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1965 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible fetches record $2 million in Paris

Aston Martin and Ferrari may occupy similar territory in the current market for new cars, or at least overlap, but when it comes to their respective classics, they're in different leagues. While some classic Ferraris can sell at auction for eight figures, the highest prices ever paid for classic Astons work out to seven. That makes this latest result something of a world record. At its recent auction, held at the Grand Palais in Paris during the Retromobile classic car show this past weekend, venerated auction house Bonhams sold a 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible (one of just 35 left-hand-drive models made) for the equivalent of $2.14 million. That makes it the highest price ever paid for a production DB5 - coupe or convertible - in the history of automobile auctions, driving the most successful automobile auction Bonhams has ever held in Europe. It was not, strictly speaking, the most ever paid for any Aston, however. That honor, according to Sports Car Market, goes to the 1955 DB3S racer that Gooding & Co. sold for $5.5 million at Pebble Beach last year. Nor was it the most expensive DB5 (modified or otherwise), after the highly modified one from the James Bond movies Goldfinger and Thunderball sold for $4.6 million back in 2010. This latest record easily eclipsed other production DB5s, though: The most we'd ever seen a standard model sell for was $1.65M at RM's auction in Monterey last year. Other high-priced Aston auctions include a Zagato-bodied 1960 DB4 GT "Jet" ($5M, Bonhams 2013), another DB3S ($3.7M, RM 2012), a '57 DBR2 ($3.4M, Christie's 1985), a Ghia-bodied '56 DB2/4 ($2.3M, RM 2013) and a series of DB4 GTs that have gone for between $2.2 and $2.7 million.

Aston Martin to unveil lighter, faster Vantage called GT8

After the Vantage GT12's (pictured above) success last year, Aston Martin will reportedly build a new race-inspired version of the coupe called the GT8. According to Autocar, the British sports car brand sent select customers invitations to an unveiling later this week. The note included a sketch of the car, including a road-scraping front splitter, big rear wing, and large diffuser. The GT8 will boast carbon fiber body panels like the GT12, and according to Autocar the new edition could be the lightest road legal Vantage ever. Inside, look for a race-inspired interior, which makes any trip feel a little more like being on the track. There's no official word on the powerplant yet, but the name likely gives away the secret. Where the GT12 has a 592-horsepower 6.0-liter V12, expect the GT8 to use a hotter version of the brand's V8. Customers would choose between a seven-speed manual or Aston's SSII automatic, Autocar claims. Aston Martin will build just 150 units of the GT8 – 50 more than the GT12. Going forward, the company plans to introduce two limited edition vehicles each year. The GT8 would be the first one for 2016, so there's still another exciting model to expect from the company. Related Video:

Final Spectre trailer drops, still looks awesome

Well, here we are. After all the teasers, behind-the-scenes photos and videos, and wrecked Aston Martins, we have the final trailer for the newest James Bond flick, Spectre. Through all the leaks and other trailers, we've got a pretty good idea as to how many vehicular set pieces there will be when Spectre hits trailers. Obviously, the premiere spot will be the chase between 007's Aston Martin DB10 and the Jaguar C-X75 of baddy Mr. Hinx, while there looks to be a wintry exchange featuring a Range Rover Sport SVR, some Defenders, and a plane. This trailer also shows some kind of pickup truck – we're guessing it's a Toyota Hilux – t-boning an older Jaguar XJ, which we think is new footage. Of course, there's a lot more action beyond the automotive variety. There's a helicopter sequence, gunfights, a building collapse, and we get our very best look at the film's main villain, played by a Max von Sydow/Blofeld-channeling Christoph Waltz. Check out the trailer, available at the top of the page. Spectre hits US theaters on November 6.