2014 Aston Martin Vanquish Coupe - Untitled Demo on 2040-cars

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Aston Martin boss says DBX is about securing the future

The Aston Martin DBX was a revelation when it debuted at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. Not only did the concept evolve the British brand's traditional shape into a high-riding crossover coupe, there were electric motors to power each wheel. Just a few weeks ago, we learned that the company secured $306 million in funding to actually bring the DBX to production. Now, CEO Andy Palmer is talking about just how important the model is for the future. With the DBX moving into such a radically different segment than the rest of the lineup, the model gives Aston Martin the opportunity to go after a new group of customers. "You can't create enough working capital with just 7,000 cars a year whichever way you look at it. You've got to extend the portfolio somewhere, and I'd rather do this than sell caps and t-shirts," Palmer said to Auto Express, taking a slight dig at Ferrari. While Aston calls the DBX a crossover, its coupe-like lines don't look like any other vehicle in the segment, especially other high-style CUV attempts like the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class Coupe. Apparently, that differentiation is entirely on purpose. "We think there is a different space to the traditional SUV. Why? Because we make beautiful cars, and it's hard to make a beautiful SUV. It's hard to make a box beautiful," Palmer said to Auto Express. The production DBX will gain two more doors for the start of production in 2019, according to Auto Express. The high-performance electric powertrain will remain, though, and Aston will aim for a range of over 300 miles. Earlier reports also suggested that the CUV could be produced at a new factory in the US. Aston Martin isn't abandoning its performance legacy entirely, though. The DBX is just one part of Palmer's Second Century plan, and the other major pillar is replacing every model in the brand's lineup by the end of the decade. One of them has already been spotted testing. Related Video: The video meant to be presented here is no longer available. Sorry for the inconvenience.

David Brown Automotive Speedback GT launches in US

Just over a year ago, the Sportback GT debuted from coachbuilder David Brown Automotive to combine the classic lines of the Aston Martin DB5 with modern underpinnings. Now, the luxurious British coupe is making its way across the pond for a US debut later this summer. With a price of $753,000, you're not going to see these coachbuilt creations on every corner. To make sure that the GT catches the eye of the right clientele, the company is premiering it during the swanky event at The Quail during the 2015 Monterey Car Week in August. Despite the retro look on the outside from former Land Rover designer Alan Mobberley, much of the mechanical underpinnings for the Speedback GT are sourced from the Jaguar XKR. Propulsion is provided by a 5.0-liter V8 making 510 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque and linked to a six-speed automatic. Inside, passengers find quite posh surroundings with leather upholstery with wood trim. DAVID BROWN AUTOMOTIVE LAUNCHES STUNNING SPEEDBACK GT TO EAGERLY ANTICIPATED AMERICAN MARKET 13/05/15 Following huge success in Europe, Speedback GT launches in the USA for GBP495,000 (currently $753,000) Speedback will showcase the best of British craftsmanship to American audience at the exclusive Quail Motorsports Gathering rally and concours event Announcement of North American launch rounds off Speedback's recent 1st anniversary celebrations since its European unveiling Coventry, England (May 2015): Launched in March 2014, Speedback GT from David Brown Automotive heralded a new era for GT models, showcasing a classically styled car with modern mechanicals, reliability and comforts. Designed, engineered and hand-crafted in Britain, Speedback GT is now launching officially in the United States, after triumphing in Europe both via media reaction and sales. Displaying at The Quail, the famed motorsports gathering located at Quail Lodge in California, the event will be the perfect place to demonstrate Speedback GT's merits to the American media and public for the first time. Initially showcasing at the Quail Rally Welcome Reception on 10th August, it will participate in the Rally on 11th and 12th August before the main Quail event on 14th August where it will feature on a stand. Company founder and CEO David Brown said: "It's been a fantastic year for Speedback GT since its launch.

NHTSA grants Aston Martin temporary exemption from new safety standards

A few months ago, we reported that Aston Martin was in danger of running afoul of new US safety regulations that could force it to take some of its most popular models off the market. The automaker, its dealers and – according to the overwhelming results of our informal online pole – you yourselves reasoned that the constricting regulations were unfair to a small-scale, niche automaker like Aston Martin. And the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration evidently agrees, granting the British automaker a temporary exemption from the regulations and allowing it to keep its cars on the US market. The issue comes down to new side-impact crash standards that require motor vehicles to better withstand a collision with a stationary object like a pole or a tree. The Vantage and DB9 models do not meet the new regulations, and Aston, it seems, doesn't have the wherewithal to re-engineer the cars to meet the regulations. But given the small nature of the independent automaker and the relatively small number of vehicles it sells, NHTSA has granted Aston an exemption. As a result, instead of being forced to comply with the new regulations that took effect for the coupes this past September and for convertibles the next – or else withdraw from the market altogether – the DB9 coupe will have until August 2016 to comply, while the DB9 Volante and both coupe and convertible models in the Vantage line will have until August 2017. It's entirely possible that, by that point, Aston will have all-new models on offer, potentially replacing the Vantage and DB9 models or giving it sufficient new products to offer that taking those older, non-compliant models off the market would not cause it the same degree of financial harm. The automaker has an all-new platform in the works and a new engine deal with Mercedes-AMG in place, and was recently spotted testing what could be the first of its new generation of models at the Nurburgring.