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TAG Heuer and Aston Martin drop special edition DBS Superleggera

Look the race-spec Aston Martin Vantage GT3 dead in the eyes, and there's a good chance that, at least for a subconscious second, the brain is going to redirect to watches. Watches and high-end cars are a long-standing natural fit. Craftsmanship, quality, precision, attention to detail, etc., make for an easy pairing, and prolific watch advertising in motorsport helps cement the connection. The most often result of such teams is a special-edition watch, but TAG Heuer and Aston Martin wanted to do more on the heels of their partnership announced in fall 2018. The deal is not solely for the track, however, as the two have announced the limited-run Aston Martin DBS Superleggera TAG Heuer Edition, which will come with a unique watch. The details are limited, but Aston Martin did drop a few photos of what the car will look like. As all examples are a fixed specification, every car will feature a Monaco Black paint job with carbon fiber aero pieces. Red accents, such as Pirelli color edition tires that match red brake calipers add a bit of flare. The guts match the skin, as red stitching, red piping, and red bits are seen throughout the black cabin. Triangular quilting is seen on the seats, the center armrest, and the door panels, and TAG Heuer logos embroidered into the seatbacks. Aston Martin did not release cost for the special-edition ride, but it will surely be pricey. Only 50 examples will be built. We also haven't seen what the watch itself will look like, but we've asked Aston Martin about it and will update this post when we hear more about it.

Revealed: Aston Martin shows first V12 Speedster prototype

The V12 Speedster — Aston Martin's "living show car" — has moved from the realm of dreams (and digital renderings) to the physical world. Here it is in the metal. In the composite? A bit of both, we'd reckon, but we can say this for certain: it's definitely not glass. Aston Martin's 88-unit, $950,000, topless supercar is officially entering the physical development stage "in earnest," the company's spokesperson said, and here are the photos to prove it. Aston Martin had originally planned to start delivering V12 Speedsters in the first quarter of 2021, but whether that's possible in the world of COVID-19 remains to be seen.  The company says this prototype is intended for "dynamic development," meaning it's going to be used to fine-tune road and track performance. Based on the details Aston Martin has released so far, we're inclined to believe that it will be a treat in both departments. Aston Martin V12 Speedster View 18 Photos Fortunately, we have Aston Martin's previous renderings. Aston says the V12 Speedster is powered by a 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12 making 700 horsepower and 555 pound-feet of torque. Power goes to the rear wheels by way of a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox. The British luxury builder claims this combo is good for a run to 62 mph in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 186 mph. The platform itself is made by combining elements of the DBS Superleggera and Vantage. It has 21-inch forged, center-locking wheels, huge carbon ceramic brakes and adaptive dampers. As you can see from the gallery, Aston Martin did not include any photos of the prototype's interior, and we suspect that's because it doesn't actually have one yet — at least not anything worth showing. That's just as well. This is a single-purpose toy, not a touring coupe, and anything more than a well-anchored set of seats and intuitive driver controls is just a bonus anyway. 

Aston Martin Valkyrie begins production in dashing green dress

A new era of hypercars is officially born today, as the first production Aston Martin Valkyrie rolls off the line. That’s right, the Valkyrie is officially starting its extremely limited production. The Valkyrie entering production now also means that Aston Martin has beaten Mercedes and its competing hypercar, the AMG One, to production — both cars saw their "debuts" in 2017. Last we heard from Mercedes on that front, the AMG One was still undergoing testing. Updated timing on the carÂ’s production release was not detailed in this announcement that took place over a year ago. Perhaps those who ordered the AMG One have more insight on when their specific cars will be built, but for now, the production car is still floating out there in the ether. Meanwhile, Aston Martin says the first Valkyrie, pictured in green here, is awaiting delivery. Aston does not say who the first owner is or detail the spec of the car, but we applaud the dark green paint chosen. “It is an immensely proud moment for us to complete our first ever hypercar,” Aston Martin CEO, Tobias Moers said. “The Aston Martin Valkyrie program has tested everyone who has worked on it to the limit but the commitment to the dream has produced a truly incredible car, an F1 car for the road.” Production for the Valkyrie is taking place in a special Valkyrie-only area of AstonÂ’s Gaydon headquarters. A small team of technicians spend over 2,000 hours total to build each car, and there will be 150 total Valkyries produced. If you want to know all the nitty gritty details of AstonÂ’s hypercar, make sure to check it out in our previous Valkyrie coverage. And enjoy the sound of its Cosworth V12, too. ItÂ’s downright magical to hear. Related video: