2015 Aston Martin Db9 Volante on 2040-cars

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LeTV's SEE Project will introduce new EV in Shanghai

It's very unlikely that many people here in the states will have heard of Beijing-based LeTV. Aston Martin, on the other hand? That's pretty stylish company. LeTV is working on an electric-vehicle project called SEE (Super Electric Eco-system). The concept version is slated to debut at the Shanghai Motor Show next April. LeTV says that that same month, the car will "roll of the production line," as well. That sounds awfully optimistic, to us, but we'll just leave that alone for now. The racing-car-shaped vehicle, which will have "high- and low-powered" versions, is about 11'5" long and 5'4" wide. That's about a foot shorter and a few inches narrower than a Mini Cooper. The twist, such as it is, comes from the fact that LeTV says it will develop the model with the help of both Aston Marin and BAIC Motor Corp., which adds a shade of legitimacy to the project. Aston Martin is in the process of launching its battery-electric Rapide sedan, which will have 800 horsepower and a 200-mile single-charge range, so that would ostensibly be a competitor to Tesla. The Rapide EV could run as much as $250,000. As for BAIC, is has been looking to expand its role in the plug-in vehicle sector since 2009, when it debuted a division called Beijing New Energy Automotive Co. Just last month, BAIC opened an electric-vehicle research and development center in California's Silicon Valley, the company's first outside China. You can take a look at LeTV's press release below. LeTV Partners With Aston Martin to Deliver Next Generation Electric Vehicles BEIJING and BANGALORE, October 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The most significant (monetarily) deal that came out of Angela Merkel's visit to India was that of a Euro 1 billion solar power fund solidifying India's stance to develop 100GW solar capacity by 2022. These are positive moves in a time when the focus on the effects of climate change are intensifying and how economies across the globe decide to combat the effects of it. One particular way in which India could benefit hugely from alternative fuels is from the perspective of vehicles. The nation recently joined the Electric Vehicles Initiative, a forum for global cooperation on the development and deployment of Electric Vehicles (EVs). With an interest in the Indian market, LeTV, a multinational company based in Beijing, announced its electric car plan on December 9th, 2014, when its founder, Mr.

Aston Martin DB9 successor spied, may be called DB11

This is by far our best look yet at the car that will replace the long-serving Aston Martin DB9. Previous photos of the grand tourer have consisted of mules based on the current car, but here we get our first taste of a model wearing its production skin. Despite the heavy camouflage, the DB9 successor looks to borrow its styling from the Aston Martin DB10, which will feature in the latest James Bond film. Considering this, it's not surprising that our spies report the new GT will wear the DB11 moniker. While the headlights look somewhat like the current Vantage, it's a fair bet that they'll bear more of a resemblance to the DB10 when the production model arrives. The grille sits lower than on current models, although, unlike 007's Aston, it does have an independent lower grille. It's hard to discern much from the rear of the car, though, owing to the fake taillights and heavy camouflaging on the rear hatch. That, thankfully, isn't an issue in the car's profile. Despite the heavy camo, we can see a suitably large set of haunches and the brand's trademark side grille. Expect Aston to continue using swan wing doors, judging by the shape of the units spied on this prototype, while we predict a larger greenhouse than seen here, owing to the camo over the quarter window. The partnership between Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG will bear production fruit with the so-called DB11, as our spies report the new Brit will be available with the same 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 being offered in the AMG GT. Don't fret purists – Aston's 6.0-liter V12 will also be on offer. We're fairly convinced Britain will sink into the ocean before Gaydon abandons the venerable 12-cylinder. Have a look at the latest round of spy photos and let us know what you think of Aston Martin's work so far. Related Video:

Andy Palmer leaves Renault-Nissan to serve as CEO of Aston Martin

Aston Martin has been without a helmsman since Ulrich Bez stepped down from the chief executive office at the end of last year, stepping back to serve as non-executive chairman in a semi-retired ambassadorial capacity. The British automaker, now on the cusp of a new era, has been running without a CEO since, but has now named Bez's replacement in Andy Palmer.
If you don't recognize the name, you should: Palmer has worked under the Renault-Nissan Alliance for decades now, rising through the ranks to become one of the top executives under Carlos Ghosn. Most recently he was serving as executive vice president of the entire group and chairman of the Infiniti brand, but like Carlos Tavares, who recently left Renault to run Peugeot, Palmer is now embarking on a new mission as CEO of Aston Martin.
Once the transition period is complete at the start of October, Palmer's role as Chief Planning Officer at Renault-Nissan will be assumed by Philippe Klein, who steps up from his current role as executive vice president of product planning for Renault. Read the statements from both companies below.