Aston Martin

Taking on the likes of Rolls-Royce and Bentley is no mean feat. In fact few are up to the task – not even Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler. The latter has tried with limited success to turn a profit on the Maybach brand, but the latest reports indicate that it’s preparing to take a different approach.

Because Daimler is used to building cars in large volumes, it has been negotiating with Aston Martin for several years now on a new partnership that could see the British automaker – which has more expertise in small-batch production – build the next generation of Maybachs. Production would, according to reports, take place at Aston Martin’s headquarters at Gaydon, Warwickshire in England, pictured above.

What would Aston get in return? The technology – including chassis, engines and more – on which to base its relaunched Lagonda brand, which is part of the company’s portfolio but has not been used in decades. The first Lagonda luxury sedan could be built alongside the next Maybach, followed by a high-end crossover/utility vehicle based on the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class.

Daimler and Aston Martin to Collaborate on High-End Maybachs and Lagondas originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What are the world’s top luxury toys for men? Uber-luxe German publisher teNeues has the answer with its newest super-sized volume, Luxury Toys: For Men. The awesome Aston Martin One-77, so named because of its limited 77-example run and $1.7 million pricetag, appears on the cover.

Other supercars that make the cut, including the Audi R8 GT, Rolls-Royce Ghost, Jaguar XKR Special Edition, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S Awards Edition, and Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. Quite the garage.

Covering transportation, style, accessories and dream vacations, the massive 220-page volume features 138 giant full-color photographs and text in English, German, French, Spanish, and Italian. Not based merely on price, the selections show how “emotion and finesse can be combined with spectacular aesthetic purity.”

Continue reading The World’s Top Luxury Toys for Men

The World’s Top Luxury Toys for Men originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Geographically located in between the supercar capitals of Europe, Switzerland is where the world’s automakers come to showcase the latest array of mouth-watering, bank-balance-tempting exotic sports cars. And this year’s Geneva Motor Show didn’t disappoint in the least.

In between all those luxury sedans, upscale sport-utes and premium hatchbacks were a blinding assortment of six-figure supercars seemingly capable of bending the very laws of physics. Standing out from the crowd were brand-new offerings from Ferrari, Lamborghini and Pagani, new takes on old favorites from Maserati, Aston Martin and Jaguar, concept cars from Alfa Romeo, BMW and Wiesmann and more.

We went to Geneva to check them out with our own eyes (and lens) – follow the jump to see what we found, and click the images to view the full galleries from our sister-site Autoblog.

Continue reading 2011 Geneva Motor Show: The Supercars

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

2011 Geneva Motor Show: The Supercars originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin‘s VH platform has spawned more vehicles than you can shake a stick at. Not only does it underpin the V8 and V12 Vantage models (and all their derivatives), but as the platform on which the DB9 is based, it’s also the basis for the DBS and Rapide models as well. But now Aston Martin has launched a new model called the Virage.

Reinstating a model name from the company’s history, the new Virage – available in both coupe and Volante convertible body-styles – slots in between the DB9 and DBS models. Its curvaceous aluminum, magnesium and composite body hides the 490-hprsepower 6-liter V12 engine with six-speed automatic Touchtronic 2 transmission, while all-around double-wishbone suspension with adaptive damping is mounted to 20-inch wheels with carbon-ceramic disc brakes and Pirelli P Zero tires.

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Aston Martin Introduces the Virage originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Back in December my colleague Noah Joseph previewed some of the notable early consignments at Gooding & Company‘s Amelia Island sale. Now with the auction date of March 11 looming we have details on starring lots added in the interim. Recent additions to the stunning lineup include an extraordinary “barn find” 1955 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback with coachwork by H.J. Mulliner; a highly-original and unrestored 1961 Aston Martin DB4 Series IV; and a 1962 AC Cobra. They join other incredible offerings including a 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV Prototype, a 1963 Lotus 23B and a 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso (above).

