TOKYO
such prolificacy has not gone unnoticed. SHOWCASE
As 2009 draws to a close, Aston Martin’s can
On the Tuesday ahead of Aston Martin Racing’s
boast at least 12 major awards, including
remarkable victory at the Asian Le Mans Series
the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este’s design
in Okayama on 31 October (see page 83),
award for One-77, Robb Report China’s
Aston Martin Asia Pacific hosted a very special
award for DBS Volante as the best luxury
evening in Tokyo, Japan, showcasing the LMP1
convertible, the V12 Vantage topping Top
works racecar, alongside the new V12 Vantage
Gear Magazine’s online poll for Car of the
and DBS Volante. Specially invited guests of the
Year, plus a double victory thanks to readers
local Aston Martin dealerships, Bollinger and
of German magazine, Auto Motor und Sport.
Aston Martin Racing sponsors Jaeger-LeCoultre,
They voted the Rapide and DBS Volante the
Immun’Age, Bang & Olufsen, Hackett and Gulf
most beautiful cars of 2009 in the ‘Premium
were all treated to a lightning-fast pitstop
Class’ and ‘Convertibles’ categories. Receiving
demonstration outside the Musée Tomo art
the award personally (pictured), Chief
gallery as well as the opportunity to chat with
Executive Officer Ulrich Bez commented, ‘The
Team Manager George Howard-Chappell.
fact that the Rapide was voted one of the
best design innovations in 2009, even prior
to its launch, demonstrates that Aston Martin
sets standards in automotive design.’

12 ISSUE 10/09
ASTON MARTIN ASTON MARTIN

ASTON MARTIN LIFE ASTON MARTIN LIFE

DEALERS’ WEEK LAKESIDE LUXURY

From 12 to 16 October, Aston Martin hosted Dealership Owners
and Principals from all corners of its global dealership network at
headquarters in Gaydon. This hugely successful conference was entitled
‘Road to Success’, with a busy schedule of presentations and meetings
designed to reinforce and refresh the Aston Martin dealers’ existing
knowledge and expertise. The occasion also afforded many of the
delegates who hadn’t been to the Frankfurt Motorshow in September
to see and experience the four-door Rapide for the first time, ahead
of its market debut in spring 2010. The One-77 supercar was also on
display, and the concept and strategy behind the forthcoming Cygnet
city car (see page 32) was unveiled to an enthusiastic response. Held in
the spacious and light surroundings of the Design Studio, Ulrich Bez
led the programme, followed by a global sales review, economic
outlooks, presentations of Rapide by Design Director Marek Reichman
and Product Development Director Ian Minards, among others.
NEW CCO TO DRIVE GLOBAL SALES
Aston Martin is pleased to announce
the appointment of Michael van der
Sande into the newly created position
of Chief Commercial Officer. Based at
the company’s headquarters in Gaydon,
Van der Sande, 44, will take responsibility
for all commercial areas to further
develop and strengthen these key areas
of the business.
Van der Sande joins Aston Martin from
Tesla Motors, but is perhaps better
known for his 12 years with Harley-
Davidson, where he held a variety
of senior roles in marketing, dealer
development, product development and
commercial operations. His most recent
role was Vice President and Managing
Director of Harley-Davidson Europe.
ON TRACK AROUND
THE WORLD
Aston Martin’s busy schedule of track days continues apace this year, with
owners and prospective customers having enjoyed no less than six thrilling
track days since July, at some of the world’s greatest circuits. On 1 July, it
was Aston Martin’s first visit to Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Italy, where
22 owners and 50 prospects took the unique opportunity to drive their cars
inan exhilarating, safe and supported environment. This was quickly followed
by a track day at Donington in the UK on 10 July, before an event at the
Nürburgring in Germany from 31 August to 1 September also proved
immensely popular with 37 owners and 27 prospects driving the Grand Prix
circuit. On the following day the owners had the opportunity to tackle the
infamous 13.5-mile Nordschleife circuit. On 22 September, a one-day event
for 51 owners and 45 prospects was held at the home of the Belgian Grand
Prix in Spa and was tied into the Antwerp dealership’s 25th anniversary (see
page 10). Then 11 October saw Aston Martin’s dealer in Dubai, Al Habtoor
Motors, host a track day for 32 customers at the Dubai Autodrome, an event
made doubly special by the arrival of the region’s very first V12 Vantage.
Most recently, closer to Aston Martin’s home in the UK, 23 owners and
20 prospects took on the legendary corners of Silverstone, on 14 October.
To find out more about attending Aston Martin’s ‘On Track’ driving days,
visit www.astonmartintrackdays.com
PEACE OF MIND
Aston Martin has launched an exclusive ‘Assured’ seal of approval to endorse
official products and services for its customers. The first products receiving this
endorsement will be Aston Martin’s Pre-Owned and Extended Warranty
programmes, both of which have undergone recent refreshments. All ‘Assured’
services carry a logo featuring the distinctive front grille; a design signature of
all Aston Martins. ‘The growth of our business over the last eight years has been
consistent and by virtue of an extended but still exclusive model line-up we
have been able to make the Aston Martin brand accessible to just a few more
people,’ says Chief Executive Officer, Ulrich Bez. ‘It is now right that we extend
our capability to cater for this extended group of Aston Martin owners.’
This initiative adds to the successful introduction of the Aston Martin
Pre-Owned locator, found at http://used.astonmartin.com
Thursday 27 August saw Aston Martin’s Safenwil
and Zurich dealerships team up with Bollinger
and UK-based yachtbuilder Sunseeker’s Swiss
dealership for a suitably luxurious day on Lake
Zurich, Switzerland. Each of the three brands’
80 guests enjoyed a full hour’s test drive of the
new V12 Vantage at some point during the day
along sweeping lakeside roads, with the
opportunity to pilot a Sunseeker Superhawk 43
(star of the recent James Bond film, Quantum of
Solace, alongside Aston Martin’s DBS) on Lake
Zurich itself. Away from the high-octane pursuits,
Bollinger’s Lounge offered guests the chance to
relax and network with champagne & canapés.
YOUR CAR AWAITS
Throughout the IAA Frankfurt Motorshow, which ran
from 15 to 27 September 2009, Aston Martin’s
European regional office hosted a successful
‘ride-and-drive’ event for prospective Aston Martin
customers visiting the show. Taking place on both
trade days and on the first two public days, these
‘hot prospects’ enjoyed test drives alongside an
Aston Martin instructor in their desired car along
the autobahns and country lanes that surround the
city. Drawn from the EU demo fleet, the impressive
array of Touchtronic DBS Volante, V12 Vantage,
DB9 Coupe Touchtronic and V8 Vantage Sportshift
awaiting them outside the show venue left
Aston Martin’s guests spoilt for choice, to say
the very least.
LIMELIGHT IN
LOUISVILLE
Forming a highlight of its recent DBS Volante Tour –
whereby customers have been invited to sample
Aston Martin’s new performance convertible at a
series of dealerships throughout the US – Aston Martin
North America sponsored a cocktail party in Louisville,
Kentucky, on 28 September to introduce the Aston
Martin model line to the Louisville market, hosting
drives in the DBS Volante the following afternoon.
Held at the beautiful new Park Grande Residences in
Cherokee Park, Louisville, 75 VIPs enjoyed the joint PDC IN THE USA
hospitality of Aston Martin and the local Aston Martin
Twelve members of the US automotive
dealership, Lake Forest Sportscars, whose DBRS9
media were recently entertained
racecar is raced by Nick Mancuso in the Pro Speed
courtesy of Aston Martin North America
World Challenge GT. The car itself, sporting its
at one of the brand’s famously thrilling
signature stars-and-stripes roof, formed an impressive
static display as guests arrived at Park Grande.
Performance Driving Courses (PDCs).
Designed to demonstrate the full
capabilities of Aston Martin’s cars in
an exhilarating, safe and supportive
environment, the PDC has received a
growing number of monthly bookings
in the USA this year. The recent press
event, held at the Michigan Proving
Ground on 23 and 24 September,
served to showcase the course further.
To book your Aston Martin PDC in
North America, phone Sarah Perish
on +1 949 379 3100

14 ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 15

ASTON MARTIN art & design

RIGHT: Jerusalem Wall of Ice

(1999), Tower of David Museum of
the History of Jerusalem, Jerusalem.
Photo by Terry Rishel.
BELOW: Fiori di Como (1998),
The Bellagio, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Photo by Teresa Nouri Rishel.

The feel of Dale Chihuly’s glass sculptures is optimistic and fearless, daring ‘I often compare what I do to what a film director does,’ he says.
and dramatic. His work has been included in the Venetian Pavilion of ‘I’m lucky in that my position allows me to work with everyone on the
Making Worlds at this year’s Venice Biennale, and has been exhibited team simultaneously whereas the gaffer is concerned with finishing off
at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Victoria & Albert Museum in the big form.’ Chihuly, 68, draws fast and realises the majority of his
London, where he had a solo show in 2001. But such an illustrious drawings on watercolour paper directly in his ‘hot shop’, the factory-like
glassmaking career has its roots in the simple curiosity of an eager place where his glass sculptures are made in his hometown of Tacoma in
student: ‘I was taking a weaving class at the University of Washington Seattle, Washington. ‘I just make a simple drawing as an explanation,’
in 1965 and started incorporating bits of glass into a woven tapestry,’ he he says. ‘We begin working on a series and if I like it we continue and if
says. ‘Then one night, in my basement at home I melted stained glass I don’t I usually destroy the pieces. It’s one of the important things that
by placing it between two bricks in a ceramic kiln. And I blew my first an artist has to do: decide whether to carry on working on something
glass bubble using a metal pipe. I was about 24 and I was so excited. or stop and work on something else.’ Besides art, another of Chihuly’s
I had never seen glass being blown before and, after having just invented interests is cars. ‘I bought my first Aston Martin, a DB4, in 1982,’ he
that more or less on my own, I felt that becoming a glassblower was enthuses. ‘I’ve owned 25 Aston Martins and my wife has a DB7.’
what I was destined to be.’
But Chihuly’s art keeps him so prolific that he hardly has any time to take
This moment of revelation came soon after the modern glass movement his cars for a spin, these days. From exhibitions in museums, botanical
THROUGH THE had kicked off in the US. A few years later, after receiving a Masters of
Fine Art from Rhode Island School of Design, Chihuly was awarded a
gardens and commercial galleries, through to public and private
installations all over the world, Chihuly’s work is in high demand. One of
LOOKING GLASS Fulbright fellowship that enabled him to become the first American
glassblower to work in the esteemed Venini factory on the island of
his current projects is for a new resort casino in Singapore, where he is
developing around 25 installations – hanging pieces, tower pieces, wall
Dale Chihuly’s monumental glass Murano in the Venetian lagoon. Murano is famous the world over for its pieces, you name it – throughout the complex.
historic glassmaking and the ideal place to learn the craft.
sculptures and installations have
revolutionised the art of glassmaking. After losing the sight of his left eye in a car accident in 1976 and
Bright, colourful, exuberant, towering dislocating his shoulder in a bodysurfing accident in 1979, Chihuly
like trees, hanging like chandeliers, stopped blowing glass himself and started making drawings to
with organic forms recalling plants communicate his designs that the ‘gaffers’, or glassblowers, would
interpret. Rather than working in a solitary way, like classical
and flowers, or underwater shapes
glassblowers, Chihuly began working collaboratively to realise his artistic
inspired by sea forms, his works are vision. One of his breakthroughs was developing asymmetrical designs,
imbued with the ‘wow’ factor and contrasting with symmetrical tradition. He orchestrates a team and
A l i c e i n Wo n d e r l a n d m y s t i q u e . sometimes has 12 people working with him on a piece.
Anna Sansom is enchanted

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ASTON MARTIN art & design

‘ We b e g i n w o r k i n g o n a s e r i e s a n d i f I l i k e i t w e c o n t i n u e a n d i f I d o n ’ t I u s u a l l y
destroy the pieces. It’s one of the important things that an artist has to do: decide
whether to carry on working on something or stop and work on something else’

THIS PAGE: Fireworks of Glass
(2006), Children’s Museum of
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Photo by Terry Rishel.
OPPOSITE PAGE: Thames Skiff
(2005), Royal Botanic Gardens,
Kew, Surrey, UK.
Photo by Terry Rishel.
In his hot shop in Tacoma, Chihuly is working on a series called Venetians
that he initially began 20 years ago with the Italian maestro Lino Tagliapietra.
This time, Chihuly is creating a mirror effect on the inside of the form,
another way of experimenting with the transparency of glass. ‘When
you’re working with transparent materials – glass, plastic, ice or water –
you’re looking at light itself,’ he says. ‘The light is coming through and
you’re looking at the light and the colour mix together.’ Since his 1981
Macchia (Spot) series, Chihuly has explored the full spectrum of the
300 different colour rods making up the glassmaking palette. Deciding to
use all the colours in as many variations and combinations as possible, he
started making sculptures with one colour inside and another colour
outside, with opaque white clouds between the two layers to clarify the
colours and keep the two sides separate.
Chihuly’s most ambitious undertaking is at The Children’s Museum of
Indianapolis; it is a flamboyant tower containing 3,278 pieces of glass.
The most surprising, though, is his Jerusalem Wall of Ice from 1999, for
which he shipped 64 tons of ice from Alaska to Jerusalem to build an
ice wall formed from gigantic blocks outside the citadel. Chihuly had
worked on a kibbutz in his early twenties and returning to Israel as an
artist felt significant.
‘I think it’s my favourite project, because it was the weirdest,’
he explains. ‘I liked it so much because it was such an absurd notion to
take ice from Alaska to the Middle East.’ Chihuly also exhibited a variety
of his glass sculptures all around the citadel the following year. In the UK,
his last exhibition was at Kew Gardens in 2005, where his sculptures
shimmered like reeds, flowers and plants, and floated in the fountains
and on lotus ponds. ‘Dale Chihuly’s magnificent glass sculptures help
us see the natural world in a new way,’ says Professor Sir Peter Crane,
director of Kew Gardens. ‘They challenge us to compare the elegance
and beauty of man-made form and man-made materials with the shapes,
colours and textures of plants.’
Chihuly’s contribution to art is reflected by how he was invited to
participate in this year’s Venice Biennale. It is the most important event
on the art world calendar. Chihuly’s lustrous pieces from his Mille Fiori
(Thousand Flowers) series were on show until 22 November 2009. ‘I was
in Venice on holiday and doing a bit of work when I heard that I’d been
accepted,’ he recalls. ‘I look at being invited by the Venetian Pavilion as a
fluke.’ The invitation meant that 40 years after training on Murano,
Chihuly is regarded as being at the top of his game. And he’s enjoying
every minute of it.

18 ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 19

ASTON MARTIN production line

RAPIDE ON THE LINE As the first gleaming examples of

Aston Martin’s new four-door sports car start to come off the line,
R i c h a r d M e a d e n t a k e s u s o n a t o u r o f Ra p i d e ’ s n e w p r o d u c t i o n
f a c i l i t y i n G ra z , A u s t r i a , a n d a s k s j u s t h o w A s t o n M a r t i n o v e r c a m e
the challenges of not only establishing a ‘little Gaydon’ abroad, but
a l s o r e f i n i n g t h e p r o d u c t i o n p r o c e s s f o r a b ra n d - n e w c a r – u s u a l l y
enough of a headache at home. The answer, as we discover, is down
to Aston Martin’s ever-innovative and ever-rigorous approach to
research and development

The ambience is reassuringly familiar. Clean architectural lines defined in glass, steel and the warm,
honeyed tones of polished travertine marble. Beautiful materials artfully combined to create the
unmistakable look and feel of an Aston Martin building.

But this isn’t Aston Martin’s award-winning UK headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire. Nor is it the
company’s Nürburgring Test Centre in Germany, or any of the worldwide dealerships from Adelaide
to Zagreb. This is Aston Martin’s brand new production facility in Graz, Austria: home of the four-
door Rapide and the starting point for a new chapter in Aston Martin’s illustrious 95-year history.

The Rapide story began as a concept at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2006. This debut was
followed in mid-2007 by a commitment from Aston Martin’s shareholders, as soon as they acquired
the company, to put the Rapide into production. Which makes it a mere two and a half years to
bring the project to fruition – no mean feat for a car this revolutionary.

20 ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 21

ASTON MARTIN
With the burgeoning success of the Vantage, DB9 and DBS model lines,
and many new projects in the pipeline, it soon transpired that the growth
of Aston Martin’s range would be compromised in the long term if
Rapide’s build was absorbed by the Gaydon facility. This led the company
to search for a suitable manufacturing partner. After a rigorous selection
process, Aston Martin decided Magna Steyr’s industry-leading quality
standards set the company apart. Their reputation for peerless quality and
experience working with other luxury manufacturers made the choice a
relatively easy one. An agreement was reached in March 2008, and later
that year work began in Graz creating a dedicated production facility for
Aston Martin’s eagerly awaited four-door sports car.
Second only in size to Vienna, which lies some 120 miles to the northeast,
the city of Graz is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its ‘Old Town’ features
countless buildings of architectural significance, from Gothic to
Contemporary, while youthful energy abounds courtesy of the student
population attending Graz’s six universities. For a company that respects
its history and tradition by continually striving to achieve exciting new
goals, Graz is a wholly appropriate home for the Aston Martin Rapide
Plant (AMRP), where the very latest manufacturing methods combine with
time-honoured craftsmanship.
22
This ambitious project – the first Aston Martin model to be built in its
entirety outside of the UK – has required the coordination of efforts from
an international team, with key Aston Martin engineers from the UK
working in Graz alongside their colleagues from the AMRP.
Establishing the AMRP has required an unprecedented level of cooperation,
coordination and a rigorous commitment to regular communication,
as Aston Martin’s Product Development Director, Ian Minards explains:
‘This is a big project and we have only been able to succeed by working
closely together and maintaining strong lines of communication between
Gaydon and Graz.’
For the launch of Rapide, Aston Martin seconded a dedicated team of
around 100, of that number a team of 20 specialist engineers were
based at Graz permanently with a further 75 engineering and production
personnel operating from Graz on a part-time basis. Minards’ man
on the ground in Graz was Nick Miller, General Manager of the New
Model Launch team. As leader of the core team of Aston Martin engineers
on secondment from the UK, it was Miller’s task to ensure the
AMRP mirrored the values and standards achieved at Aston Martin’s
Gaydon headquarters.
ISSUE 10/09
production line
The AMRP – like Aston Martin’s production facility at Gaydon – places an emphasis on
absolute quality and craftsmanship, shunning the constantly moving production line
typical of most other car factories in favour of a series of static workstations
To achieve this Miller and his team worked closely with the AMRP personnel. machined from solid with absolute precision. We can then use it to check
Together they adopted a holistic approach to the numerous challenges of the the tolerances of interior and exterior components by attaching to the
Rapide programme. It was a process that drew heavily from the skills and ‘cube’ as a reference. It’s something common in large volume production,
highly specialised knowledge of both teams. For Miller it was a rewarding but almost unprecedented on low-volume cars like the Rapide. It’s an
and refreshing collaboration: ‘It’s very much been a partnership: our intimate invaluable tool and an illustration of how serious we are about achieving
product knowledge and the AMRP team’s fresh perspective.’ the very high standards. The Rapide might be built in Austria, but it’s an
Aston Martin through and through.’
Some 240 technicians and craftspeople work at Graz building the Rapide.
Just as Vantage, DB9 and DBS customers are invited to Aston Martin’s UK
As Miller explains, it’s a challenge that highlights what separates making an
Aston Martin from any other car: ‘The fine tuning and finessing of the headquarters at Gaydon, prospective Rapide customers are encouraged to
product is fundamental to building an Aston Martin and therefore a big visit Aston Martin’s new production facility in Graz to see the AMRP for
challenge for the technicians. The fit and finish of the body panels and themselves. Not only are guests assured a warm welcome and a
paintwork, the precision of the leather and its stitching, the fact that memorable experience, the airy customer atrium provides the perfect
our quality standards are right at the top-end makes working on Rapide space for the grace and powerful presence of the display Rapide to work
so demanding.’ its magic. Should temptation strike – as it surely will – there are two
dedicated specification rooms, which contain everything clients require to
The AMRP – like Aston Martin’s production facility at Gaydon – places an assist them in creating their ideal Rapide in privacy and comfort.
emphasis on absolute quality and craftsmanship, shunning the constantly
moving production line typical of most other car factories in favour of a Of course, if that isn’t enough, the epic roads of the Austrian Alps and
series of static workstations. Here time can be lavished upon each stage uninhibited autobahns of Germany lying right on the AMRP’s doorstep
of hand-building the Rapide: only once work is completed at one station should provide the ultimate inspiration for visiting customers.
are the bodies moved to the next along the line, in a total build process
that takes approximately 220 man-hours per car.
From the preparation of the Rapide’s aluminium VH platform structure, its
body panels, Body-in-White (BIW) and the painstaking paint processes
that make Aston Martin’s paint finish the best in class, to the Trim Shop
where highly-skilled craftspeople shape and stitch finest leather to create
the Rapide’s magnificently upholstered interior, the AMRP is a centre of
automotive excellence.
Nathan Leeming, Quality Manager for the Rapide programme, sums it up
thusly: ‘Ultimately it’s our job to make this car as good as it can be, and
there’s no doubt what we’ve learned on Rapide will be carried over into
new projects. For example we’ve made a significant investment in what
we call an ‘Environmental Cube’. Essentially this is a body that’s been
ISSUE 10/09 23
The CFB A1000 automatic caliber with highway 50 to sacramento

peripheral rotor. Leaves conventional

movements behind.

