2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage - Mint on 2040-cars

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Sunday Drive: Still thankful for supercars

The Thanksgiving holiday meant that last week was pretty short on stories, but apparently our readers are still thankful for supercars. The biggest news of the week was the new Aston Martin Vantage, which is clothed in a new look that Autoblog readers are still very much unsure of. It's a radical departure from past Aston Martin models, and while everyone seems to agree that the profile is lovely, the squinty headlamps are a particular source of contention. Its 503 horsepower and 512 pound-feet of torque cannot be argued with ... oh, and a V12 may be coming soon. Moving along is a nearly new 2006 Ford GT for sale that's expected to fetch around $300,000 at auction. It's so unused that it still has plastic wrap covering the leather interior. The Ango-American theme continues with the McLaren 720S, though not in road-going form. Still, renderings of the upcoming 720S GT3 racer round out this supercar-rich recap. As always, stay tuned to Autoblog for all the latest automotive news that's fit to print. All-new Aston Martin Vantage turns up the volume This 10.8-mile Ford GT could be yours McLaren 720S GT3 race car shown off in renderings Aston Martin Ford McLaren Coupe Luxury Racing Vehicles Performance Supercars aston martin vantage recap sunday drive

Aston Martin Valkyrie officially makes 1,160 horsepower

The Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar will have a total system output of 1,160 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. We knew the raw figure from the naturally aspirated V12 engine was 1,000 horsepower, but a few details on the KERS-style hybrid assistance system were released today. In doing the math, this means the single electric motor mounted in the gearbox is responsible for adding 160 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque to the equation. Aston says the electric motor and battery pack were developed with the help of Integral Powertrain Ltd and Rimac as suppliers and partners. We all know Rimac for its ridiculous electric supercars it has made, so it looks to be a smart partnership for now. Peak combined power is made at a dizzying 10,500 rpm, with peak torque coming in at a still-high 6,000 rpm. If you missed out on the engine breakdown from this past December, then know the 6.5-liter V12 will keep spinning until 11,100 rpm. We're guessing this race-car-like number drops your jaws, just as it does ours. Cosworth and Aston Martin teamed up to create this beauty of an engine — sound clips of it running make us think we're listening to historical Formula 1 footage; it's that good. This news comes ahead of the 2019 Geneva Motor Show next week, which could prove itself a launching pad for even more information to be learned about the Aston Martin hypercar. At this point we know there will be an even more exclusive AMR Pro track-only variant and a track pack option for the "normal" Valkyrie, which isn't all that normal itself. It's expected to weigh a light 2,200 pounds and have an unrestricted top speed of 254 mph. Aston appears to be continuing development on the car, so don't consider those final quite yet. Related video:

Aston Martin names new regional chief for the Americas

Aston Martin has named a new president for the Americas region. Starting October 26, the role will fall to Laura Schwab, who joins Aston from rival Jaguar Land Rover. The Louisville, KY native is a graduate of the law school at the University of Kentucky. She worked in the technology sector in Southern California before embarking on a career in the automotive industry, working for JLR in a variety of marketing and communications posts. She has served for the past year and a half as JLR's marketing director, having previously worked in Land Rover's North American office in a variety of capacities. In her new job, Schwab will be responsible for all of Aston Martin's activities in the Americas, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, and South America. She'll be working out of the company's regional headquarters in Irvine, CA, reporting to directly global sales director Christian Marti. Pictured above is the DB10 created for the latest James Bond movie, on display in Monterey this summer. "Laura is an excellent addition to the Aston Martin team. Throughout her career in the automotive business, Laura has demonstrated an ability to implement marketing and retail programs to drive growth," said Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer in the statement below. "As we embark upon delivery of our six-year 'Second Century Plan' the Americas region offers a considerable opportunity and I look forward to Laura applying her skills to help us grow awareness of the Aston Martin brand in this region." Related Video: ASTON MARTIN APPOINTS LAURA SCHWAB AS NEW AMERICAS REGIONAL PRESIDENT 2 October 2015, Gaydon: Aston Martin is pleased to announce the appointment of Laura Schwab as President for Aston Martin The Americas, reporting to Global Sales Director Christian Marti, effective 26 October. Laura joins Aston Martin from Jaguar Land Rover where she worked most recently as Marketing Director, leading marketing communications, experiential events, sponsorships, product marketing, customer engagement and corporate social responsibility. Based at the company's regional headquarters in Irvine, California, Laura's role as Regional President embraces sales and service, public relations, brand marketing and communications to both Aston Martin's customers and 46 dealers in the region, spanning the United States, Canada, Mexico and South America.