2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantange Carbon Black Edition 2dr Cpe Man on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Aston Martin GT8 is lightest and most powerful V8 Vantage ever

Aston Martin has revealed the upcoming GT8 variant, a race-inspired limited edition much like the earlier GT12. Only 150 will be built – 50 more than the 12-cylinder sibling. And like the GT12, none of those will be coming to North America, either. The car has already been offered to select customers, with a sketch depicting the car but without finalized photos, as the manufacturer wanted to keep the car under wraps until the unveiling. As the GT12 uses the six-liter V12 engine, the GT8 is based on the Vantage V8 and uses a 4.7-liter powerplant with 446 horsepower, a slight hike from the regular car's output. The bodywork has been made out of carbon fiber, granting it the title of being the lightest and most powerful V8 Vantage built. According to Aston Martin, all the bodywork is race-bred and not just there for show. Aston's Director of Special Projects and Motorsport, David King says that Aston Martin has "long desired to create a road car that truly reflects our racing activity at Le Mans", and that the GT8 achieves that. View 13 Photos Regarding the choice of transmission, the GT8 follows in the footsteps of the GT12 – either a six-speed manual or the seven-speed Sportshift II paddle-shift, whichever seems to suit the buyer of the motorsport-themed car. The buyer can also decide on optional weight saving measures, as the roof is also available in carbon fiber and the side and rear windows in polycarbonate. Still, there are A/C and audio systems to make the limited edition car a little more bearable than its racing counterparts. There are three optional "Halo" paint schemes to choose from, combining China Grey with blue, Stratus White with green and Stirling Green with lime detailing, the last of which is seen in these press images. Prices start from GBP165,000 ($233,880) and deliveries commence in late 2016. Related Video: News Source: Aston MartinImage Credit: Aston Martin Aston Martin Coupe Racing Vehicles Special and Limited Editions Supercars Videos vantage v8

Overnight action from the 24 Hours of Le Mans

We won't go into a recap here, but there are still leading positions being fought for in all classes - it's so close that leads are changing when a car goes into the pits. We'll let the recap wait until the end of the race, so for now enjoy some shots from last night's action at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Aston Martin unveils aero kit and Heritage Racing Editions for Vantage

Each year at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, enthusiasts are met with an artistic white sculpture that represents a unique part of automotive history. For 2019, the Central Feature, as it's called, highlights Aston Martin with a DBR1 frozen high in the sky.  Celebrating 60 years since Aston went 1-2 at Le Mans and 70 years since the company first raced at the Goodwood Motor Circuit, Aston Martin also unveiled an aero kit and the Heritage Racing Editions for the Vantage coupe. Crafted by Aston's bespoke division "Q", only 60 examples of the Vantage Heritage Racing Editions will be made, each acting as an homage to a historic racecar from the company's past. The green and silver Vantage, named "Razor Blade," has been color-matched to a racer that set records in the 1500-cc light car class at Brooklands in 1923. The red example with Aston Martin lettering, "The Italian Progettista", is a call to the Ulster, which Aston calls its most iconic pre-war racecar. It finished third overall at the 1935 24 Hours of Le Mans and finished fourth in the RAC Tourist Trophy Race. The "David Brown Era" Vantage seen in yellow and green is inspired by the DB3S from the '50s. The red, white, and blue Vantage, dubbed "The Group C Monster", celebrates the AMR1 racer. At the time of development in 1989, the AMR1's use of a kevlar and carbon fiber monocoque was cutting-edge. The "Le Mans Winner" Vantage wears the Gulf livery and nods to the endurance racing series that Aston Martin has participated in since 1928. Lastly, the Lime Essence and Stirling Green Vantage is a hat tip to the current Vantage GTE racecar that competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship. The special-edition models also debut a new aero kit that will be available on all Vantages. Thanks to a carbon fiber rear wing, dive planes, an extended front splitter, the kit produces an additional 428 pounds of downforce at 190 mph. Each car has lightweight wheels, the Sports Plus Pack, and interior carbon fiber features for additional weight loss. Aston Martin has yet to announce pricing or availability, but all six special-edition cars can be seen next to the Central Feature throughout the Goodwood events.