THE EXPRESS RIDES ON

Experiencing some dramatic changes in scenery, not to
mention Aston Martin convertibles, we continue our epic drive
through Nevada and California retracing the route of the
b r a v e c o w b o y m a i l m e n o f t h e Po n y E x p r e s s . I n i s s u e 9 , w e l a s t
saw our very own ‘mailman’ Pa t r i c k C Pa t e r n i e cruising into
Fa l l o n i n t h e D B S Vo l a n t e a f t e r a g a l l o p t h r o u g h t h e d e s e r t .
H e r e , h e s w i t c h e s t o a f r e s h D B 9 Vo l a n t e a n d o n w a r d s t o h i s
The CFB A1000 caliber, developed and produced by Carl F. Bucherer, writes w watchmaking history.
Innovative use of traditional watchmaking expertise transforms this unique m micro-mechanical device
f i n a l s t e e d , t h e V 8 Va n t a g e R o a d s t e r
iinto the movementt off th
t th the ffuture.
t The iingenious
Th i self-winding
lf i di system
t with ith iits peripheral rotor
provides an unimpeded view of the detail inside. This is craftsmanship at its finest, expressed through
state-of-the-art technology and, in the Patravi EvoTec DayDate, set off to its best advantage.
Its unmistakable design, with the large date and day-of-the-week display, places it firmly in the
ISSUE 10/09 25
Carl F. Bucherer tradition of only making watches as unique as the people who wear them.

www.carl-f-bucherer.com
ASTON MARTIN highway 50 to sacramento

U n l i k e t h e m o u n t e d p o s t m e n o f t h e Po n y E x p r e s s , o u r Vo l a n t e E x p r e s s c o u l d a f f o r d t o
occasionally slow down the pace to enjoy the surroundings, especially surroundings like
Virginia City, which matched our mission of linking the past with the present.

Rumbling down C Street, Virginia City’s main drag, basking in the reflection of the DBS Volante as it slipped along the
storefront windows of the Gold Rush-era buildings, we were pleased to note that others were admiring the Aston Martin’s
muscular physique. Most impressive in a town that has seen its fair share of unique and captivating sights in its 150-year
existence. Starting with seven miles of gold mines along the road that winds up aptly named Gold Hill and transitions into
C Street. The mines were part of the Comstock Lode gold and silver strike that occurred from 1849–60, which led to the
founding of Virginia City. It boasted of a population of over 25,000 during that era making it one of America’s largest cities,
until the ore, and the miners, petered out in the 1880s.

It was home to the Territorial Enterprise, the archetype Wild West newspaper noted for its creative news reporting and tall
tales, especially those of a young reporter who had been swept up in the gold rush from San Francisco. He arrived in Virginia
City known as Samuel Clemens but soon became known around the world by his nom de plume Mark Twain.

26 ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 27

ASTON MARTIN highway 50 to sacramento

The road snakes through tall pines and boulder-covered

canyons, but the DB9 made short work of the 100-mile trip,
its perfect 50:50 weight distribution allowing it to glide
athletically through the twists and turns

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ASTON MARTIN
In the spirit of Twain’s fanciful reportage, the Territorial Enterprise
published a fictional account in 1959 of the town’s camel races.
Camels were imported into the area during the boom years as pack
animals, eventually being let loose to roam wild in the surrounding
desert. They had all disappeared well before the article was written, but
the story inspired Virginia City citizens to stage an actual camel race.
It became an annual tradition. We were tempted to stay over for the
50th running of this event, but true to the spirit of the Pony Express,
our journey waits for no man, or camel.
We set off on a 15-mile jaunt to Carson City where we would swap
mounts for the run across the California–Nevada border and through the
alpine forests and lakes of the Sierra Nevada. Despite being the Nevada
state capital, Carson City lacks the glamour and glitter of Las Vegas and
the historical charm of Virginia City. Its only redeeming quality was the
DB9 Volante waiting for us.
With its 470bhp 6.0-litre V12 engine and smooth-shifting six-speed
‘Touchtronic 2’ automatic transmission courtesy of shift-by-wire
technology, the DB9 allowed us to leave Carson City behind with
few regrets.
Our destination was Sportsman’s Hall in Pollock Pines. Deviating from
Highway 50 for the first time, we drove along Highway 88, which follows
the Mormon Emigrant Trail – the first east–west route for covered
wagons going to northern California. It originally was the path for
Mormons travelling from Utah to the California gold fields.
The road snakes through tall pines and boulder-covered canyons at an Express, one that will endure in our imaginations for years to come.
elevation that ranges from 4,000 to 8,000 feet, but the DB9 made short
work of the 100-mile trip, its perfect 50:50 weight distribution allowing
it to glide athletically through the twists and turns.
30
highway 50 to sacramento
With the roof down, our widescreen vista of verdant forest yields to flatter, more
a g r i c u l t u r a l l o w l a n d s . H e r e t h e i n h e r e n t n i m b l e n e s s o f t h e V 8 Va n t a g e i s s o o n u p s t a g e d
by this car’s ace card: the best soundtrack on the market
We paid our respects at the Sportsman’s Hall in Pollock Pines where a
monument commemorates the rider change at 8.01am on April 4, 1860
during the first eastbound run of the Pony Express. There’s even a road
named ‘Pony Express Trail’, which runs parallel to the Highway 50 for
seven miles, through the ‘Pony Express Village Shopping Center’!
Thirteen miles further on from Pollock Pines is Placerville, another rider
change point and where we silenced the DB9 Volante’s potent growl for
the first time in miles, leaving its lithe but dusty bodywork ticking cool as
we hopped in our final steed for the downhill run into Sacramento:
a gleaming Magma Red V8 Vantage Roadster. Compact and thrillingly
agile, the edgy 4.7-litre V8 was the perfect mount for handling the zigzag
path of the original Pony Express trail back on Highway 50.
With the roof down, our widescreen vista of verdant forest yields to
flatter, more agricultural lowlands. Here the inherent nimbleness of
the V8 Vantage is soon upstaged by this car’s ace card: the best
soundtrack on the market. The freeway blast into Old Town Sacramento
gives ripe opportunity to tip the revs well over 4,000, forcing open the
exhaust’s bypass valves and releasing a delightful snarl. Come rain or
shine, the Roadster model will always be a joy for permitting an
uninhibited aural experience.
Nipping through the gridded streets of California’s state capital, we spot
a statue rearing up amidst the touristy shops and museums: a bronze
pony and its rider, its plaque reminding us that the Pony Express existed
for a mere 18 months, from April 1860 to October 1861 – the arrival of
the telegraph line quickly superseding it. But it was an exhilarating
adventure while it lasted, and, like our very own Volante and Roadster
ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 31
ASTON MARTIN cygnet

RUNNING CIRCLES
Speed is relative. The modern city is not the free-flowing metropolis envisioned
at the frenzied height of modernist rebuilding. Instead, the city has evolved into
a place where expressways abut medieval alleys, parking is scant and environmental
responsibility is front of conscience. Aston Martin’s Cygnet concept might just be
the solution, reckons Jonathan Bell

‘It is not the strongest that survive, but those that adapt the most readily to change’
CHARLES DARWIN 1859

Car design is about intelligent thinking. Faced with the hectic sprawl of a cramped city streets. ‘Performance is not relevant in a city,’ says Ulrich Bez,
major urban environment, car designers have to explore innovative ways of ‘so this car performs well in other ways – it is easy to park with a tiny turning
repackaging the traditional car, combining space efficiencies with high circle, is highly economical and is designed for four.’ In short, the Cygnet
technology to create a new breed of city car. The Aston Martin Cygnet brings true urban practicality to the town-dwelling Aston Martin owner,
is proud to belong to this emerging – and important – genre of car design. ensuring he or she can complement their existing Aston Martin with a
luxurious runabout that’s cool as well as environmentally conscious.
Representing a blend of technological ingenuity with Aston Martin’s long-
established tradition of exceptional craftsmanship and high quality Versatility of scale is increasingly a necessity for all of us. ‘Almost all
materials, the Cygnet is unique in its market sector. From the sculpted forms Aston Martin owners also own a multiple-car fleet and many of these
of the exterior through to the leather and Alcantara-lined interior, the customers in Europe own a small car within that fleet,’ says Ulrich Bez, ‘so
Cygnet is designed to bring the feeling of the open road to the closed city, why shouldn’t they expect the same level of luxury and craftsmanship as
its ultra-compact form giving the driver a new dimension of freedom. an Aston Martin within that size?’ Cygnet’s Aston Martin-crafted bodywork
and interior are matched to peerless underpinnings. The mechanical core is
‘There is a fun factor in the Cygnet,’ says Dr Ulrich Bez, who initiated and manufactured in Japan, the result of Toyota Motor Corporation’s multi-
guided the groundbreaking collaboration with Japanese manufacturer billion yen investment in city car design. ‘The technology is bulletproof,’
Toyota that created the car. ‘Cygnet goes beyond the traditional, serious says Ulrich Bez admiringly. Near-completed Toyota ‘iQ’ microcars will be
Aston Martin product,’ he continues, explaining how the expansive, almost shipped to Gaydon from the Japanese factory for final assembly, trim and
infinite, variety of trim and colour will allow the owner an unparalleled range finishing. Here they will receive the comprehensive Aston Martin makeover,
of self-expression, with practically every available surface swathed in leather with all-new body panels and interior and peerless attention to detail.
and Alcantara, complete with unique stitching patterns, woods and
textures. From the outset, the Cygnet is intended to bring high quality Cygnet is an exciting step forward for Aston Martin, a venture that will lead
design and construction to a market segment usually geared towards the company into new sectors and new technologies. Initially available only
frugality and pure functionality. to Aston Martin customers in the UK & Europe – leading many to liken the
concept to that of a superyacht tender – the Cygnet is a bold statement,
The Cygnet offers Aston Martin owners the chance to retain an environment a demonstration of intelligent thinking for a new era, and, most of all,
that reflects the true values of the brand, even in the straitjacketed city. the ideal way of complementing an Aston Martin sports car in the
Nimble and compact, the Cygnet provides a superb way of interacting with contemporary world.
the urban landscape, translating the enjoyment of the open road to the

32 ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 33

 kitchen kit

Understated
Elegance

KITCHEN

COOL
Any cook worth his salt knows that
a well-equipped kitchen is just as
important as working with the finest
ingredients. From iconic pieces to
the classics of the future, we’ve
“In the newly hip Mayfair district, this landmark brick Victorian brought together an arsenal of
culinary tools from across the globe
has reclaimed the glory of its golden era thanks to a multi-million that will suit your taste for design
dollar renovation, creating a sophisticated throwback that no soulless as much as your taste for food
Modernist hotel could ever hope to emulate.”

“England at its best.”

Travel+Leisure, May 2008

The Connaught Carlos Place Mayfair London W1K 2AL

ISSUE 10/09 35
Telephone +44 (0)20 7499 7070 Facsimile +44 (0)20 7495 3262
Email info@the-connaught.co.uk Website the-connaught.co.uk
ASTON MARTIN kitchen kit

PREVIOUS PAGE: Pedini First

Class Island kitchen by Pedini,
with low-iron Pedini black glass
worktop, Foster sink and Gessi
Ovale tap; stir-fry wok by
Typhoon; Kama-Usuba vegetable
knife from Japanese Knife
Company; Carrara marble pastry
slab from David Mellor; peeler
and turner by Prince Kogyo
for Hyaku-Nen; Light pot
by Zani e Zani.

THIS PAGE: Bridge kitchen by

Pedini, incorporating Gaggenau
Vario gas cooktop and Vario
Teppan Yaki; Therma whistling
kettle by Serafino Zani; butchers’
oblong end-grain board from
David Mellor; Château Léoube
Extra Virgin Olive Oil from
Daylesford Organic; Magnetimer
by Eva Solo; dinner plate by
Wedgwood; Pride cutlery
by David Mellor Design; Accento
lasagne server by Konstantin Grcic
for Serafino Zani; The Big Fat Duck
Cookbook by Heston Blumenthal;
Masterclass blowtorch from
Divertimenti; triple-layer
Professional Series chef’s knife
from Japanese Knife Company;
Gourmet cutting board from
David Mellor.

36 ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 37

ASTON MARTIN

THIS PAGE: Pedini Hook kitchen

by Pedini with honed Nero
Assoluto granite worktop and
stainless-steel Pedini Piano
Cottura Curvo; Tagine by Emile
Henry; Tools frying pan by Björn
Dahlström for Iittala; cast-iron
pestle and mortar from David
Mellor; Rasp salt and pepper set
by Rosendahl; Cleaver by Global;
orange blossom water, fish
seasoning and steak seasoning
by Arabica Food Company.

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Stockist details on page 8 Fly Different – Fly Piaggio Aero and discover why Size Matters.

38 ISSUE 10/09

Contact us to get more detailed information and discuss a demo flight. | Europe/Rest of World (+39) 010 648 1234 | North & South America (+1) 561 253 0104 | www.piaggioaero.com
ASTON MARTIN by invitation only

B Y
I N V I T A T I O N
O N LY
With the last glow of dusk yielding to the bright lights of the city
streets, we join our two couples as they’re whisked into the night
by the only four-seater in which to be seen: Aston Martin’s Rapide.
For when you’re stepping out for cocktails at the hottest ticket in
town, how you make your entrance is just as important as how you
accessorise that killer dress. It’s party season, and Aston Martin
knows exactly how to get the four of you there

ABOVE:
Andrea wears dress by Brioni, Panther earrings by Cartier.
Martina wears ruched dress by Versace, diamond necklace by Van Cleef & Arpels.
Howard wears shirt by Versace.

40 ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 41

ASTON MARTIN by invitation only

ABOVE & OPPOSITE:

Andrea wears leggings by Missoni, sheepskin jacket by Ralph Lauren, Panther rings and
earrings by Cartier, Trio bangles by Cartier, Panther cuff by Cartier, Leopard bag by Roger Vivier.
Martina wears Asymmetric dress by Versace, woven jacket by Missoni, sequins scarf by Pringle,
Jackie O gold cuff by Van Cleef & Arpels, rings by Van Cleef & Arpels.
Stuart wears grey suit by Richard James, white shirt by Richard James, shoes by Sergio Rossi,
Patravi EvoTec watch in rose gold by Carl F Bucherer.
Howard wears check suit by Richard James, shirt by Gieves & Hawkes, Master Grande watch
in pink gold by Jaeger-LeCoultre.

42 ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 43

ASTON MARTIN by invitation only

LEFT:
Stuart wears suit and shirt by Brioni.

ABOVE:
Howard wears navy fine polka dot suit and shirt by
Richard James, white pocket square by Gieves & Hawkes,
Master Grande watch in pink gold by Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Stuart wears suit and shirt by Brioni, Patravi EvoTec
watch in rose gold by Carl F Bucherer.

RIGHT:
Andrea wears silk dress by Brioni, Envol ring by
Van Cleef & Arpels.

44 ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 45

A S TT O
ONN M
M AA RRTTI INN by invitation only

LEFT:
Stuart wears suit and shirt by Richard James, pocket square by Gieves & Hawkes,
Patravi EvoTec watch in rose gold by Carl F Bucherer.

BELOW:
Andrea wears nude dress by Lanvin, Panther ring and cuff and Trio bangles by
Cartier, Jackie O gold cuff by Van Cleef & Arpels, Daphne bag by Quentin Mackay
Howard wears shirt by Brioni, trousers by Burberry, belt by Polo Ralph Lauren,
Master Grande watch in pink gold by Jaeger-LeCoultre.

46 ISSUE 0
107
8/09 ISSUE 10/09 47
AST
TOON
N M
M AA RRTTI INN

ABOVE:
“ Conformism is an enemy of creativity...”
Martina wears ruched dress by Versace, diamond necklace
and cluster ring by Van Cleef & Arpels.
Stuart wears shirt by Brioni, trousers by Versace, Patravi EvoTec
watch in rose gold by Carl F Bucherer. Stockist details on page 8

48 ISSUE 0
107
8/09
ASTON MARTIN
BEAUTY IS
SKIN DEEP
A Berluti shoe, an Hermès wallet, a Dunhill
bag – each a tantalising microcosm of the
m o s t ra r e f i e d i t e m s i n t h e w o r l d ; a w o r l d
where only the best will do, where each
precious item hints at the lengths that some
c ra f t s m e n w i l l g o t o c r e a t e s u b l i m e o b j e c t s
t h a t t ra n s c e n d t h e m u n d a n e , t ra n s f o r m i n g
ra w m a t e r i a l s i n t o i r r e p l a c e a b l e , l i f e - l o n g
c o m p a n i o n s . Re n o w n e d c o n n o i s s e u r a n d b o n
v i v e u r Ro j a D o v e s i n k s i n t o t h e w o r l d o f
ra r e f i e d l e a t h e r
The leather industry is one of the oldest known. Its skill has been
diversified and perfected over the years to enable us to craft clothing,
shelter, carpets, footwear, belts, containers, boats, and armour. Ironically,
whether by trial and error or accident, man discovered and perfected
various methods for preserving and softening leather. Treating skins in
diverse ways with smoke, grease, and bark extracts. In primitive societies
the craft was a closely guarded secret, passed down from father to son,
which is not too dissimilar to the secrets of many of today’s most
revered houses.
50
The finest leathers, other than exotic skins, are obtained by splitting the
skin and using only the fine outer layer. The remaining skin has no natural
surface and is often covered with thick dyes to give it a finish, or
sometimes manufacturers use the technique of applying glue to one side
of the split skin or suede, which is then pressed through rollers – these
flatten and even out one side of the material, giving it a short-lived
smooth appearance of full-grain leather. An experienced leather buyer
will spot these differences from a metaphoric mile; whereas the fool is
quickly parted from their money.
Full grain leather has nothing removed from it other than its hair. The
grain remains in its natural state giving it strength and durability making
it perfect for jackets and shoes. It is similar to calf which is softer and has
a finer grain. Calf is used in the creation of high quality shoes and other
luxury goods; the finest is known as box-calf, the best – French box-calf.
French box-calf is treated with chromium salts to create the almost
imperceptible square markings in the grain that slowly open as the piece
acquires the soft patina of age revealing its hidden beauty.
ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09
beauty is skin deep
Each technique with its particular treatments results in speciality skins,
a fact not lost on Dunhill who have created peerless accessories for men
since the beginning of the 20th century in the tradition of Alfred Dunhill
who developed his father’s saddle-making firm responding to the
growing demand for automobiles. He developed a range of accessories
called ‘Dunhill’s Motorities’. Dunhill promoted his company under the
slogan ‘Everything but the Motor’ and quickly established himself as
one of the world’s first men’s accessories companies.
Dunhill still create their bespoke items in their London workshop, created
by a single artisan whose name is sewn into the base of each piece to
guarantee its authenticity. Their latest collection draws its inspiration
from their vast archive, where designs used by British Servicemen in the
1940s have been revived in the softest calf but with adaptations for the
needs of the modern discerning man, including pockets for every
conceivable piece of technology, thus combining traditional techniques
with contemporary lifestyle.
51
ASTON MARTIN

Every individual scale is gently hammered onto a block to gently raise the skin
giving it a slightly domed effect: it is now so rare you can count on one hand the
number of people left in the world who have the skill to do it

The semi-glazed finish is understated, with a natural soft sheen which is

exceptionally durable – the result of low speed, low pressure buffing
using a combination of natural waxes and oils. This process does not
This desire to have the finest leather softened and caressed into an subject the skin to excessive pressure and therefore the leather remains
object with unparalleled beauty in its own right has been an obsession soft and supple. The surface retains its natural pattern which can be
for shoemakers Berluti since 1895. Following in the family’s pursuit for flexed repeatedly with little or no wrinkling; it is extremely resilient to
excellence Olga Berluti has developed a rare and special process for a abrasion. The colour penetrates deeply giving the surface a natural,
signature leather known as Venezia, inspired by the anguish on her three-dimensional effect. Rather than deteriorating with daily use, the

HUGO BOSS UK LTD. Phone +44 207 5545700 www.hugoboss.com

clients‘ faces as their most cherished shoes gave up their last step at the sheen of the semi-glazed finish gets richer and deeper over time.
zenith of their aesthetic beauty. The skins undergo a secret process
where pigments are applied at will to attain an unprecedented By contrast a high-glaze is obtained through a specialised process
kaleidoscope of colours and tones which are then given a level of depth, which produces a smooth shiny skin that is associated with the finest
richness, and lustre which other shoemakers try to emulate without quality of all Hermès items. To achieve this high gloss, a natural
success. Their clients love and cherish their shoes’ aesthetics so much protein such as albumen is polished into the skins using a hard,
many travel from every corner of the world to go to an annual smooth surface attached to a high pressure glazing jack; the skin is
masterclass to learn a small facet of the undisclosed secret of the leather compressed and polished resulting in a high-gloss shine. Whilst this
to maintain its precious beauty. Others will send missives explaining finish appears to be durable because of its hard surface, it is difficult
their requirements in such minute detail one imagines them sitting with to bend and can be susceptible to damage from abrasion in normal
a pantone chart anguishing over their next melange. use. The high-glazed finish is best suited to flat surfaces such as
wallets and purses. If that is not enough there is one final treatment
The ultimate skin of all is American alligator which is considered to be the skin can undergo where every individual scale is gently hammered
more consistent in quality than crocodile as there is only one species. onto a block to gently raise the skin giving it a slightly domed effect:
The skins are processed in various ways resulting in two main effects – it is now so rare you can count the number of people left in the world
high-glaze and semi-glaze. Hermès leaves the rest of the leather world on one hand who have the skill to do it.
standing with its vast array of pieces in every imaginable colour.
If you want to understand why a true connoisseur cherishes these
items so, just run a trembling finger and quivering eye across a Berluti
BOSS Black

shoe, an Hermès wallet, or a Dunhill bag and be forever ruined as

nothing else will do. Maybe at their core these brands observe
Alfred Dunhill’s maxim, ‘It is not enough to expect a man to pay for
the best, you must also give him what he has paid for.’

