2007 Aston Martin Db9 2dr Volante Auto Power Mirrors Leather Seats on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Aston Martin reveals Vanquish Zagato Speedster, confirms Shooting Brake

Today is a big day for fans of Zagato-bodied Aston Martins. The company has revealed the production version of the Vanquish Zagato Volante (the gray car above), a soft-top version of the beautiful Vanquish Zagato Coupe. It has the same 580-horsepower V12 as every Vanquish Zagato has, as well as a customized interior covered in so many "Z"s you'd think it was actually an Aston Martin Zoro. It's in production now, but every example has already sold out. It isn't the only open air Zagato to be shown today, though. Aston announced it is expanding its line of limited production Vanquish Zagatos with a Speedster and an upcoming Shooting Brake. View 7 Photos The Speedster (the red car shown here) makes its full debut this week, and unsurprisingly it looks both gorgeous and very similar to the Zagato coupe, and especially the Zagato Volante convertible. The key difference is that this open-top Zagato has dual cowls finished in exposed carbon fiber that flow back from the seats. Zagato says these are reminiscent of the "double-bubble" roof the company is known for, but seeing as this is also a traditional speedster cue, it seems more like marketing serendipity. That doesn't make it less beautiful, of course. It's also the rarest example of the Vanquish Zagato, as only 28 examples will be built, while the Coupe, Volante, and Shooting Brake will each be made in batches of 99. Like the Volante, all Speedsters have been sold. There's yet one more Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato that hasn't entered production, and presumably hasn't sold out yet: the Shooting Brake. As one would expect from a car with the Shooting Brake moniker, it will be a sporty wagon. It will still be a two-seater, which means it should have an impressive amount of cargo space. That storage can be accessed via a powered hatch, and it can be filled with custom made luggage from Aston Martin. The long swooping roof also features the double-bubble design, and consists of plenty of glass to let in light. Though the car hasn't had a real-life reveal yet, Aston Martin has provided a rendering shown above to illustrate what it will look like. We're rather smitten with the look. We also expect to see the production car revealed next year when production begins. Related Video: Featured Gallery Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Volante View 14 Photos Image Credit: Aston Martin Aston Martin Convertible Hatchback Wagon Luxury Supercars zagato aston martin vanquish aston martin vanquish zagato

Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider loses roof, swaps doors, keeps the speed

The Aston Martin Valkyrie family has officially expanded to three models with the introduction of the Valkyrie Spider at Monterey Car Week. And as the name suggests, it's a convertible. The new roof required a few tweaks, but the car is still basically the same as the hardtop. The Valkyrie Spider's roof is a removable hardtop made of carbon fiber and featuring hinged polycarbonate windows on either side. This is to allow easier entry and exit with the roof in place. Also, because the roof is removable, the Spider couldn't have the gull-wing doors of the coupe. So Aston Martin reengineered it to have butterfly doors. A few other undisclosed aerodynamic changes were made, too. Though Aston Martin didn't say by how much, the company did say the Spider is a bit heavier than its closed counterpart. But owners are unlikely to really notice since they'll be working with the same 1,139 horsepower from the 6.5-liter V12. And really, even if the weight change were noticeable, it would probably be covered up by the fact that you'll be able to hear that engine much better. It's still extremely fast, capable of around 205 mph with the top off, and around 217 mph with the top in place. Aston will build 85 Valkyrie Spiders. No pricing or availability was given, and there's a distinct possibility all the examples have been sold already. The people who are lucky enough to get one should expect their cars to arrive in the second half of 2022. Related video:

Aston Martin Vantage Roadster limited edition gets 100-year-old styling cues

Aston Martin's oldest-known car is turning 100 years old in 2021, and the British firm is celebrating the occasion with a limited-edition Vantage Roadster built by its Q division. It was commissioned by the company's oldest dealer. Located in Walton-on-Thames in England, distributor Aston Martin HWM worked with Q to bring some of the 1921 A3's design cues into the 21st century. The process was easier said than done considering the A3 and the Vantage share little more than four wheels, and creating a completely new car from the ground up was seemingly not an option.  Instead, the commemorative car is a Vantage Roadster that wears a specific grille with a black mesh insert, a bright aluminum frame, and a replica of the emblem fitted to the A3. It also gains redesigned fender inserts painted in a shade of gray that echoes the A3's hood and fitted with black strap above a "No_3" emblem. Most of the Vantage's exterior trim is black, and bronze brake calipers visible behind 20-inch wheels add a finishing touch to the look. Obsidian Black leather dominates the cabin, though Chestnut Tan inserts and stitching ensure the Vantage isn't fully blacked-out. One of the coolest design features found in this limited-edition convertible is the use of brass for three of the dials found on the center stack. They create a visual link between the 2021 Vantage and the 1921 A3. Aston Martin made no retro changes under the hood, which is just as well considering the A3 used a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 11 horsepower. Power for the Vantage comes from a 4.0-liter V8 borrowed from Mercedes-AMG and twin-turbocharged to develop 503 horsepower and 505 pound-feet of torque. It spins the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Aston Martin quotes a 3.6-second sprint from zero to 60 mph and a top speed of 190 mph. For context, the A3 made headlines in 1923 by lapping the Brooklands track at 84.5 mph. The 1920s-inspired Vantage is on sale now, though Aston Martin chose not to reveal how many units will be made, how much each one will cost, and whether any will be sold in America. We've contacted the firm for more details. As for the A3, it's not for sale, even if you ask nicely and bring a big wad of cash; it's owned by the Aston Martin Heritage Trust. It will be shown at the annual Concours of Elegance taking place in September 2021 near London. Related video: Aston Martin DBX crossover review