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Aston launches certification program for historic cars

After 102 years in business, Aston Martin has an in-house program to provide factory certification to the products it has made for more than a century. The Aston Martin Assured Provenance program is a way for owners to have their classic cars examined by the gents at Aston Martin Works at Newport Pagnell, and then - if successful - be assessed one of four levels of certification. Owners pay a fee to have their car looked over by in-house experts who perform a digital scan and then examine all of the car's visuals and mechanics. Those records are then given to the Sanctioning Committee, another group of experts that decides which level, from Platinum to Bronze, should be awarded to the vehicle. The owner pays another fee if the car get certified, after which said owner gets a photo book of the car, the certificate in a presentation case, two sets of plaques for the instrument panel and door sills, and a USB with the digital record of the car. The program is open to original vehicles and those reworked by Aston Martin. The press release below has more. Related Video: ASTON MARTIN LAUNCHES ASSURED PROVENANCE RATING FOR CLASSIC CARS 11 September 2015, Gaydon - Aston Martin is today unveiling an authoritative new Assured Provenance certification programme which, for the first time in the brand's 102-year history, comprehensively assesses the background of its heritage sports cars. Created to offer a true blue riband service to heritage car owners and collectors, and drawing on the unrivalled knowledge of a committee of authoritative Aston Martin experts, the pioneering Assured Provenance certification programme is administered and run by the brand's world-renowned in-house heritage car facility – Aston Martin Works. The first official authentication programme to be provided in-house by Aston Martin, the new scheme offers four levels of verification to take into account not simply all-original examples, but also sports cars that have been modified by Aston Martin itself over the years. As part of the painstaking procedure of examination and authentication, all cars submitted to the process will undergo a digital scan which will be verified and held in a secure archive for future reference. Every car will be assessed at Aston Martin's internationally renowned heritage restoration, service and repair facility – Aston Martin Works at Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire – where they will undergo a thorough visual and mechanical investigation.

Aston Martin confirms its third mid-engine hypercar

Consider the rumors confirmed. Aston Martin will build a third mid-engine hypercar that's currently codenamed 003, following the Valkyrie (code 001) and track-specific Valkyrie AMR Pro (code 002). Aston Martin says 003 will borrow lots of technology from its forebears, including hybrid electric propulsion and carbon fiber-intensive construction. But there are some significant changes being baked into this third hypercar that will set it apart from the first two. First up, Aston Martin will use a turbocharged engine in 003. Both versions of the Valkyrie used naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12 powerplants co-developed with Cosworth. We don't have any power specifications for the turbocharged hybrid drivetrain of 003 yet, but we know the Valkyrie's V12 puts out as much as 1,130 horsepower from its gasoline-burning engine and electric motors. We can't say for certain, but we wouldn't bet against Aston pushing that figure further into the stratosphere with the turbo-enhanced unit that will power 003. Aston Martin also promises "active aerodynamics" that provide "outstanding levels of downforce in a road-legal car" to go along with "active suspension systems." Sounds like there's a good chance double-oh-three could be more advanced than its older siblings. That said, Aston says its third mid-engine hypercar is being designed for use on the road in addition to the track, with "more practical concessions to road use, including space for luggage." And all of that has our interest piqued. Something conspicuously absent from Aston Martin's latest hypercar announcement are any mentions of partnerships. Both Valkyrie models were designed with plenty of input from Red Bull Racing and its famous technical director, Adrian Newey. There's also no mention of Mercedes-Benz or its AMG division, from which the British automaker sources its current lineup of V8 engines. How much input will Red Bull have in 003? Will its turbocharged V8 be sourced from Mercedes-AMG? We'll just have to wait and see. What we do know, though, is that the FIA's Hypercar Concept racing series is sounding more interesting by the minute. And, if the sketch above is at all indicative of 003's actual production design, this third hypercar will be quite a bit different from the first two. Project 003 is expected to hit the road late in 2021. Global production will be capped at 500 units. Pricing, naturally, is not yet known, but if you have to ask, well, you know the rest.

Billionaire Lawrence Stroll reportedly seeks major stake in Aston Martin

LONDON — Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, owner of Formula One team Racing Point, is preparing a bid for a major stake in Aston Martin, Autocar magazine reported, sending the carmaker's battered share price up nearly 15% on Thursday. The British sports car maker's share price has slumped since its initial public offering in October last year. The shares launched at 19 pounds ($24.50) before dropping for months and languishing at around 5 pounds for weeks as sales have failed to meet expectations. Its major shareholder is Strategic European Investment Group from Italy, which holds about a third of the company. Stroll is the father of Formula One driver Lance Stroll, and is also famed for his car collection, regarded as one of the best collections of Ferraris in the world. Stroll is heading up a consortium looking to take a "major shareholding" in Aston Martin, Autocar said on Thursday. Two weeks ago, Aston unveiled the DBX, its first SUV, and is pinning its hopes on the model's success. Aston Martin declined to comment. Racing Point did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. The carmaker's shares were up nearly 15% at 5.79 pounds Thursday.