52 ISSUE 10/09

HUGO BOSS Store The Willett Building 35-38 Sloane Square London SW1W 8AQ Phone 0207 259 1240
BOSS Store Westfield London Ariel Way London W12 7GD Phone 0208 222 6310
ASTON MARTIN live the label

THIS PAGE: One of Christian Lacroix’s

kaleidoscopic interiors for Hotel
Bellechasse in Paris, France.

Not only does the hotel format lend itself perfectly to a crafted
lifestyle experience – total brand immersion, if you like – it also
provides a vast canvas upon which its artistry can be writ large,
and for world-weary travellers lost in an ocean of characterless and
deliberately neutral places to stay, a fashion brand’s own hotel
offers a destination with instantly familiar and trusted brand values

In its perfected form, a hotel is an island, a respite, a refuge from the world around it. These rare,
temporary homes-from-home manage to find that precarious balance between history, tradition,
culture and style, while avoiding unnecessary indulgences, thoughtless folly or graceless, tasteless
décor. When it comes to hotels, luxury is not the amount of chintz or drapery per square inch, but
often the lack thereof. Restraint is luxury, and often this concept is best understood by those
creative souls who have dedicated their lives to celebrating aesthetics through adornment; the
fashion designer.

Armani. Lacroix. Versace. Missoni. These great creators of fashion have all developed luxury hotels
situated around the globe that not only strive to provide completely immersive brand experiences,
but seek to embody the very soul of the men and women behind the labels.

The concept of a dwelling designed or inspired by fashion is not new, though it began in a
different, if more private form. The designers’ own homes were once the living embodiments of
their respective core brand values: one need only to look at the legendary 31 rue Cambon
apartment of Coco Chanel, the tragically infamous Miami Beach home of Gianni Versace, or the
fabulous Paris treasure chest that Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berger called home for nearly five
decades. These private living spaces were anything but; the designers created homes that reflected
their aesthetic in its most synthesised form. A direct line of inspiration can be drawn between
Yves Saint Laurent’s collection of priceless Roman busts that littered his home, and his runway
collections of the ’70s and ’80s, for example.

HAUTE HOTELIERS
Yo u ’ v e w o r n t h e l a b e l , n o w l i v e t h e l a b e l . We e x a m i n e t h e r i s e o f f a s h i o n a n d l u x u r y h o u s e
h o t e l s a c r o s s t h e g l o b e : Pa l a z z o Ve r s a c e i n D u b a i a n d A u s t r a l i a ; B u l g a r i H o t e l s i n M i l a n a n d
B a l i ; H o t e l B e l l e c h a s s e b y L a c r o i x i n Pa r i s ; A r m a n i H o t e l s a n d R e s o r t s i n D u b a i ; H o t e l
M i s s o n i i n E d i n b u r g h , K u w a i t , B e l g i u m … J a k e To w n s e n d c h e c k s i n t o t h e m o s t s p e c t a c u l a r
catwalks on earth
The designers were always sure, of course, to have had their inner sanctums photographed just-
so, and then published in magazines and books as a means of reinforcing the concept behind all
great fashion houses: they are selling a lifestyle above all else. The products are, for the most part,
incidental. It is a surprise therefore that it actually took this long for fashion designers and luxury
houses to create hotel concepts, as the hotel is the ultimate conduit through which to broadcast
the core brand message and values used to sell the lifestyle that sells the product. Unlike a
photograph or a billboard, a hotel provides that coveted three-dimensional brand experience that
not even a retail store can successfully provide. You don’t sleep in a retail store (though many
obsessive shoppers undoubtedly dream of it).

54 ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 55

ASTON MARTIN live the label

When it comes to hotels, luxury is not the amount of chintz or drapery per square inch,
b u t o f t e n t h e l a c k t h e r e o f. R e s t r a i n t i s l u x u r y , a n d o f t e n t h i s c o n c e p t i s b e s t u n d e r s t o o d
by those creative souls who have dedicated their lives to celebrating aesthetics through
adornment; the fashion designer

It was the ubiquitous fashion designers’ ‘home’ collections, meaning

branded sheets, towels, dishware and flatware, that laid the groundwork
for the fashion hotel. Beginning with the highly successful lines of the
early ’90s from Calvin Klein – who has interestingly never lent his name
to a hotel – and later the home collections of Versace, Armani, and
Missoni, they proved there was an eagerly awaiting customer base who
would pay a premium price for home-related goods branded by their
favourite house of fashion and design. It is this same customer base that
now flocks to Bulgari’s chic hotels in Milan and Bali, Lacroix’s flamboyant
Hotel Le Bellechasse in Paris, Versace’s lush Palazzo in Australia and who
will undoubtedly rush to the as yet unfinished Armani Hotel construction
in Dubai.

When one approaches Le Bellechasse, located just steps from the Musée
d’Orsay in Paris’ deeply civilized Faubourg St Germain, little of the staid
exterior belies what famed couturier Christian Lacroix has created inside.
Step past the rich crème coloured façade, and one is immediately
confronted with a riot of colour and pattern, so closely resembling the
haute couture that has made Lacroix a living legend that it feels as if PREVIOUS PAGE ABOVE: The bar at Hotel Missoni, Edinburgh, Scotland. PREVIOUS PAGE BELOW: The Armani Hotel Dubai, due to open soon in the Burj Dubai,
the word’s tallest tower, in Emaar’s new Downtown Burj Dubai development, United Arab Emirates. ABOVE: The spectacular Palazzo Versace Gold Coast, Australia.
the building itself is a ball gown draped on the lithe shoulders of a
nervous debutante in the grand ballroom of the Crillon. Rooms are
decorated in a palette of chaos, featuring walls, bedding and furniture
virtually bathed in an ever shifting mosaic of printed fabrics, striped
wallpapers, vintage illustrations and highly treated surfaces that lend the
hotel a whimsical, jewel box-like feeling unlike any other building on
earth. That is, with the exception of the first Lacroix-designed hotel in the
Marais – the Hotel du Petit Moulin.

At the other end of the design spectrum, and in near-diametric

opposition to Lacroix and his Le Bellechasse, is Bulgari’s understated and
quietly glamorous Hotel Bulgari Milano located just adjacent to that city’s
storied fashion quarter. Like the coveted jewels for which Bulgari is so
well known, this glamorous 58-room space is the only hotel within the
Milanese walls with a private garden, and an afternoon cocktail scene
that rivals that of New York or London. Though it is not widely discussed
in public, Hotel Bulgari is managed by the Ritz Carlton chain, and its
attention to detail is evidence of this successful partnership.
With an interior awash in neutral and earth tones, often lighted by what
appears to be an entire nave’s worth of flickering candles, the Hotel
Bulgari manages to simultaneously embody and subvert the core brand
ideology. In addition to Milano, Bulgari has another much-loved resort on
the Indonesian island of Bali, and several restaurants in the Ginza and
Omotesando neighbourhoods of Tokyo.
Fans of fashion the world over are never far away from places where the
sun and sand provide a breezy backdrop to unfettered holidays away
from the bustle. It’s no wonder then that Donatella Versace, the world’s
undisputed queen of the sun-soaked set, would choose to open her first
hotel – the fittingly named Palazzo Versace – on Australia’s Gold Coast.
Situated just 20 minutes from Brisbane, Palazzo Versace features nearly
300 rooms, each decorated in Versace’s trademark Rome-is-burning neo-
classical high style that positively drips with opulence. Though the hotel
is located on one of the loveliest beaches this side of Bondi, guests in the
know flock to the Salus Per Aquum Spa where the gold tiles, wall-to-wall
pools and attention to every detail make the experience akin to entering
what feels like Caligula come to life.
I t ’ s n o w o n d e r t h e n t h a t D o n a t e l l a Ve r s a c e , t h e w o r l d ’ s u n d i s p u t e d q u e e n o f t h e s u n - s o a k e d s e t , w o u l d
c h o o s e t o o p e n h e r f i r s t h o t e l – t h e f i t t i n g l y n a m e d Pa l a z z o Ve r s a c e – o n A u s t r a l i a ’ s G o l d C o a s t
On the other side of the globe, far away from the glamour of the And the choice certainly doesn’t stop there for fashionista globetrotters.
European capitals, the ubiquity of New York or the exoticism of Bali, Knitwear geniuses Missoni have recently opened their Hotel Missoni in
in the heart of the United Arab Emirates, lies a virtual hotbed of the increasingly cosmopolitan city of Edinburgh, with more properties
designers’ hotels. Under construction as this issue is going to press is the already in development in Kuwait, Cape Town, Brazil and Oman – all
second Palazzo Versace and the first of a planned worldwide chain by of which feature the most coveted robes and bath towels on earth.
Armani. The Palazzo Versace, being constructed on the banks of the The colours and patterns are exuberant to say the least, but tastefully
Dubai Creek in the unfortunately named ‘Culture Village’, will be replete matched. Ralph Lauren has lent his preppy chic aesthetic to Round Hill
with more than 200 suites, all of which will assuredly feature suitably in Jamaica, which is still among the most exclusive addresses in the
extravagant décor and Roman-inspired furnishings that so typify the Caribbean. Designer John Rocha has the urbane Morrison Hotel in Dublin,
joyous glamour that made Versace so beloved by the world’s Riviera- and legendary milliner Philip Treacy designed The G Hotel in Galway.
bound jetset. The hotel is planned to open in 2010. No word yet on And not to be outdone, hotels by Oscar de la Renta, Krizia and the
whether the rumoured refrigerated beach is still included in the plan. fabulous Ferragamos await guests who seek bespoke brand immersion in
more ways than one.
Just up the Dubai Creek, acting as a kind of counterweight to Versace, as
he also did while Versace was still alive, is Giorgio Armani’s Armani Hotel No matter your personal style – be it Versace or Missoni, Armani or
Dubai, also under construction. With a planned opening in spring 2010, Bulgari – it need no longer be confined to your closet. There is a designer
Armani Hotel Dubai will be an exercise in that signature crisp, highly hotel perfectly tailored to suit who you are, where you are.
edited neutrality that makes his clothing so universal. There is a
timelessness to the Armani style, and the Armani Hotel Dubai, which will
be located in the Burj Dubai, soon to be the world’s tallest building,
will most certainly set the hospitality bar slightly higher in a city not
known for its understated glamour. The hotel will also feature the Middle
East’s first Armani/Privé – a nightclub concept, and Armani-branded
flowers and sweets shops.

56 ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 57

ASTON MARTIN fashion 2010

With each fashion season comes a new plethora of trends. This new spring/summer
season you might expect to see trousers go turned up, jackets go patchwork, with
monochrome, country, military and future fabrics all key for men, with sober shades,
leggings (again), the futuristic and graphically printed all big for women. That, at least,
is what the catwalks say. But never mind the micro, what of the macro? Josh Sims asked
three major players in the fashion industry – each from a different corner of the globe
and each with a different perspective – to give their recommendations and comment
on how they see fashion shaping up over the coming years

THE EDITOR: CHRISTIAN BARKER
‘Men have always dressed in a more straight-
laced way than women, but I think the
recession is going to push us towards the
classics even further. We’re not going to
start spending truckloads on clothes then look
silly in a few months. The blazer, for example,
is big again – a garment that has certain
connotations but which actually is hugely
adaptable. It looks as good with trainers and
a T-shirt as flannels and a tie. Double-breasted
jackets are coming through again too – it’s
classic but feels different because it’s been away for so long. Men are
actually growing less scared to stand out, but I feel there’s less demand
for envelope-pushing design now. It’s more about dapper self-expression
– flamboyance rather than fashion. There are those designers giving an
edge to classic fashion now – the likes of Kris van Assche for Dior
Homme, or Kim Jones, with his new collection as creative director at
Dunhill. But it’s also why the likes of Savile Row tailors doing something
just a bit different, like Norton & Sons, or the likes of Zegna, Paul Smith
and Ralph Lauren are going to have their moment again. From Ralph you
can get a grey suit or bright trousers embroidered with pheasants. It’s also
why I think any kind of high-fashion styling is unlikely for a while now –
we’ve seen enough of the trend for wearing trousers rolled up, for
example. I’m not sure men should be showing off too much ankle. It’s one
step towards Capri pants.’
Christian Barker (left) is editor-in-chief of the acclaimed men’s style magazine The Rake,
based out of Singapore. Prior to that he was launch editor of August Man and features
editor of Nylon Australia
THE DESIGNER: PIETRA PISTOLETTO
‘The big thing in womenswear over the coming
year and beyond is going to be its facing up
to the environmental impact of clothing.
It’s something that womenswear in particular
has been reluctant to embrace because it has
combining of the old and new – more mix and match and more natural
fabrics and colours. It’s a kind of modern ethnic style. But environmentalism
is not the only social change that is going to shape the way we dress.
We’re more mobile now and move between formal and casual occasions
so need more flexible clothing. Technical fabrics have been more widely
embraced by menswear but womenswear are picking up on that now too.
Women may still be prepared to suffer for the way their clothes look, but
increasingly there’s a demand that they work as well as they look.’
Pietra Pistoletto (centre) is a widely exhibited Turin-based designer who apprenticed
with Christian Dior before specialising in limited edition pieces created from recycled
clothing – blurring the boundary between fashion and art (her father is the sculptor
Michelangelo Pistoletto)
THE STYLIST: WILLIAM GILCHRIST
‘Over 2010 and the following few years we’re
going to see menswear bounce back to a new
individuality. And that has been a long time
coming. For several seasons now menswear
designers have been stuck in a rut of effectively
providing uniforms – what you buy in Prada is
not really any different to what you may get
from Richard James. And too many brands are
cheap, even among the top level labels – by
which I mean that their production numbers
require a sameness in design in order to sell it,
while keeping costs down and prices up. The result has been a dressing to
stereotype, a sheep-like attitude to style. The idea that men are scared of
dressing differently is wrong – they do so given the choice. And now there
is homogeneity the inevitable result will be a drive to what you might call
a sartorial idea of customisation – ways to find some character in our
clothing. Some big brands are starting to break out of the Land of Bland
with their spring/summer collections – I may not like it all but Lanvin,
Bottega Veneta and Hermes do at least have an opinion, a point of view.
They bring difference through detail, which is what menswear is about –
we don’t have the extremes of womenswear available. Smaller designers
are also capitalising on this – the likes of Oliver Spencer, the tailor Richard
Anderson, whose suits are like wearing a light hug, and Tim Soar, who you

FA S HFORWARD
ION
been led so heavily by the attitude of stores the
have to applaud for bringing quality tailoring into a younger line. Let’s be
likes of H&M and Zara, which have introduced
honest here – no man needs any more jeans or T-shirts.’
a disposability to fashion. I wouldn’t judge those
stores – I’ve shopped with them. But one good Freelance fashion stylist William Gilchrist (right) has worked in Milan and New York and
is now based in London. His work has appeared in the likes of L’Uomo Vogue, Details
thing to come out of the downturn is a and The Observer, and he consults to the likes of Belstaff and Calvin Klein
reappraisal of consumerism generally. You can
see the beginning of change in fashion happening now as it did in food –
first there were just a few small brands and stores selling expensive organic
products to the few interested consumers but now organic food is a huge
industry. When I started out working in recycled clothing in 1994 some
people thought I was crazy, especially in fashion – which has always been
about the new. But times are changing. Next year we’re going to see more

58 ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 59


OUT OF THEIR
SHELLS
No longer the stuffy accompaniment to the dreaded twin-set, pearls
are officially cool again – jewels to be worn with pride, not to mention
style, thanks to the incredible innovation and creativity on display at
h o u s e s s u c h a s M i k i m o t o , A u t o r e , Va n C l e e f & A r p e l s a n d C a r t i e r. H e r e
Avril Groom hails a welcome revival, and explains how top-end, prize
pearls from the South Seas and Japan are firing imaginations, inspiring
daring combinations and slowly becoming a girl’s new best friend
Pearls are back in vogue, bigger and better than ever, for the first time
since girls in pearls became a social cliché that nearly killed off these lovely
gems. Every well-bred young woman used to receive a string of pearls,
often inherited, as a rite of passage. Their popularity was boosted by style
icons like Jackie Kennedy, who wore her magnificent three-row necklace
with a glittering diamond flame brooch by top jewellers Van Cleef &
Arpels. Mostly such pearls were white, round and discreet, and in design
terms the plain necklace dominated. Eventually, in more rebellious times,
the prosperous lifestyle they represented seemed boring, and the world of
style fell out of love with pearls for several decades.
They had not always been used so unimaginatively. Hundreds of years
ago natural pearls of great price, in all their variety of size and shape,
were mixed with diamonds, sapphires and rubies in rich Renaissance
jewels. The string became a status symbol because finding the matching
gems took years and a great deal of money but once pearls began to be
cultured in regular sizes on an industrial scale, they slowly lost their lustre.
ISSUE 10/09
a girl’s new best friend
More recently the industry has faced other problems. Some Japanese
oyster beds have been affected by disease and the market has been
flooded by inexpensive Chinese freshwater pearls which are cultured
more quickly than others and lack the depth of colour and sheen created
by developing layers of nacre over several years, which is the minimum
for a good pearl.
Now circumstances have changed. South Sea pearls – larger, high-quality
and in a wonderful colour spectrum – have become more available over
the past decade, though are still rare and expensive. Along with
exquisite, smaller Japanese Akoya pearls from new farms in unpolluted
waters and rare, irregular-shaped Keshi pearls, they are firing the
imaginations of designers keen to work with combinations of materials
and colours that would not have occurred to a previous generation.
‘There has been a breakthrough with designers using mixes of
semiprecious stones and unusual colours, and pearls are part of this,’ says
Nicolas Bos, creative director of Van Cleef & Arpels.
61
ASTON MARTIN a girl’s new best friend

PREVIOUS PAGE:
Van Cleef & Arpels Dentelle
de Perles necklace with
round, pear-shaped and
marquise-cut diamonds.
THIS PAGE LEFT:
Mikimoto briolette drop
earring with white
South Sea cultured pearl
and briolette diamonds.
THIS PAGE RIGHT:
Mikimoto large white South
Sea cultured pearl ring with
a pave diamond setting.

