2003 Aston Martin Db7 on 2040-cars

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Airbus and Aston Martin tease helicopter collaboration

Aston Martin is working on a new partnership in a different part of the transportation sector. This week, the British company known for its beautiful car designs announced a collaboration with Airbus Corporate Helicopters (ACH) that is set to launch in 2020.  ACH and Aston Martin are working on a helicopter, and this short video is the first official teaser of the partnership. The project has been under design development for the past 12 months, and Aston Martin Lagonda Vice President and Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman said the project will be a blending of automotive and aeronautical design principles.  Although the teaser did not give away much info about the helicopter, the name of the video might. It's titled, "ACH130 AM TEASER 16x9." The 16x9 part is just the dimensions of the video, but ACH130 AM likely indicates a nod to the Airbus H130 helicopter, which is most often used for "sightseeing services, charter operators, and emergency medical services, among others." It comes in six- or seven-passenger configurations.  This is not the first time Airbus has collaborated with an automaker on a helicopter design. Peugeot previously worked with Airbus on an H160. The ACH130 AM debuts in the French Alps on January 3, 2020. And this is not the first time Aston has collaborated on transportation beyond a car. Last year, Aston put its luxury imprint on a submarine. Auto News Design/Style Aston Martin

Aston Martin doubles sales in third quarter

LONDON — Aston Martin said on Thursday it had sold 1,349 cars to dealers in its third quarter, up 104%, driven by demand for the luxury automaker's first sport utility vehicle, the DBX. The brand, which posted a 97.9 million pound ($134 million) pre-tax loss between July and September, said it expected to deliver its first steps towards improved profitability this year as it undergoes a transformation plan. Fictional agent James Bond's carmaker of choice had a tough time after floating in 2018, as it burnt through cash, prompting it to bring in fresh investment and a new strategy from billionaire Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll. It maintained on Thursday its guidance of full-year sales of around 6,000 cars as it scales up production of its Valkyrie model with deliveries beginning this quarter. "Through the first nine months of this year we have successfully built on the foundations we put in place for the company's success in 2020," said Stroll. "Not only do we have low dealer inventory, but it is also healthy and fresh — a testament to our shift to ultra-luxury positioning." Related video:

2020 Aston Martin DBX pricing, interior revealed

We’ve gotten the rundown on the 2020 Aston Martin DBX's performance specs and heard the sound of its V8, seen the grille and learned about its dog-friendly Pet Pack and other accessories. There's also all those spy shots of mule versions running about. Now we have our first image of the interior and details on pricing of AstonÂ’s first SUV ahead of its Nov. 20 unveiling in Beijing. First up, the price. And it ainÂ’t cheap, but you knew that, because itÂ’s an Aston Martin. The off-road-capable luxury crossover will start at $189,900 here in the United States. That puts it in the rarified air of competitors like the Lamborghini Urus, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan and the Bentley Bentayga. For that kind of cheddar, youÂ’d better be riding in style. The interior photo, taken from the rear seat looking forward, shows a butterscotch-colored cabin, with stitched leather seats, what appears to be an Alcantara headliner, backseat climate controls with vents in the center console and on the B-pillars and, up front, a large touchscreen framed in an oval-shaped cluster. Aston says the bridged center console offers storage space below for handbags or other large items. ThereÂ’s also a huge, full-length glass roof and broad side windows, and weÂ’re told — but offered no concrete measurements — of class-leading front and rear legroom, and an abundance of space throughout. Aston says it did extensive customer research and carefully consider the ergonomics needs of a broad range of male and female occupants, with more than six months alone dedicated to determining the exact and best position of the driver within the vehicle and a "Female Advisory Board" to help dictate the layout of dashboard controls. Aston also wants us to know that it gave special consideration to backseat passengers and children. The decision to use an all-new platform and its longer wheelbase allowed designers to optimize cabin space while keeping the low roofline. The DBX will produce 542 horspower and 516 pound-feet of torque from the twin-turbo 4.0-liter borrowed from Mercedes-AMG, making it the most powerful version of the engine used in an Aston. Order books open after the reveal later this month.