“A true connoisseur’s car, the Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback has a place in the world’s finest collections,” says David Gooding, President and founder. “This recently-discovered, two-owner R-Type is the ultimate collector’s Bentley for its role in luxury motoring history and sophisticated performance specification.” Gooding have not released estimates for the Bentley or Miura, but expect the bidding to be fierce. Meanwhile the Aston Martin’s estimate is $425,000 – $475,000; the AC Cobra $450,000 – $550,000; the Lotus $175,000 – $225,000; and the Ferrari 250 GT Lusso $600,000 – $750,000.

Rare Ferraris, Bentleys, Astons & More at Gooding’s Amelia Island Sale originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

A recent decision by two venerable British brands to drop the Royal Warrants from their packaging has occasioned some hand-wringing in the UK over whether the much-coveted distinction has lost its lustre. The Classicist calls it a tempest in a Royal Doulton teacup; read on to find out why. Only three royals are entitled to grant warrants – the Queen of England, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales – to firms who supply their royal requisites for at least five years, though most warrant holders have ties to Britain’s royal family dating back several decades or more. Of course, Prince William will one day be granting his own.

Holders of the Royal Warrant include many of our favorite luxury brands – Asprey, Aston Martin, Bentley, Barbour, Burberry, Fortnum & Mason, Gieves & Hawkes, Holland & Holland, Hunter Boots, Jaguar, John Lobb, Johnnie Walker, Land Rover, Laphroaig, Lock & Co., Swaine Adeney Brigg, Smythson, Tanqueray and Turnbull & Asser – along with a host of lesser names, such as After Eight mints and Jacob’s Cream Crackers. It is the latter two that have now decided to do without their warrants – though no insult is intended to the royal family, as it was when former Harrods owner Mohamed al Fayed burned his last year. That coupled with the results of a new survey showing that only 13% of respondents thought that warrants make any difference have called their usefulness into question, the London Guardian reports.

However, “It’s hard to say that interest in royal warrants is conclusively on the wane,” Vicky Bullen, chief executive of Coley Porter Bell, tells the paper, “because there is no existing data with which to make a comparison. However, consumers’ apparent indifference to the royal warrants has surprised us. We can only surmise there could be a number of factors at play.” Said factors, Bullen says, include “that we live in a less deferential society in which the royal family enjoys less prestige and political support.” That of course is not exactly new, though the upcoming Royal Wedding may give them a boost. [cont'd]

Continue reading The Classicist: Is the Royal Warrant Losing Its Lustre?

The Classicist: Is the Royal Warrant Losing Its Lustre? originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Salon Priv, Europe’s finest and largest dedicated display of supercars, exotics, classics and luxury goods in an English garden party setting, is moving to an amazing new venue this summer to house the largest exhibition to date and an incredible auction alongside. Syon Park (above), the sprawling London estate of the Duke of Northumberland, whose family have lived there for over 400 years, is best known as the mansion used in the movie Gosford Park and is the last surviving ducal residence retaining its country estate in Greater London, making a fitting new setting for the five-star event slated for June 22nd – 24th.

To mark the occasion, RM Auctions, the world’s largest collector car auction house, has selected Salon Priv as the venue for its third annual European sale. Themed ‘Quintessentially English’ and scheduled for June 23, the new RM sale is set to become a regular fixture on the company’s global events calendar, catering specifically for collectors with an affinity for British marques. Also joining the luxe event, now in its sixth season, for the first time is Land Rover who have confirmed that they will show the new Range Rover Evoque models which guests will be able to test drive.

2011 marks a return to the event for Porsche alongside such brands as Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Maserati, Maybach, Mercedes-Benz, Morgan and Rolls-Royce. In addition to the stunning display of modern super and luxury cars, the event’s internationally renowned Concours d’Elgance returns with seven new categories and a display of some of the rarest and most valuable cars in the world. Examples of this year’s categories include Ferrari 250 Competizione, Historic Grand Prix Single Seaters, Grand Routier, Oddballs, Motorcycles from the Steve McQueen era and a collection of stunning Rolls-Royce models to celebrate the 100 year centenary of the Spirit of Ecstasy. [cont'd]

Continue reading The Classicist: London’s Luxe Salon Prive Comes to ‘Gosford Park’

The Classicist: London’s Luxe Salon Prive Comes to ‘Gosford Park’ originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Canadian luxury phone maker Mobiado is in Switzerland this week for the BaselWorld watch and jewelry show with the new CPT002 concept phone. Designed in collaboration with Aston Martin, the CPT002 is comprised of a fully transparent sapphire crystal capacitive touchscreen display suspended between two platinum bars that house all the electronics and battery.