‘ We g r o w t h e v e r y l a r g e S o u t h
Sea pearl oyster under very strict
rules of sustainability and it is
completely different from the little
freshwater pearls being produced
quickly and in vast quantities in
China, which have driven down
the price for small pearls’

Merveilles collection is still a major challenge. Rainero says, ‘It is getting

harder and harder to source high quality pearls. We don’t often use
cultured pearls, they don’t have the same magic as, say, the soft pink
freshwater pearls we used in our new Secrets et Merveilles collection.’
The work of South Sea-based pearl growers and jewellers like Rosario
‘We have always used them where appropriate, often mixed with Autore is helping. ‘The very large South Sea pearl oyster was discovered
diamonds for which their softness provides the perfect contrast. But now 150 years ago but it is rare and fragile and its culture requires remote,
we are picking out tones – for instance the green shades in some grey unpolluted waters and a great deal of care,’ he says. ‘We grow it under
pearls look wonderful with emeralds or tsavorites, while others veer very strict rules of sustainability and it is completely different from the little
towards purple that goes well with pink sapphires – so there are many freshwater pearls being produced quickly and in vast quantities in China,
which have driven down the price for small pearls. They do not grow as
new possibilities.’ Bos also believes that pearls have a resonance for today:
‘They are essentially subtle and sophisticated, very appropriate at a time big as even the smallest South Sea pearl.’
when people want to appear less ostentatious,’ he says. At Cartier,
creative director Pierre Rainero agrees. ‘We combine pearls with softly The biggest examples easily make a centrepiece for jewellery, especially in
coloured stones, like cloudy yellow sapphires or spinels,’ he says. ‘Pearls the hands of designers like Autore’s Alessio Boschi. He is inspired to use
complement these delicate stones with a depth and warmth.’ huge, irregular pearls as the bodies of mythical sea creatures, sparkling
with multi-hued blue sapphires or sea green emeralds. Utterly perfect,
The big pearls used in today’s mixed-gem pieces comes from a large spherical examples form the centres of big cocktail rings in his Fire and Ice
oyster species – Pinctada maxima – that occurs in three colour varieties collection, teamed with rubies and black diamonds to represent a volcano
which each produce wide shade variations. Finding perfectly matched erupting, or with the whitest diamonds and quartz plates to evoke an
colours and sizes to make, for instance, the cascades of coloured pearls icescape. Franklin Adler is another jeweller inspired by pearls and
toning with delicate pastel gemstones in Cartier’s new Secrets et especially their soft colours.

62 ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 63

ASTON MARTIN a girl’s new best friend

‘They add light to the face and are very sensual to touch,’ he says. ‘They have become actors on
centre stage – I use them like any other precious stone,’ as his ring centred on a soft gold pearl
surrounded by a cluster of pale yellow briolette sapphires bears out. Other designers take a
modernist approach, perhaps inspired by the iconic Stormy Weather collection which fashion
designer Yohji Yamamoto developed, using large black and white pearls, for top Japanese producer
Mikimoto, which originated pearl culture in 1893 and now works on major oceanic environmental
projects to help guarantee the future. An example is Chrissie Coleman Douglas’ designs mixing
black pearls with knotted leather giving an almost barbed wire effect.

Such stunning pieces, especially where mixed with precious stones, offer obvious pearl investment
value (family-run British jeweller Boodles has made Tahitian pearls in combination with diamonds a
mainstay of its collection), as do the very occasional jewels designed by houses like Van Cleef &
Arpels or Cartier that incorporate irreplaceable antique natural (i.e. non-cultured) pearls – Rainero
says, ‘We find ourselves looking to antique pearls and now over 90% of those we use are antique.’
This applies even where the carefully matched pearls in the mix are small – a well-known brand will
supply the same guarantees of quality with pearls as with other gems. But with a fine irony of
timing, and perhaps inspired by pearls fan Michelle Obama as a style leader, the string of pearls is
back. Mikimoto has just launched the Debutante necklace of flawless, perfectly matched Akoyas,
while Chanel, long known for the faux pearls favoured by its founder, has stunning strings, with
diamond bow clasps or precious stone pendants, in its latest high jewellery collection. And with fans
like singer Lily Allen or model Agyness Deyn, it looks like girls in pearls have an edgy new image.

Franklin Adler is another jeweller newly inspired by pearls and especially their
soft colours. ‘They add light to the face and are very sensual to touch.
They have become actors on centre stage...’

LEFT: Adler South Sea

pearl ring set with yellow
briolette sapphires.

64 ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 65

 PLEASE
AFFIX
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HERE

PALAZZO VERSACE COMPETITION

ASTON MARTIN MAGAZINE ISSUE 10

AFFINITY PUBLISHING

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ASTON MARTIN
ASTON MARTIN
COLLECTION
Inspired by the same commitment to elegance and style that
characterises every Aston Martin, The Collection is an exclusive
range of fashion accessories and luxury goods that encompasses
the very essence of the marque. Where better to find that perfect
last-minute Christmas gift, or perhaps even a well-earned bit of
personal indulgence? Whether it’s a scale model for the collector,
cufflinks for the sharp dresser, or a watch for the connoisseur,
The Collection has it covered
ON THE CUFF
New to The Collection are these beautifully
crafted cufflinks (RRP £90), their unique design
reminiscent of an Aston Martin’s ‘Emotion
Control Unit’ starter button. Now common to
all models across Aston Martin’s current range,
the ECU involves pushing a glass key snugly
into the dash-mounted ‘docking station’ to
ignite the engine. Made of Aston Martin-
hallmarked sterling silver and set with black
onyx, the Engine Start Cufflinks are sure to stir
the driving enthusiast within, whenever they’re
clicked home.
REPLICA RACERS
Produced by Minichamps as part of their Evolution range, these 1:43 scale models
of Aston Martin’s beloved Nürburgring 24-Hours V8 Vantage N24 racecars, ‘Kermit’
and ‘Rose’ are reproduced in minute detail (RRP £65). Limited to 200 and 206 pieces
respectively, 280 examples of this year’s class-winning Nürburgring debutante, the
V12 Vantage ‘Elwood’ will also be available soon.
66
SLOPE OFF
Aston Martin takes to the slopes this winter – not in a specially
adapted sports car, but on a brand new, hi-tech ski. Further to last
winter’s special-edition ‘DBS Prague’ skis, handmade by Austrian
ski specialist Differences, Aston Martin has now developed a core
range of skis, produced according to the specific Aston Martin
colour specified by the customer – Morning Frost, pictured, being
the most appropriate of course (POA).
ISSUE 10/09
what to buy
ALL WRAPPED UP
Perfect for winter spins in your Volante or
Roadster with the roof down, this elegant new
scarf has been created by Aston Martin in
exclusive collaboration with Italian fashion maestro
Ermenegildo Zegna (RRP £115). Available in a
chic shade of cream truffle, a double layer of
86 per cent wool, 9 per cent silk and 5 per cent
cashmere provides a practical dose of warmth,
with a dash of that signature Zegna cool.
IT’S ALL IN THE WRIST
The enormously fruitful collaboration between Swiss watchmaker Jaeger-
LeCoultre and Aston Martin continues this winter with the new AMVOX2
Rapide Transponder – a chronograph watch that allows owners of the latest
Aston Martin to lock or unlock all four doors by simply touching the watch’s
sapphire crystal at 4 or 8 o’clock (RRP £21,850). Furthermore, by pressing
simultaneously on ‘OPEN’ and ‘CLOSE’, the watch emits a ‘find me’ signal,
causing the Rapide’s headlamps to flash.
ALL TIED UP
Like the cream truffle scarf featured
above, these exquisite new woven silk
ties have been created in collaboration
with Ermenegildo Zegna (RRP £85).
In Zegna’s typically understated fashion,
decoration has been eschewed in
favour of a clean palette of singular
colours, all four of which match popular
Aston Martin exterior colours: Magma
Red, Marina Blue, Meteorite Silver and
Tungsten Silver.
STOWAWAYS
Designed to fit snugly into the boot of any Aston Martin, The Collection’s
ever-popular Luggage range is newly available in cream truffle leather,
perfectly matching your new Aston Martin-branded Zegna scarf
(from £270). Exclusively designed by Aston Martin, each piece of luggage
has been individually handmade. The pieces include a small, medium
and large holdall, a garment bag and beauty case, all bearing the
Aston Martin wings.
For more information on The Collection and Aston Martin merchandise, visit the Online Store at www.astonmartin.com, or call +44 (0)1926 644278
ISSUE 10/09 67
ASTON MARTIN WORKS
VANQUISH AVAILS
I t w a s a n ‘ a l l - Va n q u i s h ’ a f f a i r o n S a t u r d a y 3 O c t o b e r a s K i n g s l e y R i d i n g - F e l c e a n d h i s
Wo r k s S e r v i c e t e a m h a n d e d o v e r t h e i r m a i n w o r k s h o p s t o a h o s t o f Va n q u i s h o w n e r s ,
all eager to hear the story of Aston Martin’s 21st-century, 200mph supercar from the
m e n w h o h a d m a d e i t h a p p e n . S t e v e Wa k e f i e l d w a s t h e r e
Nearly 70 examples were present on Vanquish Celebration Day, some
under cover, but many more in the main car park at the front of Works
Service. Enthusiasts from as far away as the USA were to hear fascinating
presentations introduced by the then-Chief Programme Engineer for the
Vanquish, Ian Minards.
Minards described the decision to build the new car as, ‘an incredible
strategic move... that laid the foundation for what Aston Martin Lagonda
builds at Gaydon today.’ As part of the display, Project Vantage (the
concept that wowed the 1997 Detroit show) shared customarily spotless
floor space with many cars in for service work, as well as a cutaway body
and chassis and (of course) a genuine ‘Bond’ Vanquish.
Once the budget had been signed off by the company’s then-Chief
Executive Bob Dover (also present), it was over to DB7 designer Ian Callum
to pen the muscular lines of the new car.
68
With Callum on the rostrum, the audience heard how he wanted the new
car to be, ‘a meeting of the DB4GT Zagato and the ‘bullish’, outgoing Aston
Martin V8.’ The cockpit was to be ‘like sitting in a machine’ – although, to
his regret, the concept car’s circular air vents made way for rectangular ones.
Project Vantage may look similar to the ensuing production Vanquish but
every surface was changed – including a 20mm increase in the door’s
thickness to accommodate easier-to-source key-barrels.
With an impressive portfolio of designs to his credit, Callum proclaimed the
Vanquish ‘my favourite’.
Not only did the Vanquish represent a dramatic development in styling and
performance for Newport Pagnell cars, it also meant totally new production
methods. This process of re-engineering the production line and retraining
the craftsmen was described vividly by Arthur Sinclair. With its bonded
chassis, carbon fibre, composite and formed aluminium panels and paddle-
actuated ASM transmission, it was light years away from ‘DBs’ and ‘old
school’ V8s.
A new car needs presenting to the world’s press. Harry Calton, a PR veteran
of many new car launches with the Ford Motor Company, oversaw the
October 2000, international media driving event for the Vanquish at
the Duke of Roxburghe’s estate in Scotland. Both Calton and Minards still
remember the drive down from Edinburgh airport, with five brand-new GTs
in convoy.
What a sight that must have been. The Vanquish still has the ability to turn
heads and it was that wow-factor that impressed hard-bitten movie moguls
when deciding on 007’s mount for Die Another Day (2002). Not knowing
the location for the forthcoming Bond blockbuster, as part of its ‘pitch’ Aston
showed a promotional video of a silver Vanquish powersliding through
the snow. Having already settled on action sequences in Iceland, ‘That’s the
car for us!’ agreed the film’s producers. Bonnet-mounted machine guns,
an ‘invisibility cloak’ and spiked tyres came soon after.
The last (of just 2,578) Vanquish models came off the production line at
Newport Pagnell in July 2007. That car has been retained by Aston Martin,
but many more are enjoying active lives with keen owners lavishing much
time and attention on them, returning ‘home’ to the experts at Works Service
for service, repair and upgrade.
In his summing up, Minards encouraged all present to ‘love, cherish, polish
and – above all – drive’ their cars. He also passionately believes that although
the Vanquish could never be replaced, ‘the story continues’. Thanks to events
such as these, it certainly does.
Steve Wakefield is Managing Editor of ClassicDriver.com
ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09
news
A word from the Works
With 2009 drawing to a close, it’s well worth reflecting on
what’s been a fantastic year for both Aston Martin Works
Service at Newport Pagnell and Parts Operations in Wolverton
Mill. We have been busier than ever across all areas of the
business and I would like to thank all our customers, owners
and supporters for their ongoing loyalty, not to mention the
many new customers who have joined us this year – we look
forward to providing you with many more years of support.
Indeed, I hope owners of current-production Aston Martins
will be interested in reading our accessories story from
page 72, detailing the many enhancements now available
from Parts Operations through your Aston Martin Dealer –
both aesthetics- and performance-wise. And besides the
carbon-fibre diffusers, sports exhausts and lightweight alloys,
to name just a few, Works Service is now proud to offer a
completely bespoke upholstery service for all Aston Martin
owners, with a host of exciting trim options to choose from.
As you will read from Steve Wakefield’s excellent report
opposite, October’s Vanquish Celebration Day went even better
than could be expected. It was truly wonderful to receive the
support of so many enthusiasts of the marque and of the
Vanquish itself. From a personal perspective, I particularly
enjoyed having the old team back together again and sharing
old memories. From all the emails and letters received since
that Saturday, it seems many of you enjoyed it just as much.
Going into 2010, we certainly have no intention of easing off
the throttle, so to speak. This year has seen the most significant
expansion of our Heritage department and next year we’re
looking to recruit and reinforce this key area to support the
escalating demands of Heritage owners. Many exciting plans
for events are already afoot for 2010 too, led naturally by our
ever-successful Bonhams’ auction. Held annually to capacity
crowds at Newport Pagnell, the 11th sale will be on 22 May
and we’re already receiving telephone enquiries, so make sure
you book your place at the Premier Luncheon soon to avoid
disappointment. I also look forward to revealing details of
another special day in the spring issue, dates and times for
which are still to be confirmed.
For now, I wish you happy reading, enjoyable driving and my
best wishes for the festive season.
Kingsley Riding-Felce
Director of Works Service & Parts Operations
69
ASTON MARTIN WORKS news

WORKS LIFE WORKS LIFE

BARN FIND AT BONHAMS

Simon de Burton reports from September’s classic
c a r m e e t , T h e G o o d w o o d Re v i v a l , w h e r e a n u l t r a - r a r e
Aston Martin DBSC fell under Bonhams’ hammer

Aston Martins don’t come much rarer than the exotic DBSC, a svelte and
rakish two-seater with Superleggera bodywork designed by the celebrated
Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring of Milan. Just two were made,
one right-hand drive, the other left, and they were both used to wow the
crowds at the 1966 motorshows in Paris, London and Turin.
Based on a DB6 with a Vantage engine, five-speed manual gearbox and
dramatically shortened chassis, the DBSC was designed to be lightweight,
agile and fast, boasting a top speed well in excess of 150mph.
The right-hand drive example ended up in England where it was retained
AMOC EVENTS
by the HR Owen dealership for publicity purposes, during which time it was JANUARY–MAY 2010
allegedly test-driven by the rangy 1960s supermodel Twiggy before being
sold to a new owner in April 1969. So keen was he to acquire the DBSC 13 January The Walter Hayes Lecture at
that he sold no fewer than six other cars in order to raise the £8,900 asking The Royal Automobile Club (London, UK)
price, which, at the time, made it one of the most expensive road cars in 22 January Track day at Thunderhill Willows (CA, USA)
the world. With 8,000 demonstration miles on the clock, the car was nicely
run-in and ready to provide a lifetime of service – but the buyer added just
75 YEARS OF AMOC 30 January Annual Awards Lunch at The Barn HQ
(Oxfordshire, UK)

6,000 miles more before carefully locking it away in a barn where it remained 12–14 February 75th Anniversary Ice Meeting
(Sylt, Germany)
for the following 36 years.
The Aston Martin Owners Club (AMOC) founder Mortimer 15–20 February Toronto Motor Show display (ON, Canada)
This year, however, the DBSC once more saw the light of day when it
was exhumed from the barn to appear as the star lot at Bonhams’ auction Morris-Goodall, or ‘Mort’ to his friends, purchased his first 19 February 75th Anniversary Tahoe Ski Trip (CA, USA)
during September’s Goodwood Revival. Running perfectly and with its Aston in 1931 – an International S26. Under the guidance 12–14 March Race Retro at Stoneleigh Park
Dubonnet Rosso paintwork and tan pigskin upholstery in original condition, of AC Bertelli, the then-owner of Aston Martin, Mort was (Warwickshire, UK)

it eventually sold to a private buyer for £320,000. persuaded to buy ex-team car ‘LM7’, in which he entered 8–11 April 75th Anniversary in Las Vegas (NV, USA)
After such a long period of hibernation, it’s sure to turn plenty of heads Le Mans in 1933 10 April 75th Anniversary AGM (Oxfordshire, UK)
once it’s rightly reinstated back on the road. 30 April–2 May 75th Anniversary Celebrations
It was during a race at Le Mans that Mort had a puncture and to his horror found that (Styria, Austria)

the hammer to remove the wheel was missing. Frantically gesturing to other drivers his 7–20 May 75th Anniversary Tour to Spain
predicament, a driver of another Aston Martin on a following lap threw a hammer to 9 May Race meeting at Mallory Park
Mort as he passed by. This immediately prompted Mort to think how wonderful it would (Leicestershire, UK)

PRINTS CHARMING be to meet some of his fellow Aston Martin owners. 15 May 75th Anniversary Spring Drive (Canada)

Mort discussed the idea with SCH ‘Sammy’ Davis – then Sports Editor of The Autocar, 16 May 75th Anniversary visit to Portsmouth
Fans of the golden ‘DB era’ of Aston Martin can now buy a range of (Hampshire, UK)
whose own association with the marque went back to 1922. Sammy agreed that an
photographs, technical drawings and advertisements from the new Heritage 22 May Bonhams’ Aston Martin Auction
Aston Martin Owners Club would be a good idea, so inserted a note in The Autocar in
Art collection. Works include individually numbered technical drawings of the (Bedfordshire, UK)
May 1935, calling a meeting in the Grafton Hotel, Tottenham Court Road, London. The 20
DB4 and DB5 signed by former Chief Engineer Harold Beach, plus original 22 May 75th Anniversary International Dinner
or 30 people who turned up on 25 May also agreed and elected a committee, which
factory publicity images. Particular favourites include two factory advertisements (Oxfordshire, UK)
included London garage-owner and Aston Martin racing specialist Lance Prideaux-Brune,
for the DB4 and DB5 from 1961 and 1964, while a superb colour photograph 23 May 75th Anniversary Spring Concours at
Dick Anthony, Maurice Falkner, Harold Bevan, Miss Dorothy Bean and Peter Cadbury.
taken by Brian Joscelyne at the start of the 1959 Le Mans 24-Hours (pictured) Blenheim Palace (Oxfordshire, UK)
Almost three-quarters of a century later, the Club’s Membership currently stands at
shows the three Aston Martin DBR1s lined-up on the grid prior to the epic race 24 May 75th Anniversary Visit to Aston Martin
5,500, represented in 54 countries on 6 continents. To celebrate its 75-year anniversary Gaydon HQ (Warwickshire, UK)
in which they claimed first and second places. The Heritage Art range is limited
the Club is putting together a very ambitious programme throughout the course of 2010, 25 May 75th Anniversary Founders’ Day Lunch
to editions of 25, 50 or 75 pieces depending on the work. All prints are
taking place in 10 countries. There is far too much to list here (see our Events Calendar, at Grafton Hotel (London, UK)
individually numbered, printed on specially selected archive-quality acid-free
below, for a taster) but for full details please visit www.amoc.org and click on ‘75th 25 May 75th Anniversary Ceremony of the Keys
paper and include a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Kingsley Riding-Felce,
Anniversary’. Why not join AMOC too, and be a part of our magnificent achievement? Just at the Tower (London, UK)
Director of Aston Martin Works Service and Parts Operations.
download your application form or call the Membership Secretary on +44 (0)1865 400400. 29 May 75th Anniversary Ball at Banqueting House
We look forward to meeting you at one of our 2010 events. (London, UK)
For availability and ordering information please contact
+44 (0)1908 305530, or visit www.astonmartin.com/heritage

70 ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 71

ASTON MARTIN accessories

ELEMENTS OF STYLE
An exciting range of new Aston Martin accessories is currently being
rolled out, enabling customers to tweak the interior and exterior of
t h e i r V 8 Va n t a g e , D B 9 o r D B S t o s u i t t h e i r o w n i n d i v i d u a l s t y l e

72 ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 73

ASTON MARTIN accessories

PREVIOUS PAGE:
The Lightweight Sports Pack
alloy wheels and N400 Side
Sills lend a muscular,
purposeful stance to the
V8 Vantage.

