2020 Aston Martin Vantage on 2040-cars

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Aston Martin to compete at Pikes Peak, with champion Robin Shute aboard

A through technological upgrade is to be performed on an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 race car as part of its preparation to compete in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in June in Colorado, where Rivian and BMW also just announced plans to compete. It will mark the British brand's first entry into the classic Race to the Clouds since the event’s inception in 1916. The driver is expected to be Robin Shute, a three-time overall winner and ‘King of the MountainÂ’ — winning in 2019, 2021 and 2022 when he was also presented with the prestigious Segrave Trophy by the Royal Automobile Club for being the first and only British winner of the hill climb. According to the British firm Venture Engineering, which is partnering with Aston Martin Racing, the car will be powered by a 4.0-litrer turbocharged V8 engine, and additional technical developments will include engine mapping; damper work; an upgraded aero and reduced weight package from existing and development parts; as well as bespoke gearing. This year, Venture says, the Aston will be entered in the Time Attack 1 class, which is a division for production-based two- and four-wheel-drive vehicles. There are plans to develop the car further into 2024 for a second run in the Unlimited class, the high-end division for exotics with the least restrictions. Famed for its altitude and unforgiving weather conditions, the Pikes Peak climb is a 12.42-mile test through 156 twisting turns and an elevation gain of 4,725 feet.  

The Aston Martin Vulcan is bound for the Big Apple

Following its global debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, Aston Martin has announced that the Vulcan, its 800-horsepower track monster, will make its US debut at next week's New York Auto Show. According to Aston Martin, the Vulcan will lead what is for the brand, a huge display of seven cars, including the Vanquish Carbon Black, Vantage GT Roadster, Rapide S and DB9. "We are enormously encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive reaction we have received from customers and sports car fans around the world in response to the Aston Martin Vulcan," Aston boss Andy Palmer said in the attached statement. "I'm delighted that after a debut in Geneva we are able to bring the car to our North American audience, underlining the importance of this market to our business and its role in delivering our Second Century business plan." Be sure to check back next week for our exhaustive coverage from NYC. Until then, scroll down for the official press release from Aston Martin, and check out our full coverage of the Vulcan's original debut in Geneva. NEW ASTON MARTIN VULCAN SET FOR NORTH AMERICAN DEBUT IN NEW YORK • North American reveal at NYIAS for limited edition, track-only, 7.0-litre V12 supercar • The Aston Martin Vulcan fronts new seven-car Aston Martin display in New York 26 March, 2015, Irvine CA – Aston Martin's most intense and exhilarating creation to date will make its first appearance in North America at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) next month. The Aston Martin Vulcan – a track only supercar producing some 800-plus bhp – joins the British luxury sports car maker's presence at NYIAS fresh from a global reveal at the Geneva International Motor Show earlier in March. Fronting a new seven-car display led by CEO Dr Andy Palmer, the Aston Martin Vulcan will be joined by examples from the current Aston Martin product range in North America including the new Vanquish Carbon, Rapide S, DB9, V12 Vantage S and the V8 Vantage GT Roadster. CEO, Dr Andy Palmer commented: "We are enormously encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive reaction we have received from customers and sports car fans around the world in response to the Aston Martin Vulcan.

Aston Martin recalling majority of cars built since late 2007 over counterfeit Chinese parts

Back in June 2013, Aston Martin recalled just under 700 vehicles over faulty throttle arms that could break without warning. Bad news, for sure – and things just got a whole lot worse. According to Reuters, the British luxury brand now needs to recall 17,590 vehicles due to counterfeit plastic materials being used by a Chinese sub-supplier – that's roughly 75 percent of the company's output over the same period. Basically, here's how it boils down: with the exception of the Vanquish, Aston Martin will recall all left-hand-drive vehicles built since November 2007, and all right-hand-drive cars built since May 2012. Just as we told you in the recall notice from 2013, the accelerator arms in these cars may fracture, increasing the risk of a crash. Shenzhen Kexiang Mould Tool Co Limited, a Chinese company that molds the accelerator pedal arms in these affected models, was using counterfeit plastics, according to Reuters. These bad plastics were supplied by Synthetic Plastic Raw Material Co Ltd, of Dongguan. An Aston Martin spokesperson tells Reuters that there have been no reports of accidents or injuries in conjunction with this problem.