Striking though it is, the CPT002 is more than just a pretty face. The tie-in with Aston Martin comes into play as the phone is designed to interface with the car’s infotainment system, wirelessly interfacing with social media sites to help you locate the people you’re meeting up with or updating them automatically on the progress of your road trip or day at the race track. The built-in accelerometer will also alert the car itself in case of an impending crash, preparing the car’s safety systems for the imminent collision.

Impressive stuff, though strictly a concept for the time being.

Aston Martin Concept Phone from Mobiado originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and White & Case are among a raft of firms to have taken roles on a 304m high yield bond offering by iconic car brand Aston Martin. The offering, which closed last week, saw notes listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, as well as the creation of a 30m revolving credit facility.

Back in December my colleague Noah Joseph previewed some of the notable early consignments at Gooding & Company‘s Amelia Island sale. Now with the auction date of March 11 looming we have details on starring lots added in the interim. Recent additions to the stunning lineup include an extraordinary “barn find” 1955 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback with coachwork by H.J. Mulliner; a highly-original and unrestored 1961 Aston Martin DB4 Series IV; and a 1962 AC Cobra. They join other incredible offerings including a 1971 Lamborghini Miura P400 SV Prototype, a 1963 Lotus 23B and a 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso (above).

“A true connoisseur’s car, the Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback has a place in the world’s finest collections,” says David Gooding, President and founder. “This recently-discovered, two-owner R-Type is the ultimate collector’s Bentley for its role in luxury motoring history and sophisticated performance specification.” Gooding have not released estimates for the Bentley or Miura, but expect the bidding to be fierce. Meanwhile the Aston Martin’s estimate is $425,000 – $475,000; the AC Cobra $450,000 – $550,000; the Lotus $175,000 – $225,000; and the Ferrari 250 GT Lusso $600,000 – $750,000.

Rare Ferraris, Bentleys, Astons & More at Gooding’s Amelia Island Sale originally appeared on Luxist on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What are the world’s top luxury toys for men? Uber-luxe German publisher teNeues has the answer with its newest super-sized volume, Luxury Toys: For Men. The awesome Aston Martin One-77, so named because of its limited 77-example run and $1.7 million pricetag, appears on the cover.

Other supercars that make the cut, including the Audi R8 GT, Rolls-Royce Ghost, Jaguar XKR Special Edition, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT S Awards Edition, and Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. Quite the garage.

Covering transportation, style, accessories and dream vacations, the massive 220-page volume features 138 giant full-color photographs and text in English, German, French, Spanish, and Italian. Not based merely on price, the selections show how “emotion and finesse can be combined with spectacular aesthetic purity.”

Continue reading The World’s Top Luxury Toys for Men

The World’s Top Luxury Toys for Men originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Dimostra is a recently launched service for car collectors that brings classics into the digital age. The company’s offerings include portfolio development, virtual showrooms, iconic photography, auction or show marketing, and asset documentation services to owners of the world’s finest automobiles. The company is based on the concept that regardless of the size or value of a collection, true car connoisseurs should be willing to share their precious investments with fellow enthusiasts. “As rare collector cars become more valuable, their presence in public will continue to diminish,” Dimostra’s David Nawrocki tells us. “We hope to bridge this void in the collector car market.”

By featuring and celebrating each car’s beauty and history in a contemporary environment online with fellow enthusiasts, Dimostra also hopes to educate younger generations on the historical significance of the cars, “ultimately protecting their long term collectability and value.” Don’t have your own car collection? No problem – for $9.99 / month, you can purchase a VIP subscription to the portfolios on Dimostra’s website, some of which belong to well-known collectors. A subscription gives you access to all the photographs, original documentation and a brief narrative about the history of each car, some of which are worth millions. You can check out a preview of some of our favorites in the gallery.

Dimostra Debuts Digital Portfolios for Car Collectors originally appeared on Luxist on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.