RIGHT: The Bright-Polished

6-bar Grille makes even
more of a feature of
Aston Martin’s trademark
design element (also
available in painted grey).

LEFT: Hand-crafted by a
master saddler with no less
than 45 years’ experience,
the Aston Martin Leather
Saddle provides two
detachable side bags,
two travel flasks, a bottle
holder and two storage bags
designed for CDs, maps and
guidebooks. It can be retro-
fitted to any V8 Vantage
Coupe or V12 Vantage
(providing the Bang &
Olufsen BeoSound system
isn’t fitted), using the space
on top of the fuel tank.

The host of new accessories now available from Aston Martin’s Parts Operations facility
through your Aston Martin Dealer enable you to tailor both the interior and exterior of your
car to suit your every taste. There’s something for every model – from V8 Vantage to DB9 to
DBS – and each item has been styled by Aston Martin’s own Design Studio before being
developed and tested to the same exacting standards as Aston Martin production parts, which
means fitting them will not invalidate your car’s warranty.

One of the most popular options is Aston Martin’s lightweight Sports Pack Wheel – a high-
specification, forged five-spoke road wheel available in a range of distinctive designs. Originally
designed for the DB9’s lower and stiffer Sports Pack dynamics package, and carried over to
that of the V8 Vantage, the wheels can now be fitted independently from these upgrades.

As can the ‘N400’ side sills – born out of 2007’s limited-edition precursor to the V8 Vantage
Sports Pack, the N400 V8 Vantage, which commemorated the V8 Vantage N24 racecar’s
success in the Nürburgring 24-Hours. Giving the car a lower, meaner stance, the sills extend
its profile and add a sweeping, aerodynamic form that works in perfect harmony with the
original Vantage design. They can be fitted to any Coupe or Roadster model.

74 ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 75

ASTON MARTIN accessories

BELOW: The carbon-fibre

Rear Diffuser includes a new,
lower mesh grille that uses the
same hex pattern as seen on
the DBS and V12 Vantage.
Clear tail and high-mounted
stop lamps also lend a
contemporary, understated
look, first introduced with the
DBS. The new Technical Black
Sports Exhaust pipes can also
be seen here.

ABOVE: The unique Microspin

Alloy facia trim, originally
designed for the limited edition
V8 Vantage N400, is now
available to fit to all V8
Vantage interior centrestacks
with or without satellite
navigation. Also pictured is the
Alcantara steering wheel, as
fitted standard to the V12 Two other exterior styling accessories proving popular with V8 Vantage owners are the carbon-
Vantage and now available
fibre Front Splitter and Rear Diffuser, further complementing the elegant and purposeful stance
for all V8 Vantage and DB9
models, providing extra grip so typical of Aston Martin. Exclusively designed for fitment to V8 Vantage Coupe and Roadster,
when a spirited drive is in the Splitter and Diffuser encompass classic Aston Martin design cues and integrate perfectly with
order. It can also be specified its low profile and muscular poise. The components are produced using hand-laid precision
with steering wheel controls.
laminating techniques to ensure the direction, consistency and quality of the carbon-fibre weave.

The sleek aesthetic lent by carbon fibre can even be extended to your Aston Martin’s two side
strakes – along with the trademark front grille, a signature element to the classic Aston Martin
‘look’. Using the highest quality, race-bred materials, the lightweight weave can be admired
through a highly polished lacquer, perfectly complementing the mesh grille behind and providing
the perfect match to the Front Splitter and Rear Diffuser package.

76 ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 77

ASTON MARTIN accessories

But it’s not all cosmetic: unique Aston Martin-engineered Sports Exhaust systems for both DB9 BELOW: The lacquered black
weave of the carbon-fibre side
and V8 Vantage models are currently in development. The systems will comprise up-rated
strake adds a racy aesthetic
mufflers, bespoke Technical Black tail trims and new engine calibration, which offers, modified to a classic Aston Martin
bypass valve performance. These exhaust systems are road-legal in all territories and, as with design element.
any official Aston Martin accessory, will not invalidate your warranty.

Also available is the V8 Vantage Power Upgrade, which creates an even more potent version
of Aston Martin’s 4.3-litre engine. This is the only Aston Martin factory-approved power
upgrade, developed by Aston Martin’s own engineering team and features valved airboxes
that open at a higher rpm, allowing additional air into the engine. This in turn enables more
power to be produced. Peak power is raised by 20bhp to 400bhp while peak torque is also
increased by 10Nm to 420Nm.

The revised engine management system also enables the engine to take full advantage of the
latest high-octane fuels, providing a crisper throttle response and stronger performance feel.

For more information, please contact your Aston Martin Dealer. Fitment of genuine Aston Martin Accessories does not
affect any Warranty on the vehicle.

TA K E A S E AT

One of the simplest and most popular ways to
personalise your Aston Martin is with its seat.
After all, the seat forms the most immediate
and intimate interaction between the driver and
the car itself – the conduit by which the total
driving experience is felt, enjoyed and reacted
on. Now, thanks to the flexible and, above all,
skilled upholsterers and seamstresses installed
at the Aston Martin Works Service facility in
Newport Pagnell, you can choose whatever
materials and motifs you’d like to be ensconced
within. Embroidered logos or pictures can even
be incorporated into the design, whether it’s
from a drawing, cutting or photograph.
The only limits are set by your imagination.
Here’s just a selection of specially commissioned
seat designs made recently for four DBS owners.
Clockwise from top left: seat in Pacif ic Blue and
Iron Ore leather with embroidered crest to head
rest and logo embroidered in non-standard
colours; seat in white leather with heavy coarse
red stitching and logo embroidered in ivory
stitching; seat in soft red leather with embroidered
gold crest and quilted seat back panel and
cushion; seat in charcoal leather with printed
leather snakeskin pattern to seat back panel
and cushion.
For more information, please contact Aston Martin Works Service on
+44 (0)1908 216 439.

78 ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 79

ASTON MARTIN RACING 2009 round-up

2009
A SEASON TO REMEMBER

In 2009, Aston Martin celebrated the 50th anniversary of winning the 24-Hours of Le Mans outright,
and they certainly celebrated in style. Returning to the LMP1 prototype ranks with the Gulf-liveried
coupe, Aston Martin Racing quickly found themselves in the winners’ circle with a dramatic Le Mans
Series debut victory; by season’s end, the LMS title was the crowning glory. And as Aston Martin
Racing triumphed in the prototype class, its partner teams added further championship success across
the GT ranks. Brian Laban reports on a vintage racing year for Aston Martin

Le Mans Series

With one eye on the glories of 1959, and after back-to-back Le Mans class
wins in 2007 and 2008, Aston Martin Racing committed themselves to the
giant leap from GT1 to the LMP1 prototype ranks, and a full endurance-
racing programme in Europe and Asia. Japan would be the final flourish (see
page 83), but as well as taking on the dominant diesel-powered Audis
and Peugeots at Le Mans itself, the team would enter the nearest
modern counterpart of that 1959 championship campaign, in the five-round
Le Mans Series in Europe. With the stunning pale blue and orange coupes
(powered by the production based 6.0-litre V12 which would take fourth
overall and be fastest petrol-powered car at Le Mans), they intended to win.
They didn’t wait for long, as 007 crew Stefan Mücke, Tomás̆ Enge and
Jan Charouz gave the newly developed car first-time victory in Barcelona in
April, dramatically stealing the race from Pescarolo after hauling in the
long-time leader and nosing ahead within the dying laps of the six-hour,
1,000km season opener. With Le Mans just 10 weeks and one more LMS
race away, Aston Martin Racing now knew the car’s potential, and Team
Principal George Howard-Chappell quietly mused, ‘It looks like it’s going to
be a hell of a season...’
It was. Le Mans eventually eluded them thanks to the still insuperable,
rule-favoured might of the diesels, but in LMS, Aston Martin Racing fought
the whole way, and ultimately came out on top.
At Spa in May, they came head-to-head for the first time with Le Mans
favourites Peugeot. While seeing the size of the mountain to be climbed,
Mücke, Enge and Charouz stood on the podium again, after a more-than-
usually troubled weekend. An engine change after qualifying cost them two
of the points earned the hard way with third place, but team mates Darren
Turner, Miguel Ramos and Harold Primat clawed four back for fifth place.
Round three, post Le Mans on the Algarve in early August, brought 007 a
third consecutive podium, leading in the early stages, fighting deep into the
night, but denied a final charge at the winning Pescarolo after late-race
problems. George’s pensive verdict this time, ‘It was all to play for...’
At the end of August at the Nürburgring, Aston Martin Racing, having led
every lap of the 1,000km race with one car or another, scored a result that
even they probably didn’t expect: a dominant 1-2-3, led home again by 007,
from Turner and Primat, with Miguel Ramos, Chris Buncombe and Stuart Hall
in the third car. Just to rub it in, and give Aston Martin Racing a maximum
points haul in the Series, Mücke added a final point for pole position.
So Enge, Mücke and Charouz, having been on the podium in every race and
the only crew to take two wins, went to the final round at Silverstone
in September, comfortably (but not invincibly) leading the LMP1 fight.
They weren’t going to let the title slip. Pragmatically staying with enviable
consistency rather than chasing even more speed, they completed the
podium clean-sweep with another third place, and took the drivers’ title
by a clear margin, with Primat and Turner finishing fourth. Fifty years on,
Aston Martin is champion again.
GT1 GT2
With Aston Martin Racing elevated to prototypes, partner teams flew the Aston Martin has the Vantage GT2 for attacking this category. Drayson
GT flag in almost a dozen championships worldwide, from Europe to Japan, Racing campaigned their Vantage GT2 on both sides of the Atlantic, at
USA to Australia – beginning in the GT1 category where Aston Martin Sebring, at Le Mans, and in the LMS, developing the car to run
Racing had returned to racing in such spectacular fashion before competitively on E85 biofuel and making a significant statement about
switching classes. At Le Mans, the Austrian Jetalliance team’s DBR9 was sports-car racing’s ability to respect changing ecological pressures. Beyond
the only Aston Martin in the thinned-out GT1 ranks and they claimed the the Le Mans Series, GT2’s big showcase is the eight-round FIA GT
third step of the podium. They had warmed up for Le Mans with a one- Championship, where French-based Hexis Racing made it to the second
off LMS outing, but although theirs was clearly the quickest GT1 car at step of the podium at Oschersleben on only the second outing with their
Spa, and started on class pole, it lost time to electrical problems and again Vantage GT2 (in close co-operation with Aston Martin Racing) – but then
had to settle for third. At season’s end, the DBR9 that did appear in the turned their full attention to the FIA GT3 series, where they had even more
GT1 title tables was Gigawave’s former FIA GT car driven by Peter Kox and success, right through to a fight for title success that went right down to
Ryan Sharp – having helped Kox take third in the drivers’ championship, the final race.
by winning its only outing, in the final round at Silverstone. But GT1 really
was a shadow of the days when Aston Martin Racing waged all-out war
with the mighty Corvettes.
Drayson Racing campaigned on both sides
o f t h e A t l a n t i c , d e v e l o p i n g t h e Va n t a g e
GT 2 t o r u n c o m p e t i t i v e l y o n E 8 5 b i o f u e l
and making a statement about sports-car
racing’s ability to respect changing
ecological pressures

80 ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 81

ASTON MARTIN RACING
GT3
With their two DBRS9s, Hexis stayed close to the top of the FIA GT3
Championship tables all the way through a 12-race campaign that started
at the Silverstone Tourist Trophy in May and ran to Zolder in late October.
In a super-competitive season, GT3 could boast as many as 40 cars on the
grid from 11 manufacturers. Hexis took three superb victories and three
more podiums with both driver pairings of Thomas Accary and Julien
Rodrigues and Frédéric Makowiecki taking Hexis to the Zolder finale
fighting for both Teams and Drivers championships. They topped the
Teams with a convincing margin, but Accary and Rodrigues were pipped
at the post for the Drivers crown – denying Hexis the double. GT3 was
also the mainstay of the British GT Championship, where the DBRS9s of
the Barwell-Beechdean Motorsport alliance flew the Aston Martin flag
through the season, and what’s more, Italian team Villois Racing won the
International Open GT GTS Teams Championship in their DBRS9s.
GT4
Aston Martin’s motor sport year began in January at the Autosport Show
with the announcement of the new Vantage GT4 Challenge, as part of the
seven-venue Britcar GT Championship and open to all Vantage GT4s
(including the seminal N24) – great racing cars, which already had
Nürburgring and Britcar 24-Hours victories on their CV. Within days of the
Show, Kent-based Phil Quaife had won the SP2 class at the Dubai
24-Hours race in DXB Racing’s Vantage GT4, taking 12th overall in a 75-
car field. Debut privateer Nicholas Mee Racing’s two Vantage GT4s won
the first round of the new Challenge at Silverstone in March; the same
team that confirmed the inaugural title with second place in GT4 at the
season-closing Britcar at Silverstone in October. (One of the prizes is a test
in the Vantage GT2, so watch this space). In the FIA GT4 European Cup,
Michael Mallock took to the podium six times, winning two races and
placing R S Williams third in the championship. And how can we forget
Aston Martin’s double victory at the Nürburgring 24-Hours, with two
Vantage N24s topping the SP10 GT4 class and the V12 Vantage ‘Elwood’
winning in SP8 – two great examples of the fruitful crossover between
Aston Martin’s road and race-car development programmes.
82
ARRIVE AND DRIVE
When Aston Martin took a double class victory in this year’s
Nürburgring 24-Hours race, few realised that the GT4-class-winning
V8 Vantage N24 was actually driven by a team of four talented
amateur racers taking part in a pilot scheme for the company’s
‘Arrive and Drive’ customer race programme. For 2010, three cars
now offer even more customers the chance to realise their dream
of racing on the legendary circuit – including, for more experienced
drivers, the V12 Vantage that Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer
Dr Ulrich Bez drove to class victory in this year’s 24-Hours race.
Test Centre Director Wolfgang Schuhbauer has been an integral
part of Aston Martin’s driving team at the Nürburgring since 2006
and now oversees the customer programme: ‘We take care of
everything for the customer – a perfectly prepared Vantage ready
to compete in the GT4 class, all accommodation, catering,
organisation and hospitality for friends and family. We can also
provide track training from beginner to expert level.’
For more information, please contact Susanne Engelhardt
at the Aston Martin Nürburgring Test Centre on
+49 2691 9385200 or sengelh2@astonmartin.com
ISSUE 10/09
BIG
IN JAPAN
Crowning another great season, endurance
racing spread its wings again as ACO,
custodians of the Le Mans brand, fulfilled
their long-held ambition of adding Asia to
Europe and America on the Le Mans Series
i t i n e r a r y. A s t o n M a r t i n R a c i n g w e r e t h e r e ,
and how…
With two three-hour races at Okayama in Japan on 31 October and
1 November, the first Asian Le Mans Series dipped a toe in the water for
what promises to be an extended Series in 2010, when it should also visit
China. For 2011, the ACO also sees racing in Asia as a key element for its
ambitious Intercontinental Trophy, which will encompass rounds from all
the Le Mans Series – the LMS, American LMS and Asian LMS to make a
truly global championship. And enthusiastically heading the list of 23 cars
contesting the inaugural two-race Series, Aston Martin Racing would end
the season as they had started it in Europe in April, on top of the podium.
Alongside LMP1 rivals Audi Team Kolles, Team ORECA and SORA Racing/
Pescarolo Sport, Aston Martin Racing were adamant that they could not
miss LMS’ first expansion into Asia, with Team Principal George Howard-
Chappell welcoming it as, ‘A great initiative on the part of the ACO,’ adding
that, ‘the perspectives this will open in a year or two are extra motivation
for us... and as always, we’re aiming for the best possible result.’
In all, the new Series attracted 18 teams from 6 nationalities, from the UK
to China, Germany to Japan, and the USA to France. Across the usual four
categories – LMP1, LMP2, GT1 and GT2 – it attracted a dozen different
marques and as at Le Mans in June, Aston Martin were represented in all
but LMP2 – with the Japanese Hitotsuyama Team Nova’s DBR9 in GT1 and
Team Hong Kong Racing’s V8 Vantage in GT2. Sharing weekend billing
with the penultimate rounds of the World Touring Car Championship, the
two LMS races attracted large crowds and produced two outstanding
battles as each race went right to the wire.
ISSUE 10/09
asian le mans series
In theory, Aston Martin Racing’s Gulf-liveried ‘007’ LMP1 car, developed
for the ultra-fast sweeps of Le Mans should have been some way out of
its comfort zone on the tight confines and relatively short straights of the
3.7km Okayama circuit, but Stefan Mücke and Harold Primat laid down
the gauntlet in the opening race by fighting all the way with Le Mans
rivals Pescarolo and ORECA, and actually leading for much of the way.
But on this occasion the one thing missing was luck, as a late splash-and-
dash fuel stop followed by another pit-call to remedy a front bodywork
problem dropped 007 to a hard fought fourth with barely ten minutes of
the race to run, as the Pescarolo and ORECA finished less than seven
seconds apart.
In the second race, Mücke and Primat’s race was almost faultless,
powering through from fourth on the grid well within the first half hour,
into a lead that it never lost – even with another splash-and-dash almost
within sight of the flag. This time the winning margin was a full minute,
from the race-one-winning Pescarolo, so the 007 crew of Mücke and
Primat occupied the top step of the podium just as the 007 crew of
Mücke, Enge and Charouz had almost seven months before in Barcelona.
As icing on Aston Martin’s Asian cake, the Hitotsuyama Team Nova DBR9
of local heroes Akihiro Tsuzuki and Takeshi Tsuchiya took the GT1
honours in the second race. It was a fitting way to end a special year.
83
‘The Aston Martin Rapide Plant – like Aston Martin’s production facility at Gaydon – places an emphasis on quality and craftsmanship,
shunning the constantly moving production line typical of most other car factories in favour of a series of static workstations’

moved to the next along the line, in a total build process that takes approximately 220 man-hours per Rapide’
‘Here time can be lavished upon each stage of hand-building the Rapide. Only once work is completed at one station are the bodies
MODEL RANGE
PURE ASTON MARTIN

Pure Performance.
Pure Driving Pleasure.
On Track
Experience driving your Aston Martin, together with other owners, at our
exclusive track days held on some of the world’s most famous race circuits.
On Ice
Aston Martin will provide a full range of cars for an exclusive Ice Driving event
at the world renowned resort of St Moritz, Switzerland in February 2010.
On Tour
A luxury tour programme, designed exclusively for Aston Martin owners
to enjoy their cars on some of the most exhilarating driving roads in
Europe and North America during 2010.
For further information on all Aston Martin driving experiences
please refer to our website: www.astonmartindrivingexperiences.com
PURE ASTON MARTIN
ASTON MARTIN MODEL RANGE WINTER 2009
ONE-77
RAPIDE
DBS COUPE
DBS VOLANTE
DB9 COUPE
DB9 VOLANTE
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited
V 1 2 V A N TA G E
Banbury Road
Gaydon
Warwickshire, CV35 0DB
England
T: +44 (0)1926 644644
F: +44 (0)1926 644333
www.astonmartin.com
IMPORTANT NOTICE Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is V 8 V A N TA G E
constantly seeking ways to improve the specification,
design and production of its products and alterations
take place continually. Whilst every effort is made
to produce up-to-date literature, the following
Model Range pages should not be regarded as an
infallible guide to current specifications, nor does it
constitute an offer for sale of any particular model.
The contents of this literature represent the Company’s V 8 V A N TA G E R O A D S T E R
business as a whole. Text and photographs may relate
to models not available for sale in some countries.
V12 Vantage is not available in North American
markets. Performance results may vary depending on
the specification of the particular model, road and
environmental conditions and driving style.
Published figures should be used for comparison
purposes only and verification should not be
attempted on public roads. Aston Martin Lagonda
Limited strongly urges that all speed laws be obeyed
and that safety belts be worn at all times. Distributors
and dealers are not agents of Aston Martin Lagonda
Limited and have absolutely no authority to bind
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited by any express or
implied undertaking or representation.
PART NO: 704198
ASTON MARTIN MODEL RANGE rapide

Rapide’s four ‘swan wing’

doors provide access to
cosseting sports seats both
front and rear, swinging
[ rapide ]

RAPIDE
upwards to facilitate access.

