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Aston Martin confirms DB11 name for sports car coming in 2016

A new Aston Martin is on the way in 2016, but for right now we only officially know its name. The British sports car maker is finally confirming that it's next model goes by the moniker DB11. That seriously suggests the upcoming vehicle to be a replacement for the DB9. While Aston Martin isn't divulging any technical details, the DB11 is meant to be the first big step in the brand's "Second Century Plan" that aims to overhaul its product lineup. "Not only is it a sign of our intention to continue the long line of iconic sports cars that bear the 'DB' moniker – the very bloodline of our brand – but it also shows the world our ambitious plan in action," company CEO Andy Palmer said in a statement. A vehicle believed to the DB11 has been spotted testing several times this year, but it has largely remained a mystery thanks to heavy camouflage. Spy shots showed the interior with pieces from Mercedes-Benz, and some rumors have also suggested that it might be offered both with a V12 and Mercedes' 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. The styling might take some of the swoopy look from James Bond's DB10 from the upcoming film Spectre, but we'll just have to wait and see. Related Video: ASTON MARTIN ANNOUNCES DB11 NAMEPLATE 15 September 2015, Gaydon, England: Aston Martin is today confirming DB11 as the name of its forthcoming sports car. The new model – to be unveiled during 2016 – will sit at the heart of the luxury British brand's range and represents the first major product of the company's bold Second Century Plan. While all technical and design details will be announced in due course, the confirmation of the name – which follows in the footsteps of other iconic Aston Martin sports cars such as the DB5 and DB9 – signals the start of an exciting period of dynamic product development by the company. Announcing the DB11, Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer said: "Today I am proud and pleased to confirm that the DB11 nameplate will sit on our next new car. "Not only is it a sign of our intention to continue the long line of iconic sports cars that bear the 'DB' moniker – the very bloodline of our brand – but it also shows the world our ambitious plan in action. "The coming years will see Aston Martin transform not only its entire range of models but also its scale and global presence, and the new DB11 will be central to that success." - ENDS -

Aston Martin teams with Red Bull Racing for new supercar

Aston Martin has a new supercar in the works. Only this time, it isn't going it alone. Dubbed project AM-RB 001, this model is being jointly developed by the British automaker and Red Bull Racing. The freshly inked "Innovation Partnership" has been a long time in the making and will combine the talents of Aston Martin's chief designer Marek Reichman with those of Red Bull's legendary technical director Adrian Newey. Motorsports consultancy AF Racing AG will also collaborate with Q by Aston Martin Advanced and Red Bull Advanced Technologies to get the project off the ground and onto the road – and the track. Unfortunately, as the press release below and teaser image above are decidedly sparing with the details. But Reichman says the partnership is "in the process of developing a hypercar that combines the latest in aerodynamics from F1 and the stunning design language of an Aston martin sports car." One way or another, we trust it will prove a worthy successor to the likes of the exotic One-77 and the track-bound Vulcan. This isn't the first time we've seen Aston's chief exec Andy Palmer broker a partnership with Red Bull, having previously chaired the team's longtime sponsor Infiniti. Nor is it the first time we're seeing Red Bull dip its toes outside the confines of the F1 regulations – only its previous designs remained limited strictly to the cyberspace of the Gran Turismo gaming series. We'll be watching closely to see how this supercar project comes together. Related Video: ASTON MARTIN AND RED BULL RACING TO CREATE NEXT GENERATION HYPERCAR 17 March, 2016, Melbourne: British luxury brand Aston Martin and Formula One team Red Bull Racing are today announcing a partnership which sees Red Bull Racing's Chief Technical Officer, Adrian Newey and Aston Martin's Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman collaborate to produce a ground-breaking Aston Martin hypercar. Codenamed Project 'AM-RB 001', the new hypercar will represent the ultimate blend of cutting edge F1TM technology with Aston Martin's signature sports car design. The combined talents of Newey, widely noted as the most successful Formula One designer of all time, and Reichman, Aston Martin's design chief since 2005, are set to produce the ultimate hypercar. Combining the strongest elements of Red Bull Racing, Red Bull Advanced Technologies and Aston Martin, this new Innovation Partnership unites the world's best aerodynamicists, composite experts and manufacturing masters.

Aston Martin tests new Lagonda super-sedan in Oman

Aston Martin has been on a long road towards reviving the Lagonda name. The last Lagonda – that famously wedgy sedan – ended production in 1990. The name came back on a crossover concept in 2009, but for better or worse, never reached production. Then about a month ago, Aston teased a new super sedan to revive the marque, and shipped it off to Oman for hot weather testing under the baking Arabian sun. And now it's released a full batch of photos giving us our best look at the exclusive new four-door yet. This first verification prototype is taking part in a four-week testing cycle in the Sultanate, running some 500 miles per day with the aim of logging 14,000 test miles in temperatures as high as 120 degree Fahrenheit. The British automaker (known in full as Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.) purposely chose a black paintjob to further punish its prototype, including an hours-long heat soak test that will bring the surface temperature of the cabin trim up to around 175 degrees. Aston isn't telling us much about the sedan itself, but we figure it's more likely to be powered by the company's ubiquitous 6.0-liter V12 engine and based on the aging VH architecture, though for all we know at this point, it could packing the upcoming AMG-sourced turbo eight and new platform. What we can see is that the styling is a radical departure from the design language to which Aston adhered rather rigidly over the past couple of decades, potentially previewing a new styling direction for the British marque. Unfortunately you shouldn't expect to see one in your neighborhood, because production will be strictly limited and exclusive to the Middle East.