2019 Aston Martin Vantage Coupe on 2040-cars

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This Aston Martin aircraft should be James Bond's next ride

Aston Martin is claiming the sky as it shows off its VTOL hybrid-electric aircraft. The Volante Vision Concept is Aston Martin's solution to reducing congestion in cities and towns. The luxury VTOL aircraft seats 3 adults and includes a windshield HUD delivering vital flight information. Transcript: The future of commuting, Aston Martin's Volante Vision Concept is a luxury VTOL aircraft. Aston is preparing for a world where flight plays a bigger role in daily travel. It is the product of a joint venture with Cranfield University, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions and Rolls-Royce. Aston says it's a "near-future study" that previews both urban and inter-city travel. Fitting up to three adults, this flying hybrid-electric vehicle aims to be autonomous. Inside, the surrounding windshield provides a HUD delivering vital flight information. Forgoing a traditional airplane design the Volante Vision Concept looks more like a Quadcopter. "With the population in urban areas continuing to grow, congestion in towns and cities will become increasingly demanding. We need to look at alternative solutions to reduce congestion, cut pollution and improve mobility," says Aston Martin President and CEO Dr. Andy Palmer. Now let's see James Bond fly this around.

Kahn tackles Aston Martin with a Vengeance

Though Aston Martin has been known to produce some pretty stunning designs all on its own, it's also no stranger to the efforts of independent coachbuilders. It's had a longstanding relationship with Zagato that has given birth to some of the most stunning automotive collaborations ever to roam the open road, but now it's time for another designer to step up to the plate with the creation previewed here. It's called the Vengeance and it's the latest project from Kahn Design – a British firm perhaps better known for its (often wildly) customized Land Rovers, but with a history of enhancing Astons as well. Adopting a name that fits into traditional Aston nomenclature along nameplates like Vantage, Vanquish and Virage, the Vengeance is being built atop a DB9, but with highly modified coachwork. As you can see from the preview renderings in the slideshow above, the design calls for features a a bulging hood, slotted grille, wide rear fenders, polished steel roof and window frames, and staggered alloys – 20 inches up front, 21 in the back – inspired by roulette wheels with diamond-cut rims and body-colored centers. "The Vengeance underlines Kahn Design's expertise in design and coachbuilding," said Azfal Kahn in the statement below. "With a team of over 25 designers in house we're involved in all aspects of product design from automotive to timepieces, interiors, retail space, clothing and accessories." Only a limited quantity of individually numbered examples will be hand-made in the British Midlands, with pricing and availability yet to be announced but promising what Kahn says will "represent extremely good value for a limited edition coachbuilt car." Kahn Design launches coach built 2 door retro classic coupe named the 'Vengeance' Origins The practice of automotive coachbuilding stretches back to the early 1900s, when discerning customers would employ the services of expert craftsmen to create a custom vehicle body on a pre-manufactured chassis. Following in this tradition, renowned British designer Afzal Kahn has announced the launch of a new coachbuilt car codenamed the Vengeance. Built on a new Aston Martin DB9 chassis, the Vengeance is a wide body two door coupe, with a muscular, aggressive design evoking the silhouette of a sabretooth on the prowl. Design A supercar owner and connoisseur since his late teens, Kahn has always sought to push the boundaries of car design, developing a distinctive, aggressive design language.

Valkyrie-inspired Aston Martin AMB 001 Pro is a 225-horsepower superbike

Aston Martin is digging its boots a little deeper into the motorcycle segment. The company teamed with Brough Superior to develop the AMB 001 Pro, a limited-edition, 225-horsepower follow-up to the AMB 001 released in 2019 that was developed exclusively for track use. Both companies explain that the Aston Martin Valkyrie provided inspiration from the AMB 001 Pro. Power comes from a water-cooled, 1.0-liter V-twin engine that develops 225 horsepower, which represents a 25% increase compared to the AMB 001. If that doesn't sound terribly impressive, look at it this way: With a dry weight of 385 pounds, the Pro offers a power-to-weight ratio that's nearly on par with a Formula One car. Massive power requires massive brakes, and the AMB 001 Pro thankfully ticks that box as well. Up front, there are two stainless-steel discs gripped by a pair of four-piston calipers. Out back, there's a similar setup with smaller discs and two-piston calipers. The 17-inch 10-spoke front wheel and disc-style rear wheel are both made with carbon fiber to reduce unsprung weight, and the suspension system is adjustable. Beyond the impressive specifications, the AMB 001 Pro stands out with several cool features. One is a crankcase machined from solid billet aluminum. The body kit (which includes a front spoiler, a tunnel-effect air blade that directs air over the rider, side wings, and a rear stabilizer fin) increases downforce, and the livery is a tribute to Aston Martin's race cars. We hope you like green: it's the only color available. Hand-built in Toulouse, France, the Aston Martin AMB 001 Pro is on sale now. Pricing hasn't been released yet, but the company stressed that its second motorcycle is a limited-edition model, though there's no word yet on how many will be built. We've reached out to the company and we'll update this story if we learn more. For context, the original AMB 001 carried a base price of around 108,000 euros. Related video: 2023 Aston Martin DBX707 walkaround