The elegant Rapide, functional yet luxurious, provides space for up to four adults combined with an
engaging driving experience synonymous with all Aston Martins. As the marque’s first production
four-door sports car, Rapide encapsulates core values of Power, Beauty and Soul; four ‘swan wing’
doors provide access to cosseting sports seats both front and rear, bestowing occupants with
ample accommodation.
P U R E A S T O N M A RT I N Rapide’s rear environment has been intelligently packaged to create a space where passengers feel a
part of the driving experience with clear views to the front and sides. Comfort and support is supplied
in the form of two hand trimmed individual seats and a personal heating and air conditioning system.
Launched this September, Rapide is the world’s most elegant four-door Aiding the practicalities of everyday use, a 317-litre luggage compartment affords generous space for
belongings for all four occupants whether they are sports bags or, indeed, sets of skis, creating an
s p o r t s c a r. T h e R a p i d e e x i s t s i n a c l a s s a l l o f i t s o w n – a s t u n n i n g Aston Martin which can be enjoyed on any occasion, anytime, anywhere.

evolution of Aston Martin’s unmistakable design language, As Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez said: ‘With Rapide, the entire family can enjoy their
Aston Martin together in unison, in an invigorating yet comfortable environment, sitting low, with
accommodating four adults in luxury and comfort with benchmark plenty of visibility from every seat and with new levels of comfort, refinement and entertainment.’
levels of driver engagement and refinement

ii ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 iii

ASTON MARTIN MODEL RANGE rapide

[ rapide ]

Whether you are driving swiftly to a black tie event with friends or leaving the city for a family
weekend by the coast, the Rapide is the solution – a sports car with ability, bringing more people
to the power, sensations, and pleasure that only an Aston Martin can deliver

DESIGN
Instantly recognisable as an Aston Martin, the Rapide assumes
its extra doors gracefully to visually remain every bit a sporting
coupe as its sister models. Rapide’s low roofline combined
with uniquely styled 20” wheels contribute to its sporting
stance, and the iconic side strake is elongated to meet the
rear doors. Echoing the beauty of the exterior, Rapide’s
interior welcomes all occupants to an exquisitely hand crafted
and spacious cabin. Two individually appointed sports seats
form the rear environment of the Rapide, from which
passengers can benefit from the optional rear entertainment
system: two LCD screens integrated into the back of the front T E C H N I C A L S P E C I F I C AT I O N
headrests. Aiding the practicalities of everyday use, the rear
seats fold at the touch of a button to create a flat loading Rapide
space, increasing the luggage compartment from 317 litres
to 886 litres.
BODY STEERING INTERIOR IN-CAR ENTERTAINMENT DIMENSIONS
PERFORMANCE • Four-door body style with tailgate • Rack and pinion, Servotronic speed- • Full grain leather interior • 1000 W Bang & Olufsen BeoSound • Length 5019 mm (197.6”)
The Rapide is a sports car – a thoroughbred that can be and 4 individual seats sensitive power-assisted steering, • Walnut facia trim audio system with • Width 1929 mm
enjoyed by four people in unison. The front mid-mounted • Extruded bonded aluminium VH 3.0 turns lock-to-lock • Iridium Silver centre console outer ICEpower® technology (75.9”) excluding mirrors;
6.0 litre V12 engine produces 470 bhp and a resultant body structure • Column tilt and reach adjustment finish and Graphite inner finish • Integrated Apple iPod® connector 2140 mm (84.3”) including mirrors
0-60 mph time of 5.1 seconds. Despite its extra versatility, • Aluminium, magnesium alloy and • Auto-dimming interior • USB connector with Waveform Audio • Height 1360 mm (53.5”)
the Rapide’s low roofline, and therefore low centre of gravity, composite body WHEELS & TYRES rear-view mirror Format (WAF), Windows Media • Wheelbase 2989 mm (117.7”)
makes it feel like an agile coupe. Despite the Rapide being • Extruded aluminium door side • 20” alloy wheels • Auto-dimming interior rear-view Player (WMA) and MPEG (MP3) • Front track 1589 mm (62.6”)
290 mm longer than the DB9, it was a key objective to impact beams • Front Bridgestone Potenza mirror with garage door opener audio file compatibility • Rear track 1613 mm (63.5”)
maximise the structural rigidity accounting for the increased • Single bi-xenon headlamps with 245/40 R20 (USA and Canada only)1 • 3.5 mm auxiliary input socket • Fuel capacity 90.5 litres
length in wheelbase. Subsequently, the Rapide’s structure integrated LED side lights and • Rear Bridgestone Potenza • Electrically operated front seats • Kerb weight 1950 kg
would require 28,000 Nm of force to be twisted through direction indicators 295/35 R20 • Memory front seats and exterior OPTIONS (4299 lb) predicted
1 degree. This torsional rigidity is a key element in delivering • LED rear lamps and side repeaters mirrors (three positions) • Cooled front and rear seats
the car’s excellent dynamic. The standard six-speed SUSPENSION • Dual-stage driver and passenger • Twin-screen rear-seat entertainment
Touchtronic 2 automatic transmission has been calibrated ENGINE • Front Independent double wishbone front airbags system with 6-disc DVD player,
to ensure that the additional weight of Rapide has had a • All-alloy quad overhead camshaft, incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil • Front occupant side airbags auxiliary input, wireless headphones
minimal impact on fuel economy, emissions and performance. 48-valve 5935 cc V12 springs, anti-roll bar and monotube • Head protection airbags for front and remote control
Aston Martin’s design team Along with ‘Park’, ‘Reverse’, ‘Neutral’ and ‘Drive’ modes, the • Front mid-mounted engine, adaptive dampers and rear occupants • Alternative facia trim finishes:
paid special attention to system also includes a ‘Sport’ mode, which engages a more rear-wheel drive • Rear Independent double wishbones • Heated front and rear seats Mahogany, Piano Black, Bamboo,
creating a rear passenger aggressive gear-shift strategy as gear changes feel sharper • Fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust with anti-squat and anti-lift • Heated rear screen Tamo Ash, Nexus Alloy
space that is cosseting, and more forceful, engine speed matching on downshifts system with active bypass valves geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar • Automatic front and rear • Matching wood door trim
giving both passengers an is more aggressive and in full automatic mode, upshifts • Compression ratio 10.9:1 and monotube adaptive dampers temperature control • Colour-keyed steering wheel
equally sporting feel to that occur at higher speeds. • Max Power 350 kW • Adaptive Damping System (ADS) • Organic Electroluminescent • Second glass key
of the driver while providing (470 bhp/477 PS) at 6000 rpm (OEL) displays • Magnum Silver rear lamp infills
as much forward and side CONTROL • Max Torque 600 Nm BRAKES • LED map lamps and ambient lighting • Delete model badging
visibility as possible. With the six-speed Touchtronic 2 automatic gearbox (443 lb.ft) at 5000 rpm • Front Dual-cast brake discs, 390mm • Trip computer • Delete protective tape
mounted to the rear of the car on the transaxle, the Rapide’s • Acceleration 0–60 mph in diameter with six-piston calipers • Cruise control • 20” alloy wheels with Graphite finish
weight balance is near perfect at: 51:49, contributing to its 5.1 seconds; 0–100 km/h • Rear Dual-cast brake discs, 360mm • Hard Disk Drive (HDD) satellite • Alternative brake caliper finish –
outstanding dynamics. This provides the driver with an (62 mph) in 5.3 seconds predicted diameter with four-piston calipers navigation system1,2 black, red, silver
engaging drive on demanding roads, and a refined, relaxed • Max Speed • Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) • Bluetooth telephone preparation1 • Embroidered ‘Rapide’ seat logo
and effortless drive on motorways and main roads. For the 303 km/h (188 mph) predicted • Anti-lock braking system (ABS) • Satellite radio system (USA only) • Personalised sill plaques
first time on an Aston Martin, Rapide features a dual-cast • Electronic Brakeforce Distribution • Powerfold exterior mirrors • Auto-dimming interior rear view
brake system. The brake discs are made from two materials, TRANSMISSION (EBD) • Front and rear parking sensors mirror with garage door opener
cast iron and aluminium, taking advantage of the former’s • Rear mid-mounted ‘Touchtronic 2’ • Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) • Tyre pressure monitoring1 (Europe only)
heat resistance and latter’s weight-saving properties, six-speed gearbox with electronic • Traction Control • Alarm and immobiliser • Alarm upgrade
1 Not available in all markets
bestowing greater braking performance, reduced corrosion, shift-by-wire control system • Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA) • Remote-control central door locking (volumetric and tilt sensor)
2 Includes Traffic Messaging Channel (TMC)
and less wear. • Alloy torque tube with carbon fibre • Positive Torque Control (PTC) and boot release • Tracking device1,3 in Continental Europe
propeller shaft • Electronic Park Brake (EPB) • Tracking device (UK only)4 • First aid kit 3 Complies with UK Thatcham Category 5
requirements. Excludes subscription.
• Limited slip differential • Boot-mounted umbrella • Ashtray and cigar lighter
Standard in UK
• Final drive ratio – 3.46:1 4 iPod® is a trademark of Apple Inc.,
registered in the US and other countries

iv ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 v

ASTON MARTIN MODEL RANGE
[ dbs coupe ]
Truly great luxury sports cars are rare. In a world often diminished by
mediocrity, genuine design innovation and engineering accomplishment
are available only to the discerning few. With its race-car roots and luxury
appointments, the Aston Martin DBS is just such a car. One of the most
potent production Aston Martins ever made, the DBS represents the
synthesis of raw power, race-bred technology and design excellence.
Powered by a hand-built V12 engine producing 380 kW (510 bhp/517 PS),
it delivers breathtaking power and performance.
Like a well-toned athlete in a figure-hugging suit, the aluminium and
carbon-fibre bodywork of the DBS is a tight wrapping on the muscle
that lies beneath, expressed in the taut lines and heavily sculpted flanks.
Every flowing line, crease and curve conveys the enormous potential
of the DBS, honed to create an exhilarating driving experience: taut,
dynamic and monumentally fast, but always highly controlled. Using
technology developed in competition, the DBS is a direct descendant of
the DBR9 – a thoroughbred race car that has won many of the world’s
greatest GT endurance race titles, most notably back-to-back GT1 class
honours at the coveted Le Mans 24-Hours in 2007 and 2008. Carbon
ceramic brakes and adaptive suspension that adjust to virtually every
situation ensure that the DBS is perfectly at home in the city, on the
open road or on the track. Representing the height of Aston Martin’s
technological abilities in car design, it is an open invitation to drive:
the supreme temptation.
DBS [ coupe / volante ]
Seductively powerful and exquisitely finished,
the Aston Martin DBS is the ultimate blend of
refined performance and minimalist luxury
iv ii II SS SS U
UE 0
108/09 ISSUE 10/09
dbs
[ dbs volante ]
Completing the DBS line-up, the new Volante will afford customers
the combination of the DBS’s already-established benchmark sports car
characteristics with all the thrills of open-air motoring. Broadening the
DBS’s character, the DBS Volante will appeal to drivers who wish to
combine the excitement of driving a finely tuned sports car with the
invigorating feeling of being open to the elements. This juxtaposition
of ultimate performance and openness stirs the senses on any drive
whether an exhilarating jaunt on favoured roads or cruising on lengthy
journeys. ‘Volante’, meaning ‘moving with light rapidity’ or ‘flying’,
perfectly defines the performance potential and the dynamic
characteristics of the DBS Volante.
Aston Martin’s 16th convertible in 95 years, the DBS Volante draws on
the marque’s extensive experience in designing iconic ‘Volantes’ and
is a 2+2 featuring two occasional rear seats, ideal for young people or
extra luggage. When the roof is closed, it provides a warm comfortable
ambience and when open, it neatly disappears behind the sculpted
tonneau cover at the touch of a button. Either way, the DBS Volante
delivers the ultimate driving experience with the hood up or down.
Aston Martin engineers opted for a fabric hood to closely follow the
silhouette of the DBS Coupe and due to its lightweight properties,
minimise overall weight gain. Fully retractable in only 14 seconds,
it stows at speeds up to 48 km/h (30 mph).
vii
ASTON MARTIN MODEL RANGE
The design of the DBS
conveys the car’s enormous
potential, with a seductive
flow that incorporates
aggressive detailing and
a powerful stance. Like
a well-toned athlete in a
figure-hugging suit, the
bodywork of the DBS is
a tight wrapping on the
muscle that lies beneath.
viii
[ dbs coupe ]
Outstanding power with supreme control: Aston Martin introduces its ultimate luxury sports car,
the Aston Martin DBS. One of the most potent production Aston Martins ever made, the DBS
represents the synthesis of raw power, race-bred technology and design excellence
PERFORMANCE
The DBS was developed as the ultimate expression of
Aston Martin’s engineering and technical ability. The need
for high-performance stability, handling ability and low kerb
weight defined the car’s form and construction. The DBS is
the first production Aston Martin to make extensive use of
ultra-light carbon-fibre body panels. Each panel has been
carefully sculpted to direct the airflow around the car, into
the engine and to help cool the braking system; the DBS
bodywork is a harmonious composition of flowing,
muscular forms. The 6.0-litre V12 engine is the heart of
the DBS.
The DBR9 and DBRS9 race cars are powered by an
enhanced version of this same V12, tuned to produce
in excess of 600 bhp. A number of power-increasing
enhancements include a ‘by-pass’ engine air intake port
that opens above 5500 rpm to allow more air into the
engine, and re-profiled air inlet ports that further improve
airflow into the combustion chamber. Combined with
a compression ratio of 10.9:1, the result of these
enhancements is prodigious power and torque: the DBS
delivers 380 kW (510 bhp/517 PS) at 6500 rpm.
CONTROL
As with the DB9 and DBR race cars, the Aston Martin DBS
benefits from the inherent characteristics of the VH platform
architecture. In order to take full advantage of this extremely
precise and rigid bonded-aluminium platform, the DBS
employs a new and sophisticated Adaptive Damping System
(ADS) which uses two separate valves to set the dampers
to five different positions, instantly altering the suspension
settings to ensure the driver has high levels of control
across different driving conditions. The damper settings are
determined by an electronic control unit, which takes sensor
readings from the car’s systems, including throttle position,
brake position, steering wheel rotation and car speed.
ISSUE 10/09 ISSU
U EE 10 08 // 00 99
The ADS perfectly captures the car’s sporting character
and fittingly a designated Track mode automatically sets all
dampers to their firmest positions, making it ideal for circuit
driving. The DBS is fitted with Pirelli P-Zero tyres that have
been developed especially for the car, along with new 20”
lightweight alloy wheels. The DBS has a revised Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC) system, designed to help maintain
maximum traction in challenging driving conditions.
In default operation, the DSC is automatically on. Select
and press the button for two seconds and DSC Track mode
is engaged, raising the threshold at which the system
intervenes to allow the experienced driver to explore the
car’s limits. Hold the button for four seconds and DSC is
disengaged entirely.
EXTERIOR DESIGN
The DBS is both a technological masterpiece and a
powerful visual and tactile experience, inside and out.
The DBS is the culmination of the DB bloodline, a synthesis
of race-bred technology and road-going practicality that
can be traced back to the iconic DB2, DB3S and DB4GT,
and is continued today with the DBR9 and DBRS9 race cars.
The DBS’s powerful, flowing form fuses the visual language
of the DBR9 GT1 race car with the innate elegance of
the DB series. Lower and tauter than other Aston Martin
production models, the DBS has subtly flared wheel arches
accommodating standard 20” diameter wheels and tyres,
which give the car a muscular and athletic stance. The
external detailing reflects the power and dynamic abilities
of the DBS, with revised inlets and enlarged grilles that
increase its cooling capacity. Two additional vents in the
enlarged power bulge on the carbon-fibre bonnet improve
engine performance and efficiency, while a carbon-fibre
splitter and a new front bumper help channel airflow
around the car’s wider bodywork.
dbs
INTERIOR DESIGN
The interior of the DBS represents the epitome of
Aston Martin’s commitment to using materials honestly,
without disguise or embellishment. Lightweight materials
are used throughout to save weight: door pulls are made
from carbon fibre, for example. In addition, the DBS special
colour and trim range includes carpet woven with lighter
fibres to save valuable kilograms and special semi-aniline
leather, which not only saves weight, but also gives a soft
feel and distinctive aroma. Starting the DBS is pure theatre:
the ignition ECU (Emotion Control Unit) has evolved
into a machined and highly tactile polished glass ECU,
incorporating a stainless steel inner case. To operate the
car, the glass ECU is inserted into a special docking station
in Aston Martin’s signature dashboard-mounted Engine
Start button, glowing red to indicate when the car is
ready to start. The engine roars to life when the ECU is
pressed flush. After pressing to stop the engine, the ECU
automatically motors out of the dashboard for removal.
The as-standard 1000 W Bang & Olufsen BeoSound DBS
sound system has been exclusively developed for the DBS
to provide outstanding sound quality. A slot for the six-CD
autochanger is located at the top of the console, while
underneath the centre armrest there is inbuilt connectivity
for an Apple iPod® or other MP3 device. Full Bluetooth
integration is standard on the DBS, enabling you to
synchronise your mobile telephone directory through the
car’s display screens.
i xv
ASTON MARTIN MODEL RANGE
T E C H N I C A L S P E C I F I C AT I O N
dbs coupe | volante
BODY
• Two-door coupe body style with
2+0 seating or convertible with
2+2 seating
• Bonded aluminium VH structure
• Aluminium, magnesium alloy and
carbon-fibre composite body
• Extruded aluminium door
side-impact beams
• High Intensity Discharge headlamps
(dipped beam)
• Halogen projector headlamps
(main beam)
• LED rear lamps and side repeaters
ENGINE
• All-alloy, quad overhead camshaft,
48-valve, 5935 cc V12
• Compression ratio 10.9:1
• Front mid-mounted engine,
rear-wheel drive
• Fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust
system with active bypass valves
• Max power 380 kW
(510 bhp/517 PS) at 6500 rpm
• Max torque 570 Nm (420 lb.ft)
at 5750 rpm
• Acceleration 0–100 km/h
(62 mph) in 4.3 sec
• Max speed (manual)
307 km/h (191 mph)
• Max speed (Touchtronic 2)
295 km/h (183 mph)
TRANSMISSION
• Rear mid-mounted, six-speed
manual gearbox
• Rear mid-mounted ‘Touchtronic 2’
six-speed gearbox with electronic
shift-by-wire control system
• Alloy torque tube with carbon-fibre
propeller shaft
• Limited-slip differential
• Final drive ratio – manual 3.71:1
• Final drive ratio – automatic 3.46:1
x ISSUE 10/09
STEERING
• Rack and pinion, Servotronic speed-
sensitive power-assisted steering,
3.0 turns lock-to-lock
• Column tilt and reach adjustment
WHEELS & TYRES
• Front 8.5” x 20” Pirelli P Zero 245/35
• Rear 11” x 20” Pirelli P Zero 295/30
SUSPENSION
• Front Independent double wishbones
incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil
springs, anti-roll bar and monotube
adaptive dampers
• Rear Independent double wishbones
with anti-squat and anti-lift
geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar
and monotube adaptive dampers
• Adaptive Damping System (ADS) with
Track mode
BRAKES
• Front Ventilated carbon ceramic
discs, 398 mm diameter with
six-piston calipers
• Rear Ventilated carbon ceramic
discs, 360 mm diameter with
four-piston calipers
• Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
with Track mode
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
(EBD)
• Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
• Traction control
INTERIOR
• Semi-aniline leather and Alcantara
interior (Coupe)
• Full grain leather interior (Volante)
• Matrix alloy facia trim and Iridium
Silver centre console surround
• Carbon-fibre door trims and
door pulls
• Auto-dimming interior rear-view
mirror with garage door opener
(USA and Canada only)
• Electrically adjustable seats
• Memory seats and exterior mirrors
(three positions)
• Dual-stage driver/passenger
front airbags
• Side airbags (sports seats only)
• Automatically deployed roll-over
bars (Volante)
• Heated seats (sports seats only)
• Heated rear screen
• Automatic temperature control
• Organic Electroluminescent
(OEL) displays
• Trip computer
• LED map lights
• Cruise control
• Hard Disk Drive (HDD) satellite
navigation1,2
• Bluetooth telephone preparation1
• Powerfold exterior mirrors
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Tyre-pressure monitoring1
• Alarm and immobiliser
• Remote-control central door locking
and boot release
• Wind deflector (Volante only)
• Tracking device3 (UK only)
• Boot-mounted umbrella
IN-CAR ENTERTAINMENT
• Bang & Olufsen BeoSound DBS
Audio System with 1000 W RMS of
ICEpower®4 amplification
• Integrated Apple iPod® connector5
• USB connector with Waveform
Audio Format (WAF),
Windows Media Player (WMA)
and MPEG (MP3) audio file
compatibility
• 3.5 mm auxiliary input socket
OPTIONS
• 20” alloy wheels – 20-spoke with
a Graphite painted finish
• 20” alloy wheels – 10-spoke
diamond turned
• 20” alloy wheels – 10-spoke
diamond-turned with a Graphite
painted finish
• Pirelli PZero Corsa sports tyres
• Satellite radio system (USA only)
• Piano Black facia trim and centre
console surround
• Second glass key
• Leather storage saddle6
• Personalised sill plaques
• Polished alloy tread plates
• Auto-dimming interior rear-view
mirror1
• Auto-dimming interior rear-view
mirror with garage door opener
(Europe only)
• Alarm upgrade (volumetric and
tilt sensors)
• Tracking device1,3
• First-aid kit
• Ashtray and cigar lighter
• Lightweight seats (Coupe only)5
• 2+2 seating configuration
(Coupe only)
• Alcantara steering wheel
(Coupe only)
DIMENSIONS
• Length 4721 mm (185.9”)
• Width 1905 mm (75”) excluding
door mirrors; 2060 mm (81.1”)
including door mirrors
• Height 1280 mm (50.4”)
• Wheelbase 2740 mm (107.9”)
• Fuel tank capacity 78 litres
(17.2 UK gal/20.5 US gal)
• Weight (Coupe) 1695 kg (3737 lb);
(Volante) 1810 kg (3990 lb)
dbs
The DBS represents the
pinnacle of race-bred
performance combined with
hand-crafted elegance and a
hand-trimmed interior featuring
the latest technology, peerless
ergonomics and supremely
finished materials. From the
unique profile of the polished
alloy gear knob to the highly
engineered packaging of the
6.0-litre V12 engine, no aspect
of the car is overlooked.
[ dbs volante ]
Fu s i n g t h e t h r i l l s a n d f r e e d o m o f o p e n - t o p m o t o r i n g w i t h t h e u l t i m a t e l u x u r y s p o r t s c a r –
t h e D B S Vo l a n t e ’ s c l a s s - l e a d i n g h a n d l i n g a n d t o r s i o n a l s t r e n g t h m e a n s t h i s i s a c a r a s m u c h
at home in the city as on country roads
FUEL CONSUMPTION – Manual7
Litres/100 km (mpg)
• Urban 24.3 (11.6)
• Extra-urban 11.7 (24.1)
• Combined 16.4 (17.3)
FUEL CONSUMPTION – Automatic7
Litres/100 km (mpg)
• Urban 24.2 (11.7)
• Extra-urban 10.5 (26.8)
• Combined 15.5 (18.2)
GAS MILEAGE (North America only)
Manual
• City 11 mpg
• Highway 17 mpg
GAS MILEAGE (North America only)
Automatic
• City 12 mpg
• Highway 18 mpg
CO2 EMISSIONS
• 388 g/km7 – manual
• 367 g/km7 – automatic
1 Not available in all markets
2 Includes Traffic Messaging Channel (TMC)
in Continental Europe
3 Complies with UK Thatcham Category 5
requirements. Excludes subscription.
Standard in UK
4 ICEpower® is a proprietary technology of
Bang & Olufsen
5 iPod® is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered
in the US and other countries
6 Not available with 2+2 seating configuration
or for Volante
7 Data not applicable to North American market
ISSUE 10/09 xi
ASTON MARTIN MODEL RANGE db9

