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Aston Martin find unique way to recycle scraps of leather

Ever wonder what happens to the scraps of leather left over after skilled craftsmen are done upholstering the interior of a luxury automobile? There's a lot of hide left over, as we've seen first-hand from visiting the upholstery workshops at various factories, but much of the waste is made up of tiny cutoffs. Some of those pieces might be used for repair kits, some scraps for smaller pieces of merchandise, while others might be sold to nearby craftsmen. Aston Martin found a different use for some of its leftovers. The British automaker put down a canvas in the VIP atrium at its headquarters in Gaydon, UK, and equipped a team of artisans with a whole pile of leather samples. What they did with it is perhaps the most compelling example of recycling we've seen to date. The end result, as you can see from this latest video, is an artistic representation of the Vanquish, made entirely out of leather – as if the interior of the luxurious sports car isn't already clad in enough of the stuff. Of course, it doesn't have the Vanquish's 6.0-liter V12 and its 568 horsepower, so unlike most Astons, it won't be going anywhere in a hurry. Perhaps it could be hung in the upholstery workshop for future workers to admire. Related Video:

2020 Aston Martin DBX is an Aston you won't be afraid to put your dogs in

Most Aston Martins, being two-door coupes, aren't necessarily cars in which you'd want to bring your four-legged friends. But the 2020 Aston Martin DBX crossover isn't a typical Aston. Not only does it have space for large dogs and other pets, but Aston is offering a selection of accessories in a Pet Pack to make travel more comfortable for furry companions. It includes a divider to keep your pets in the cargo area, and a lovely gray fabric and saddle brown leather bed for them to lie on. A fabric bumper guard can fold out to protect paint from stray claws, and a portable washer will let you clean up your dogs after a muddy romp. There are even pet bowls for food and water. The Pet Pack is one of a few accessory packages Aston is showing off for the DBX even before we've seen the crossover officially revealed. One of the other unique packages is the Event Pack, which comes with a picnic hamper, blanket, chairs and extra umbrella storage. Then there's the Snow Pack that, in addition to a ski bag, ski rack and snow chains, comes with boot warmers. Aston will also offer custom leather trimmed child seats for families. And of course there are a variety of interior organizers and custom luggage options for general odds and ends. Pricing and availability haven't been announced yet. That information will come along with the official reveal of the DBX this December.

Aston Martin DB11 gets back to work at the Nurburgring

The Aston Martin DB9 has been around for over a decade now. Classic though its styling may be, that means it's ripe for replacement. Fortunately that's just what Aston Martin is working on, as you can see from these latest spy shots. Snapped undergoing development at the notoriously grueling Nurburgring, this prototype appears to have ditched the camouflage worn by the last one we saw in favor of the black body cladding from our earlier shots. That makes it tough to tell anything about its final design, but if precedent proves anything, it ought to be pretty striking once the production bodywork is put in place. The new DB11 (or whatever it's ultimately called) is being built on a new platform that's set to replace Aston's long-serving VH architecture that has adapted over the years but essentially dates back to the V12 Vanquish that debuted way back in 2011. Aston is expected to keep using its even longer-serving 6.0-liter V12 engine on certain models, but the new DB11 is more likely to get the new twin-turbo V8 being built for it by Mercedes-AMG.