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Aston Martin hits the open water with Quintessence Yachts

We know, we know: life is tough. You drive your Aston Martin Vanquish Volante from your mansion to the yacht club, and then what? Just get on board any old yacht? Of course not. You're going to need an Aston Martin speedboat, and fortunately that's just what we have here. Born of a partnership among the British automaker, Dutch boatbuilder Quintessence Yachts, and the naval architects at Mulder Design, is the upcoming AM37. The speedboat, as you might have guessed, measures 37 feet long – which is a little more than two Rapides parked end to end (or nearly four Cygnets). Though there's only three images, we can already see the vessel's design takes cues from Aston's luxury GTs, particularly in the driving console. It looks a lot sleeker, at any rate, than the Voyage design we saw a few years ago, and at least as cool as the 20-foot speedboat Ian Callum designed to go with the Jaguar XF Sportbrake. Full technical details have yet to be released as well, but Quintessence says the vessel will feature a "hi-tech composite structure allied to luxury sports car-like handling, performance and comfort." It'll also incorporate voice control and touchscreen display for the navigation and multimedia system. The yacht will be offered in two versions: the AM37 with a top speed of around 50 knots (the maritime equivalent of 57 miles per hour) and the AM37 S that'll top out at 60 knots (nearly 70 mph). That's mighty fast on the open water, with no stop signs or traffic gridlock to slow you down. Just the waves on the open water. We don't know what will motivate the vessel to such speeds, but we're hoping for a marine version of Aston's signature 6.0-liter V12. Maybe even two of 'em. It wouldn't be unheard of, after all: Lamborghini has made boat engines, and a Ferrari-powered hydroplane set a longstanding record in the 1950s. Far more than the usual branded wristwatch or luggage, we're looking forward to seeing this one (quite literally) launch. Driven to succeed: Quintessence Yachts and Aston Martin • Exciting sports car firm association creates a series of unique powerboats • Stunning style, advanced technologies and exquisite craftsmanship • Highest standards of yacht design and construction 29 April 2015, Gaydon: Quintessence Yachts is today unveiling the first details of an exciting association with famous luxury British sports car maker Aston Martin which will result in the creation of a unique series of stunning new powerboats.

Aston Martin Vantage might get a Mercedes inline-six

Aston Martin has turned its eye to the inline six-cylinder engine Mercedes-Benz installs in the CLS 53. The British carmaker uses an AMG-sourced 4.0-liter V8 for the DB11 and the Vantage, which produces 503 horsepower and 505 pound-feet of torque in the latter coupe. Aston Martin hasn't said anything about whether or when it would use the inline-six, nor mentioned a product to slot the engine into. If the six does migrate from Germany to England, the move brings several benefits for Aston Martin, and it would create the first six-pot Aston Martin since the 1999 DB7. The 3.0-liter, AMG-built six-cylinder uses an electric turbocharger to put out 430 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque, and gets help from a 48-volt EQ Boost micro-hybrid system throwing in 21 hp and 184 lb-ft. After driving it at a Mercedes-Benz test track, Aston Martin's chief engineer Matt Becker called the powerplant "very complicated and clever," and said, "it's a very impressive engine" that he could envision serving the brand. The 2019 Vantage engine bay can already fit the company's in-house, 5.2-liter V12, so a straight-six shouldn't be hard to swallow. As for how it would fit into the lineup, there's a chance a six-cylinder Vantage supplants the V8. However, since Becker said his engineering team "would not necessarily play" with the AMG's power curves, that option would probably have to wait until AMG upped the three-liters' output. We'd be surprised if Vantage buyers would accept giving up two cylinders and 73 hp. More likely, a six-cylinder Vantage could give Aston Martin a new entry-level model to undercut the $153,081 Vantage V8, but with plenty of ponies to thrill. A V6 coupe could also help the carmaker's emissions scores, and serve specific markets such as China where engine displacements greater than three liters get hit with heavy taxes. Related Video:

Aston celebrates Spectre with DB9 GT Bond edition

Sorry friends, but as of right now, you can't buy the Aston Martin DB10 that James Bond will be driving in the upcoming film Spectre. That's a bummer, as 007's preferred GT is offering a fresh update on Aston's traditional looks. What you can do, though, is snag the new DB9 GT Bond Edition. According to Aston Martin, this is the most powerful DB9 the company has ever built, with the 6.0-liter V12 pumping out 540 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque. Sixty miles per hour arrives in just 4.5 seconds, while the 007 DB9 will run all the way up to 183 mph. Those are some impressive figures – the top speed and torque output mirror the range-topping Vanquish – but you might still be wondering why not choose the king of the Aston range over this, which still gets to 60 mph 0.3 seconds faster, has an extra 25 horsepower at its disposal, and is arguably the better-looking vehicle. Well, the Bond Edition DB9 comes with a number of unique items. Outside, there's a set of handsome, 10-spoke, gloss-black, 20-inch alloys, a carbon-fiber splitter and diffuser, gray brake calipers, and bright finishes on the hood vents, grille, and side gills. If the little bits aren't enough for you, the entire car is finished in 007-spec Spectre Silver paint. Naturally, "007" badges are included. In the cabin, new sill plates and embroidered headrests call out this DB9's inspiration, while an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel makes the actual act of driving just a bit more pleasant. Sadly, machine guns and ejector seats are not part of the upgrades. Unlike so many special editions, though, there's even more to the Bond Edition DB9 than special trim bits. All 150 DB9s will come with a 21-inch Globe-Trotter wheeled suitcase, while horology geeks will likely gravitate towards the included time piece. Provided by Omega, 007's preferred watchmaker since 1995's Goldeneye, the Seamaster Aqua Terra comes with a unique, Aston Martin-branded strap. The suitcase costs around $2,000 while the watch generally goes for around $3,500 to $4,000. Their inclusion in this limited-edition DB9 might soften the blow of the price, which starts at $237,007. Still, if you're a fan of Britain's most famous secret agent and are in the market for a handsome GT, you could do far worse than this unique Aston Martin. Read on for the official press release.