[ db9 coupe ]

The Aston Martin DB9 is a thoroughbred sports car with GT levels of What the driver sees, hears and feels is in harmony. The reward is total

DB9
[ coupe / volante ]
The Aston Martin DB9 is the quintessential sporting grand
tourer – a thoroughbred performance car that combines true
b e a u t y w i t h f u n c t i o n a l i t y. W h e t h e r i n C o u p e o r Vo l a n t e f o r m ,
comfort and refinement. Combining Aston Martin’s unique character
with an uncompromising design philosophy, the DB9 was borne out
of a synthesis of traditional craftsmanship, high-tech manufacturing,
modern components and use of the finest materials. The DB9 is both
a full-blooded sports car and a hugely capable grand tourer. Beautifully
styled, the DB9 never fails to stir the soul with its unique sound, power
and performance. This purebred sports car is also a technical triumph,
its beauty signifying aerodynamic efficiency, its power unencumbered by
weight, its devastating straight-line performance paired with exquisite
handling. All great sports cars strive to balance these qualities, and the
DB9 creates an experience that is both unique and unforgettable.
involvement: a level of engagement that truly stimulates the senses, that
re-ignites a passion for driving. But an Aston Martin is also about luxury,
indulgence and enjoyment – it is a feast for the senses. Sure enough,
the magnificent exterior styling of the DB9 gives way to a sumptuous,
comprehensively equipped cabin, trimmed in the finest materials. Every
element is perfectly conceived, from the 6.0-litre V12 engine to the
hand-stitched seats and carefully selected interior woods. Nothing is out
of place.
Above all, the DB9 encapsulates the qualities embodied in every Aston
Martin: power, beauty and soul.

it offers a supreme combination of driver involvement,

character, luxury and refinement

[ db9 volante ]

The Volante adds another dimension to the DB9: the open air.
The Volante’s sleek lines are made possible by sophisticated design
and engineering, resulting in an open-topped car with a clean, flowing
profile. Swift and invigorating to drive, the Volante is effortless and
seductive. The DB9 is entirely in its element on the open road, providing
an inspirational experience for both driver and passenger alike. Elegance,
craftsmanship and the roar of its V12 engine are brought together in one
emotional package, an object of desire that never fails to stir the soul.
As with all Aston Martins, balance and beauty are critical.
The DB9 Volante is perfectly proportioned from every angle, roof up
or down. The convertible top retracts at the single push of a button
and swiftly stows beneath a hard tonneau cover that closes flush with
the rear bodywork, leaving the lines of the car flowing and unbroken.
A layer of Thinsulate® material insulates the cabin from both noise and
the elements when the roof is up, and optimises headroom for the
driver and front passenger. There is also no loss of practicality – the
folding fabric roof is compact when stowed, allowing the DB9 Volante
to retain its rear seats and luggage space.

xii ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 xiii

ASTON MARTIN MODEL RANGE
PERFORMANCE
The DB9’s powerful yet refined all-aluminium 6.0-litre V12
produces 350 kW (470 bhp) and 600 Nm (443 lb.ft) of
torque, giving a top speed up to 306 km/h (190 mph)
and accelerating 0–100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.8 seconds.
But despite these impressive figures and the instant throttle
response, the DB9 can also relax. Eighty per cent of the
V12 engine’s torque is available from as little as 1500 rpm,
while enormous mid-range performance provides instant
overtaking power almost regardless of engine speed,
or gear. Aston Martins have always sounded like true
thoroughbreds and the DB9 is no exception: the 6.0-litre
V12 has been described as one of the finest-sounding
engines in production: an exhilarating roar when
accelerating; a growl when cruising. The DB9 offers a
choice of two rear mid-mounted transmissions, both
allowing superb interaction with the car. The six-speed
‘Touchtronic 2’ fully automatic transmission uses shift-by-
wire technology and replaces the gear lever with
dashboard-mounted buttons to select Park, Reverse,
Neutral and Drive modes. If preferred, magnesium alloy
paddles enable instant, F1-style gear changes. Unlike many
other sports GTs, the DB9 also offers a six-speed manual
transmission, featuring a conventional gear change and
high-capacity, twin-plate clutch.
DESIGN
From the new front grille through to the curvaceous
rear haunches, the DB9 is a contemporary design icon.
Every surface and component is carefully detailed using
ultra-modern materials with a combination of high-
technology manufacturing and traditional craft skills.
Right down to the hand-enamelled Aston Martin badge,
true craftsmanship is always in evidence. The DB9’s side
profile is clean and distinctive, with a single-sweep roofline
that flows through to a distinctive tail. Key Aston Martin
Even when standing still,
the DB9 conveys poise and
grace, power and strength.
[ db9 coupe ] Here, these qualities are all
emphasised by the lower
stance and 5-spoke alloy
Combining effortless touring ability with sports-car precision and agility, the DB9 is the epitome wheels of the Premium
o f d y n a m i c b e a u t y. Te c h n i c a l p e r f e c t i o n i s s w a t h e d i n e l e g a n t b o d y w o r k , w i t h l i n e s t h a t a r e f l u i d Sports Pack.
and modern yet classic and, above all, typically Aston Martin
xiv ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09
design elements include the distinctive grille, metal side
strakes, signature rear window shape and wide, curvaceous
haunches. Good design, however, is not just about form;
it is also about function. Therefore, the DB9 needs to be
aerodynamically efficient – even the exhaust silencer is
aerodynamically shaped to help achieve this.
CONTROL
To achieve the low weight required for a great sports car,
all the DB9’s major body and mechanical components are
made from aluminium, magnesium alloy or advanced,
lightweight, composite materials. The front-to-rear weight
distribution of the DB9 is a perfect 50:50, with 85 per cent
of the car’s mass sited between the front and rear axles.
The DB9 cabin is focused on the driver, who sits as low and
as close as possible to the car’s centre of gravity. Combined
with the rigid body structure and all-aluminium, double
wishbone suspension, the result is unfiltered feedback of
the car’s dynamic behaviour. This unparalleled two-way
communication – car to driver, driver to car – is at the very
core of the DB9’s design philosophy. What’s more, the new
Premium Sports Pack option available for both the Coupe
and Volante features an Adaptive Damping System (ADS),
whose central ECU takes readings from various sensors to
determine the car’s dynamic conditions and subsequently
set the dampers to their most appropriate stiffness. In
‘Normal’ mode, the ADS continually stiffens the dampers
away from their softest positions when required;
in ‘Sport’ mode, the ADS automatically softens them away
from their maximum stiffness to optimise the car’s control.
ENGINEERING
Aston Martin has developed its own incredibly light and
strong aerospace-specification bonded aluminium structure.
This unique VH (Vertical Horizontal) structure gives the DB9
db9
one of the most structurally efficient body frames in the
car industry. Its huge rigidity aids handling, driver feedback
and safety. More than any other single component, the
advanced aluminium structure is the reason for the DB9’s
extraordinary nimbleness, responsiveness and character.
The DB9 also pioneered the use of ‘ultrasonic’ welding,
which is 90 per cent stronger than conventional spot
welding and results in a better finish, yet uses only five
per cent of the energy. However, it is not just the body
structure that is light and rigid. Other components have
been developed with weight reduction in mind, from the
aluminium V12 engine and transmission to the forged
aluminium suspension and aluminium-bodied dampers.
CRAFTSMANSHIP
The DB9 was the first Aston Martin to be produced at the
company’s factory at Gaydon in Warwickshire. Hand-built
by technicians and craftsmen at a series of work stations, it
benefits from the superior levels of finish and exclusive design
details that would be impossible in a mass-produced car.
The paintwork of each DB9 undergoes 50 man-hours of
painting, polishing and finishing to achieve the perfect
surface. Inside, the DB9 is elegant, luxurious and supremely
comfortable. Every element of the interior is hand-made and
hand-finished, from the cutting of the leather to the carefully
crafted wood. This is done not out of deference to tradition,
but because a skilled craftsman can finish wood or leather to
a far higher standard than any machine. The wood trims are
inspired by hand-finished modern furniture and there is a
choice of five: Walnut, Mahogany, Bamboo, Tamo Ash and
Piano Black. Aston Martins are hand-built cars, made to
order, and this bespoke approach enables the provision of
any combination of paint and leather trim colours.
xv
ASTON MARTIN MODEL RANGE
[ db9 volante ]
Safety is a major consideration
in a convertible. Special tilt
sensors detect the possibility
of a roll-over and deploy two
strengthened hoops from
the DB9 Volante’s headrests.
Further protection is offered
by the windscreen A-pillars, rig
tested to withstand more than
twice the weight of the car.
xvi ISSUE 10/09
T E C H N I C A L S P E C I F I C AT I O N
db9 coupe | volante
BODY
• Two-door coupe or convertible body
style with 2+2 seating
• Extruded aluminium bonded VH
body structure
• Aluminium and composite body panels
• Extruded aluminium door
side-impact beams
• High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps
(dipped beam)
• Halogen projector headlamps
(main beam) with power wash
• LED rear lamps
ENGINE
• All-alloy, quad overhead camshaft,
48-valve, 5935 cc V12
• Front mid-mounted engine,
rear-wheel drive
• Fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust
system with active bypass valves
• Compression ratio 10.9:1
• Max power 350 kW (470 bhp/477 PS)
at 6000 rpm
• Max torque 600 Nm (443 lb.ft)
at 5000 rpm
• Acceleration – manual and automatic
0–60 mph in 4.6 sec; 0–100 km/h
(62 mph) in 4.8 sec
• Max speed 306 km/h (190 mph)
TRANSMISSION
• Rear mid-mounted, six-speed
manual gearbox
• Rear mid-mounted, ‘Touchtronic 2’
six-speed gearbox with electronic
shift-by-wire control system
• Alloy torque tube with carbon-fibre
propeller shaft
• Limited-slip differential
• Final drive ratio – manual 3.54:1
• Final drive ratio – automatic 3.154:1
STEERING
• Rack and pinion, Servotronic speed-
sensitive power-assisted steering,
3.0 turns lock-to-lock
• Column tilt and reach adjustment
WHEELS & TYRES
• 19” alloy wheels – 10-spoke design
• Front 8.5J x 19” Bridgestone Potenza
235/40 ZR19
• Rear 9.5J x 19” Bridgestone Potenza
275/35 ZR19
SUSPENSION
• Front Independent aluminium double
wishbones incorporating anti-dive
geometry, coil over aluminium monotube
dampers and anti-roll bar
• Rear Independent aluminium double
wishbones incorporating anti-squat and
anti-lift geometry, coil over aluminium
monotube dampers and anti-roll bar
ISSUE 10/09
BRAKES
• Front Ventilated and grooved steel discs,
355 mm diameter
• Rear Ventilated and grooved steel discs,
330 mm diameter
• Radial-mounted four-piston
monobloc calipers
• Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
• Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
• Traction control
INTERIOR
• Full grain leather interior
• Walnut facia trim
• Iridium Silver centre console outer finish
and Graphite inner finish
• Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror1
• Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror
with garage door opener (USA and
Canada only)
• Electrically operated seats
• Memory seats and exterior mirrors
(three positions)
• Dual-stage driver and front passenger
frontal airbags
• Front occupant side airbags
• Automatically deployed roll-over bars
(Volante)
• Heated front seats
• Heated rear screen
• Automatic temperature control
• Organic Electroluminescent (OEL) displays
• LED map lamps and ambient lighting
• Trip computer
• Cruise control
• Hard Disk Drive (HDD) satellite
navigation1,2
• Bluetooth telephone preparation1
• Satellite radio system (USA only)
• Powerfold exterior mirrors
• Rear parking sensors
• Tyre-pressure monitoring1
• Alarm and immobiliser
• Remote-control central door locking
and boot release
• Wind deflector (Volante only)
• Tracking device3 (UK only)
• Boot-mounted umbrella
• Lamy pen and pen holder (manual only)
IN-CAR ENTERTAINMENT
• Aston Martin 700 W Premium Audio
System with Dolby® Pro Logic II® and
a six-CD autochanger
• MP3 player connectivity
• Integrated Apple iPod® connector4
• USB connector with Waveform
Audio Format (WAF), Windows
MediaPlayer (WMA) and MPEG (MP3)
audio file compatibility
• 3.5 mm auxiliary input socket
db9
OPTIONS
• 1000 W Bang & Olufsen BeoSound
Audio System with 1000 W RMS of
ICEpower®5 amplification
• Bright-finish grille
• Front parking sensors
• Mahogany facia trim
• Bamboo facia trim
• Tamo Ash facia trim
• Piano Black facia trim
• Matching wood door trim6
• Second glass key
• Personalised sill plaques
• Magnum Silver bonnet, side strake and
lower bumper meshes
• Clear rear lamps
• Polished alloy treadplates
• Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror
with garage door opener (Europe only)
• Alarm upgrade (volumetric and tilt sensor)
• Tracking device1,3
• Alternative brake caliper finish – black,
red and silver
• Premium Sports Pack (Coupe and Volante)
• 19” alloy wheels – 10-spoke with a
Graphite painted finish
• 19” alloy wheels – 20-spoke
diamond-turned
• 19” alloy wheels – 20-spoke diamond-
turned with a Graphite painted finish
• First-aid kit
• Smokers’ pack
DIMENSIONS
• Length 4710 mm (185.5”)
• Width 1875 mm (74”)
• Height 1270 mm (50”)
• Wheelbase 2745 mm (108”)
• Front track 1570 mm (62”)
• Rear track 1560 mm (61.5”)
• Turning circle 12.0 m (39.4 ft)
• Fuel tank capacity 80 litres
(17.6 UK gal/21.1 US gal)
• Cd (Coupe) 0.35
• Kerb weight (Coupe) 1760 kg (3880 lb)
FUEL CONSUMPTION7 – Manual
Litres/100 km (mpg)
• Urban 24.6 (11.5)
• Extra-urban 11.7 (24.1)
• Combined 16.4 (17.2)
FUEL CONSUMPTION7 – Automatic
Litres/100 km (mpg)
• Urban 22.3 (12.7)
• Extra-urban 10.2 (27.8)
• Combined 14.6 (19.4)
GAS MILEAGE (North America only) 1 Not available in all markets
Manual 2 Includes Traffic Messaging Channel (TMC) in
• City 11 mpg Continental Europe
3 Complies with UK Thatcham Category 5
• Highway 17 mpg
requirements. Excludes subscription. Standard in UK
4 iPod® is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the
GAS MILEAGE (North America only) US and other countries
5 ICEpower® is a proprietary technology of
Automatic
Bang & Olufsen
• City 13 mpg 6 Not available with Bang & Olufsen audio system
• Highway 20 mpg 7 Data not applicable to North American market
CO2 EMISSIONS
• 389 g/km7 – manual
• 345 g/km7 – automatic
SMOG INDEX (North America only)
• 0.49
xvii
ASTON MARTIN MODEL RANGE v12 vantage

[ v12 vantage ]

The most potent production sports car in the marque’s 95-year history, the Aston Martin
V12 Vantage is the fastest and most agile model in the range – designed to provide a unique
character that appeals to different drivers with different tastes. Based on the hugely successful
V8 Vantage, the V12 Vantage features Aston Martin’s most powerful engine, the 6.0-litre V12
engine, which produces 510 bhp (380 kW/517 PS), and 570 Nm (420 lb.ft) of torque with a top
speed of 305 km/h (190 mph) and acceleration from 0–100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.2 seconds.
Purposeful, striking and functional styling signals the performance capabilities of this formidable
car, which, like the Aston Martin DBS, benefits from the use of race-derived technology and
features lightweight carbon fibre.

The original V12 Vantage concept was unveiled to guests at the opening of the Aston Martin
Design Studio in December 2007. Continuing the marque’s impressive record of bringing concepts
to market in their original form, Aston Martin engineers brought the V12 Vantage to market in
just 12 months. Designed for the focused driver, every component of the V12 Vantage has been
honed with pure driving enjoyment in mind; performance and agility have been tuned to perfection.
Visually enticing, the V12 Vantage expresses its potential through its purposeful stance created by
enhanced aerodynamic and cooling aids. Equally inviting, the cosseting interior permits the driver
to extract maximum performance ability from the car while also enjoying customary levels of
Aston Martin comfort on longer journeys. High levels of power and torque are available at all
engine speeds, making the V12 Vantage responsive and tractable in any driving situation.
Enhanced aerodynamics and
cooling aids further accentuate
the potent performance of the
V12 Vantage.

V12 VA N TA G E
Aston Martin’s most exhilarating sports car yet,
t h e V 1 2 Va n t a g e i s t h e u l t i m a t e p e r f o r m a n c e
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e Va n t a g e r a n g e , c o m b i n i n g
an inherent agility with formidable power

xviii ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 xix

ASTON MARTIN MODEL RANGE v12 vantage

PERFORMANCE
[ v12 vantage ] Agility and outright performance formed the basis of design for
the V12 Vantage, to produce the most exciting incarnation of the
Vantage model line-up to date. Aston Martin’s most powerful
engine is fused with its most agile model to produce a truly
Designed for the focused driver, every component of exhilarating sports car. The V12 powerplant has been intelligently
t h e V 1 2 Va n t a g e h a s b e e n h o n e d w i t h e n j o y m e n t i n packaged into the Vantage’s compact form, preserving its perfect
mind – a definitive driving package, providing proportions. While the external dimensions of the V8 Vantage remain
unchanged, the internal front structure has been extensively revised
spectacular performance, thrilling dynamics and forward of the suspension towers to house the larger engine, brake
everyday usability cooling system, and twin air intake system. The engine is hand-built
at the company’s dedicated engine facility in Cologne, Germany.
To achieve the power output, the engine features a number of
enhancements over the standard 6.0-litre V12 found in the DB9.
These include a ‘by-pass’ engine air intake port that opens up at
5500 rpm, a revised induction system and re-profiled air inlet ports
that further improve airflow into the combustion chamber to
improve performance.

Unique to the V12 Vantage is a ‘Sport’ button, which allows the

driver to choose between two powertrain modes. The default
‘normal’ provides a more progressive throttle response, suited to
more everyday situations, such as driving in urban areas, heavy
traffic, or in challenging weather conditions. Selecting ‘Sport’ mode
delivers a sharper throttle response together with a sportier exhaust
note. This mode is designed for use in more dynamic driving
situations where sharper responses are required, extracting the
maximum performance from the car.

Exclusively available
with a six-speed manual
transmission, the gearbox
uses a transaxle configuration
to deliver near-perfect
weight distribution.
CONTROL
Superb handling characteristics are at the heart of the V12 Vantage; T E C H N I C A L S P E C I F I C AT I O N
the rear suspension has been modified, with a more compact dual-
rate spring design, in order to accommodate a wider wheel and tyre v12 vantage
combination, improving grip and traction. The ride height of the
V12 Vantage has also been lowered by 15 mm, while the spring
rates have been stiffened by 45 per cent.
BODY STEERING INTERIOR IN-CAR ENTERTAINMENT DIMENSIONS
• Two-door, two-seat coupe body • Rack and pinion • Carbon-fibre door pulls • 160 W Aston Martin Audio System • Length 4380 mm (172.5”)
These measures serve to lower the car’s centre of gravity and reduce
• Bonded aluminium structure • Column tilt and reach adjustment • Memory seats and exterior mirrors • MP3 player connectivity • Width 1865 mm (73.5”) excluding
the amount of roll experienced during cornering, further increasing
• Aluminium, magnesium alloy, (three positions) door mirrors; 2025 mm (80”)
the V12 Vantage’s dynamic capabilities.In line with the character of
composite and steel body SUSPENSION • Sports seats with 10 way electric OPTIONS including door mirrors
the V12 Vantage, a revised Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system
• Extruded aluminium door side • Front Independent double wishbone adjustment, including height, tilt • Lightweight seats with six way • Height 1241 mm (49”)
permits the driver, through three modes of operation, to manage
impact beams incorporating anti-dive geometry, and lumbar adjustment adjustment, including front and rear • Wheelbase 2600 mm (107.9”)
how the system intervenes during more challenging driving
• High Intensity Discharge headlamps coil springs, anti-roll bar and • Dual-stage driver and passenger height adjust. (Does not include • Fuel tank capacity 80 litres
situations. In default operation, the DSC is automatically switched
(dipped beam) monotube dampers front airbags side airbags or Passenger Airbag (17.6 UK gal./21.1 US gal)
on. Depressing the DSC button for two seconds selects ‘track
• Halogen projector headlamps • Rear Independent double wishbones • Side airbags (Sports seats only) Cut-Off Switch) • Weight 1680 kg (3704 lb)
mode’, which raises the manner and threshold at which the system
(main beam) with anti-squat and anti-lift geometry, • Heated rear screen • 700 W Aston Martin Premium Audio
intervenes, allowing the driver to explore the limits of the car’s
• LED rear lamps dual-rate coil springs, anti-roll bar • Automatic temperature control System with Dolby® Pro Logic II® FUEL CONSUMPTION
considerable handling capabilities. Depressing the button for four
and monotube dampers • Organic Electroluminescent • 1000 W Bang & Olufsen BeoSound Litres/100 km (mpg)
seconds will switch off DSC completely.
ENGINE (OEL) displays Audio System • Urban 24.26 (11.64)
• All-alloy quad overhead camshaft WHEELS • Trip computer • Piano Black facia trim • Extra-urban 11.74 (24.05)
DESIGN
48 valve 5935 cc V12 • Front 9” x 19” • Cruise control • Graphite Alloy facia trim • Combined 16.35 (17.28)
Based on the stunning V8 Vantage originally launched in 2005, the
• Compression ratio 10.9:1 • Rear 11” x 19” • Hard Disk Drive (HDD) satellite • Second glass key
V12 Vantage subtly hints at its sporting intent with its controlled
• Front mid-mounted engine, navigation system1 • Personalised sill plaques CO2 EMISSIONS
aggression and lower, purposeful stance. Avoiding purely cosmetic
rear-wheel drive TYRES • Bluetooth telephone preparation1 • Garage door opener (Europe only) • 388 g/km
changes, each modified panel on the V12 Vantage has been altered
• Fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust • Front Pirelli P Zero Corsa 255/35 ZR19 • Powerfold exterior mirrors • Tracking device2
to enhance the car’s dynamics. Knowledge gained from the N24
system with active bypass valves • Rear Pirelli P Zero Corsa 295/30 ZR19 • Rear parking sensors • First-aid kit
race car programme has led to body revisions designed to improve
• Max power 510 bhp • Auto dimming interior • Ashtray and cigar lighter
downforce while not increasing the drag coefficient of the car. Each
(380 kW/517 PS) at 6500 rpm BRAKES rear-view mirror • Boot-mounted umbrella
form follows its functional requirements, while also contributing to
• Max torque 570 Nm (420 lb.ft) • Front Ventilated carbon ceramic • Tyre-pressure monitoring1 • Front parking sensors
stunning design. A revised front splitter channels cooling air to the
at 5750 rpm discs 398 mm diameter with • Alarm and immobiliser • Heated seats (Sports seats only)
brakes and to the radiator while also producing increased down
• Acceleration 0–100 km/h (62 mph) six-piston callipers • Remote-control central door locking • ISOFIX and fixed-height passenger
force. Carbon-fibre bonnet louvres remove heat from the engine
in 4.2 seconds • Rear Ventilated carbon ceramic and boot release seat (Sports seat only)
bay and help increase front-end down force by limiting the built-up
• Max speed 305 km/h (190 mph) discs 360 mm diameter with • Battery disconnect switch • Bright finish grille
air pressure under the bonnet. New side sills derived from the N24
four-piston callipers • Tracking device (UK only)
race car channel air towards the rear of the car rather than under it,
TRANSMISSION • Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
reducing rear-end lift. A more pronounced boot ‘flip’ and the new
• Rear mid-mounted six-speed with Track mode
rear carbon-fibre diffuser work in harmony with a redesigned rear
manual gearbox. Alloy torque tube • Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) 1 Not available in all markets
under floor to channel air through the new high-capacity oil cooler 2 Complies with UK Thatcham Category 5
with carbon-fibre propeller shaft • Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
and maintain an area of low pressure under the rear of the car, requirements. Excludes subscription.
• Limited-slip differential (EBD) Standard in UK
producing increased down force and aiding grip.
• Final drive ratio 3.71:1 • Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) V12 Vantage is not available in North
• Traction Control American markets

xx ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 xxi

ASTON MARTIN MODEL RANGE v8 vantage

[ v8 vantage coupe ]

The V8 Vantage epitomises Aston Martin’s approach to design: a commitment to engineering excellence without aesthetic
compromise. 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, combining beauty with power and practicality. At the heart
of every great sports car is a great engine, and the V8 Vantage Coupe and Roadster are powered by Aston Martin’s 313 kW
(420 bhp) 4.7-litre V8, developed for both flexibility and outright performance. The V8 also sounds spectacular and is capable of
propelling the car to a maximum speed of 290 km/h (180 mph). The engine is so willing, the handling so predictable and the
controls so easy to use that it is as comfortable in town or city as it is on winding country roads or even a demanding race circuit.

V8 VA N TA G E
[ coupe / roadster ]
[ v8 vantage roadster ]

A supreme example of modern automotive design,
a hand-crafted sports car that offers exceptional performance,
outstanding agility and everyday usability
The design team’s brief was to give the V8 Vantage Roadster the look
of a well-toned athlete wearing a skin-tight suit – an identity that
encapsulates the fusion of craftsmanship, technology, innovation and
design excellence. Aston Martin has ensured that the Roadster preserves
the V8 Vantage Coupe’s light weight, allowing the convertible to exploit
its compact size, agility and power to the full. It utilises the VH (Vertical
Horizontal) platform’s inherent strength to deliver class-leading levels of
torsional rigidity. This strength enables the body to form a highly stable
platform from which the suspension can control the car, ensuring a strong
dynamic ‘feel’ for the driver. As a result, the V8 Vantage Roadster is one
of the most dynamically capable open-top cars on the road. When closed,
the fabric hood retains the car’s dynamic and fluid profile. When open,
there is an unbroken, flowing line from front to rear, blending seamlessly
into the muscular rear haunches. The hood, which stows neatly beneath
the aluminium rear tonneau cover, can be deployed in just 18 seconds at
speeds of up to 50 km/h (30 mph). Aston Martin’s 14th convertible model
since 1950, a direct descendant of iconic open-top models such as the
DB2, DB5, DB6 and DB7, the V8 Vantage Roadster is a pure sports car
that heightens sensations and provides a driving experience synonymous
with Aston Martin. Driver and passenger are ensconced in leather-lined
luxury within a cabin that displays Aston Martin’s celebrated craft and
technology skills.

xxii ISSUE 10/09 ISSUE 10/09 xxiii

ASTON MARTIN MODEL RANGE
LEFT: The contoured design
of the optional lightweight
seat offers more support
during dynamic driving.
RIGHT: The optional 1000 W
Bang & Olufsen Beosound
Audio System has been
developed specifically for
Aston Martin.
The V8 Vantage’s optional
Sports Pack features revised
springs, dampers and anti-roll
bars, further enhanced by
the addition of a new
lightweight forged-alloy
wheel design.
xxiv ISSUE 10/09
[ v8 vantage coupe ]
T h e V 8 Va n t a g e C o u p e i s a t r u e h i g h - p e r f o r m a n c e s p o r t s c a r. Ta u t a n d a g g r e s s i v e , i t i s
design rich in detail yet never over-complicated. Engineered for performance and precision,
it encourages complete synthesis between driver and machine
PERFORMANCE
The V8 Vantage offers superb all-round performance.
Aston Martin’s 4.7-litre V8 is a light, compact, all-alloy unit,
providing high performance and impressive response even
at the lower end of the rev range. At 5000 rpm, the engine
delivers maximum torque of 470 Nm (346 lb.ft), 77 per cent
of which is delivered at just 1500 rpm. A lightweight, all-alloy
structure, combined with a front mid-engined layout and
rear mid-mounted transmission help to provide the optimum
front-to-rear weight distribution, as well as creating a low
centre of gravity, all resulting in agility, inspired balance and
perfect handling.
DESIGN
The V8 Vantage is one of the world’s most beautiful cars:
elegant, yet with a controlled aggression; perfectly
proportioned, with a low, purposeful stance. The side profile
forms a simple sweep with a minimum of unsightly shut
lines, a curved line like a bow under tension, while the rear
haunches are wide and muscular. At just 4380 mm (172.5”)
long, the V8 Vantage benefits from the inherent agility
that accompanies compact design and excellent weight
distribution. Inside, the hand-trimmed cabin offers generous
space, not just for driver and passenger, but for luggage too,
making the V8 Vantage the perfect ally for a weekend away.
ISSUE 10/09
CONTROL
The V8 Vantage delivers superb, responsive handling.
A fast-shifting, six-speed manual gearbox is standard and
Aston Martin’s acclaimed electro-hydraulic Sportshift
transmission is optional. Offering precision gear shifts in
around 200 milliseconds, the paddle-operated gearbox
brings the sporting driver even closer to the car. When the
paddles are not in use, Sportshift includes a user-selected
‘Auto Drive’ mode that will automatically select the right
gear for the conditions. A ‘comfort’ setting allows more
relaxed changes. The new optional lightweight seats
feature a Kevlar® and carbon fibre construction providing a
weight saving of 17kg. Additionally, their contoured design
offers more support during dynamic driving in particular.
ENGINEERING
The V8 Vantage is inherently strong and agile. Its all-alloy
structure creates a tough passenger cell, and further
protection is provided by deformable front and rear crumple
zones designed to absorb crash energy. A suite of electronic
safety aids helps to keep the V8 Vantage away from
accidents and in a potential roll-over situation, sensors in
the V8 Vantage Roadster instantly deploy two roll-hoops
from the rear tonneau cover.
v8 vantage
CRAFTSMANSHIP
The V8 Vantage is hand-assembled and hand-finished.
Only craftsmen can deliver the design details and level of
finish that Aston Martin engineers and designers demand,
creating a quality that is simply not possible in high-volume
manufacture. Hand-finished metal mesh grilles and trims
are used instead of plastic alternatives, while the single
aperture cuts for the headlamps in the front wings of the
V8 Vantage could not be matched by any machine.
Sit behind the three-spoke steering wheel and set the
multi-position, electrically adjustable seats. Feel the quality
of the hand-stitched leather rim and sense the intuitive
layout of the primary controls.
PERSONALISATION
A range of new optional features – including clear rear
lamps, the N400 sill design and Magnum Silver mesh
finishes offer the V8 Vantage owner the opportunity to
further personalise their car. The optional 1000 W Bang
& Olufsen BeoSound Audio System has been designed
and developed specifically for Aston Martin, providing a
combination of high power and hi-fi sound quality with
sleek, functional operation.
xxv
ASTON MARTIN MODEL RANGE v8 vantage

Aston Martin’s acclaimed

electro-hydraulic Sportshift
transmission is available as
an option. Offering precision
gear shifts in around 200
milliseconds, the paddle-
operated gearbox brings the
sporting driver even closer
to the car.

T E C H N I C A L S P E C I F I C AT I O N
v8 vantage coupe | roadster

BODY
• Two-seat, two-door coupe or
soft-cover convertible
[ v8 vantage roadster ] • Bonded aluminium structure
• Aluminium, magnesium alloy,
composite and steel body
• Extruded aluminium door
T h e V 8 Va n t a g e R o a d s t e r b u i l d s u p o n t h e a c c l a i m e d d e s i g n o f t h e C o u p e t o c r e a t e a h i g h l y
side-impact beams
desirable convertible offering both high performance and thrilling dynamics • Halogen projector headlamps
(main beam)
• High Intensity Discharge headlamps
(dipped beam)
• LED rear lamps
ENGINE
• All-alloy, quad overhead camshaft,
32-valve, 4735 cc V8
• Front mid-mounted engine,
rear-wheel drive
• Fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust
system with active bypass valves
• Compression ratio 11.3:1
• Max power 313 kW (420 bhp/426
PS) at 7300 rpm
• Max torque 470 Nm (346 lb.ft) at
5000 rpm
• Acceleration 0–60 mph in 4.7
seconds; 0–100 km/h (62 mph) in
4.9 seconds
• Max speed 290 km/h (180 mph)
TRANSMISSION
• Rear mid-mounted, six-speed
manual gearbox
• Alloy torque tube with carbon-fibre
propeller shaft
• Limited-slip differential
• Final drive ratio 3.909:1
STEERING
• Rack and pinion, power-assisted
steering, 3.0 turns lock-to-lock
• Column tilt and reach adjustment
WHEELS & TYRES
• 19” alloy wheels – 20-spoke with a
silver painted finish
• Front 8.5J x 19” Bridgestone Potenza
235/40 ZR19
• Rear 9.5J x 19” Bridgestone Potenza
275/35 ZR19
SUSPENSION
• Front Independent double wishbones
incorporating anti-dive geometry,
coil springs, anti-roll bar and
monotube dampers
• Rear Independent double wishbones
with anti-squat and anti-lift
geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar
and monotube dampers
BRAKES
• Front Ventilated and grooved steel
discs, 355 mm diameter
• Rear Ventilated and grooved steel
discs, 330 mm diameter
• Radial-mounted four-piston
monobloc calipers
• Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
• Electronic Brakeforce Distribution
(EBD)
• Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
• Positive Torque Control (PTC)
• Traction Control
INTERIOR
• Full grain leather interior
• Alcantara headlining
• Gunmetal alloy facia trim and
Graphite centre console finish
• Electrically adjustable seats
• Powerfold exterior mirrors
• Dual-stage driver/passenger front
airbags
• Side airbags
• Heated rear screen
• Automatic temperature control
• Organic Electroluminescent
(OEL) displays
• Trip computer
• Glass ECU
• LED map-reading lights
• Rear parking sensors
• Tyre-pressure monitoring1
• Alarm and immobiliser
• Remote-control central door locking
and boot release
• Battery disconnect switch
IN-CAR ENTERTAINMENT
• 160 W Aston Martin Audio System
with six-CD autochanger
• Integrated Apple iPod® connector2
• USB connectors with Waveform
Audio Format (WAF), Windows
Media Player (WMA) and MPEG
(MP3) audio file compatibility
OPTIONS
• Sportshift3 automated manual
transmission
• N400 sill design
• Personalised sill plaques
• Magnum Silver bonnet and side
strake meshes
• Clear rear lamps
• Sports Pack with 5-spoke forged
alloy wheels with diamond turned
and Silver finish
• Sports Pack with 10-spoke forged
alloy wheels with diamond turned
and Graphite finish
• 10-spoke forged alloy wheels with
diamond turned and Silver finish
• Alternative brake caliper finish –
black, red, silver
• 19” alloy wheels – 20-spoke
diamond-turned with a Graphite
painted finish
• Microspin Alloy facia trim
• Piano Black facia trim
• Iridium interior with Piano Black
facia trim
• Iridium interior with Prism Alloy
facia trim
• Second glass key
• Lightweight seats
• Memory seats and exterior mirrors
(three positions)
• Heated seats
• Perforated leather seat inserts
• 700 W Aston Martin Premium Audio
System with Dolby® Pro Logic II®
• 1000 W Bang & Olufsen BeoSound
Audio System
• Polished alloy treadplates
• Auto-dimming interior rear-view
mirror1
• Auto-dimming interior rear-view
mirror with garage door opener1
• Alarm upgrade (volumetric and
tilt sensors)
• Hard Disk Drive (HDD) satellite
navigation system1
• Satellite radio system (USA only)
• Front parking sensors
• Tracking device4
• First-aid kit
• Ashtray and cigar lighter
• Cruise control
• Bluetooth telephone preparation
• Boot-mounted umbrella
DIMENSIONS
• Length 4380 mm (172.5”)
• Width 1865 mm (73.5”) excluding
mirrors; 2025 mm (80.0”)
including mirrors
• Height (Coupe) 1255 mm (49.5”)
• Height (Roadster) 1265 mm (50.0”)
• Wheelbase 2600 mm (102.5”)
• Front track 1570 mm (62.0”)
• Rear track 1560 mm (61.5”)
• Turning circle (kerb to kerb) 11.1 m
(36.5 ft)
• Boot capacity (Coupe) 300 litres
(10.6 cu ft)
• Boot capacity (Roadster) 144 litres
(5.0 cu ft)
• Fuel tank capacity 80 litres
(17.6 UK gal/21.1 US gal)
• Weight (Coupe) 1630 kg (3595 lb)
• Weight (Roadster) 1710 kg (3770 lb)
FUEL CONSUMPTION5 – Manual
Litres/100 km (mpg)
• Urban 19.1 (14.8)
• Extra-urban 10.0 (28.3)
• Combined 13.3 (21.2)
FUEL CONSUMPTION5 – Sportshift3
Litres/100 km (mpg)
• Urban 18.7 (15.1)
• Extra-urban 9.2 (30.7)
• Combined 12.7 (22.2)
GAS MILEAGE (North America only)
Manual
• City 12 mpg
• Highway 19 mpg
GAS MILEAGE (North America only)
Sportshift3
• City 14 mpg
• Highway 20 mpg
CO2 EMISSIONS5
• 315 g/km – manual
• 300 g/km – Sportshift3
1 Not available in all markets
2 iPod® is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered
in the USA and other countries
3 Sportshift trademark is used under licence
from Prodrive (Holdings) Ltd
4 Complies with UK Thatcham Category 5
requirements. Excludes subscription.
Standard in UK
5 Data not applicable to North American
market

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