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In any form of motorsport, manufacturers come and go, but the sport continues to be shaped by the teams and the major players that lead them. So when Subaru packed up and left the World Rally Championship, you knew it was only a matter of time before David Richards and his company Prodrive would be back on stage. Now it looks like that opportunity could come from Toyota.

Richards has made no secret of his desire to bring Prodrive back to the WRC, but rather than re-enter as a privateer, he’s indicated that the new outfit will be fielded under the auspices of a major manufacturer. Given the ties which Richards has fostered with Toyota – particularly over the Cygnet/iQ deal which be brokered with the Japanese auto giant in his capacity as chairman of Aston Martin – and the reported presence of Toyota scouts at several rallies recently, the signs are pointing towards Toyota’s involvement.

It’s been over a decade since the Japanese automaker has competed in the WRC, but recently trimmed a significant drain on its motorsport budget by withdrawing from Formula One. A top-tier rally team is tipped to cost around 8% of what Toyota had been pouring into its over-funded F1 program. And speaking of F1, Richards has for the time being abandoned aspirations to return to grand prix racing, having run both the Benetton and BAR-Honda teams in the past. But he leaves F1 with an intriguing suggestion to replace the current qualifying system with a computerized grid that would rotate the starting order with each race, thereby mixing up the outcome of each race. Interesting, but the Toyota reports seem more plausible.

[Source: Pitpass]

Toyota set to return to World Rally Championship with Prodrive?

You’d think that someone who can afford to have their Aston Martin DB9 transformed into a DBS could probably afford to simply buy a new DBS. We can’t really speak to the motivations of one Russian DB9 owner, but Edo Competition wasn’t about to argue with a paying customer.

After the five-year old DB9 was brought to Edo for conversion, the tuner replaced the original metal body panels with the carbon fiber parts used on Aston’s flagship DB. In addition to the external appearance, the interior of the car has been customized with a mix of leather, alcantara, carbon fiber and metal.

The DB9’s 5.9-liter V12 has also been upgraded from 470 horsepower to 550 hp, taking it beyond the 510 hp output of the factory-built DBS. A car that goes faster needs to be able to stop as well, so the binders have been enlarged, though Edo oddly stuck with steel brakes instead of upgrading them to carbon. No cost has been disclosed for the conversion, but we can’t help but wonder whether the net expenditure was greater than the cost of a new car minus the trade-in.

[Source: EDO Competition converts five-year-old Aston Martin DB9 into DBS

A new survey from the UK’s Kwik-Fit chain of repair shops apparently proves once and for all that men like it cooler in the car than women. Astonishing, we know. What’s more, men and women – drum roll, please – argue over the temperature inside the car. Knock us over with a feather.

In fact, nearly half of all survey respondents admit to fighting over the HVAC knobs in their cars. One final “shocker” – Women are usually the winners in these battles. In somewhat related news, water’s wet and fire burns.

If you’re as flabbergasted as we are over these new revelations, there’s more in Kwik-Fit’s press release after the break. You might also want to consider a car with dual-zone climate controls.

[Source: Kwik-Fit]

Continue reading Paging Captain Obvious: Survey says men like car interiors cooler than women

Paging Captain Obvious: Survey says men like car interiors cooler than women

Amidst all the hubbub surrounding this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, race organizers ACO have announced that the current GT1 class would be integrated into a new GT2 category for next year.

After having effectively scrapped its own GT1 class last year, the ACO welcomed in the new generation of sports-racers built for the FIA GT1 World Championship into the iconic 24-hour race. As it turns out, however, 2010 will be the only time these entries will have been allowed into the race, as the ACO moves to eliminate the category once and for all, replacing it with a two-tier category based on the current GT2 regulations.

The move reportedly enjoys the support of winning drivers in both categories, including the Chevrolet Corvette team’s four-time class winner Oliver Gavin and Aston Martin’s Tomas Enge, who see the excitement shifting to GT2 in recent years.

[Source: Autosport Image: Darrell Ingham/Getty]

Report: GT1 class to be eliminated from next year’s Le Mans

Are you not a fan of the current BMW 6 Series? Can you not wait for the next-generation model? Are you looking for something a little more exclusive? Has Fisker caught your attention with the Karma, but not so much for its hybrid drivetrain? If your answer to any of these questions was an emphatic “yes,” then you may want to have a look at this eBay Motors listing.

Before kicking off his ambitious luxury hybrid project and after having penned such gorgeous sportscars as the Aston Martin V8 Vantage and BMW Z8 roadster, the noted Danish designer Henrik Fisker started his own coachbuilding operation. The California-based operation had two products: the Mercedes SL-based Tramonto and this, the BMW M6-based Latigo CS. Only 150 examples of each were made, and one of the latter – a post-revision 2008 model – has now popped up for grabs on eBay.

Mechanically, the Latigo is essentially the same as the M6 up which it is based, but Fisker managed to cut out some excess weight and enlisted the services of tuning house RDSport to tune the high-revving 5.0-liter V10 engine up to 648 horsepower. Stiffer springs and custom rolling stock are also part of the package, to say nothing of the exquisitely-crafted interior. This particular example has a Buy It Now sticker of $90,000; check it out in the extensive image gallery below or follow the link to the auction page.

[Source: eBay Motors]

eBay Find of the Day: 2008 Fisker Latigo CS

Qualifying for the 24 Hours of Le Mans is getting quite predictable, with the big question being which of the Peugeot 908s will come out on top. After three timed sessions over two days, the No. 3 Peugeot of Pedro Lamy, Sebastien Bourdais and Simon Pagenaud came was quickest as the four French diesels filled the first two rows on the grid. Right behind them are the three factory Audi R15+ TDIs and then the two Aston Martin-Lolas.

Down the field in the LMP2 ranks, the Honda powered ARX-01c campaigned by UK-based Strakka racing lapped the eight-mile circuit 1.46 seconds faster than a similar car being run by defending American Le Mans Series champs Highcroft Racing. 2010 is the final year of eligibility for the GT1 class at Le Mans and Aston Martin hopes to go out in style. The DBR9 driven by Tomas Enge, Christoph Nygaard and Peter Kox edged out a pair of Ford GTs and the ex-factory GT1 Corvettes.

In GT2, ALMS regulars ruled the roost. The No.82 Risi Ferrari ran fastest but its time was disallowed because of an unknown technical infraction. As a result, the two Corvette C6.Rs will lead the GT2 field to the green flag with Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta and Emmanuel Collard on the pole. Unfortunately for the JaguarRSR team, the cool green-and-black leaping cat livery has not translated into much speed with the XKR finishing dead last in qualifying, nearly 13 seconds slower per lap than the lead Vette. The green flag falls at 3PM CET on Saturday, so stay tuned.

[Sources: Le Mans, Corvette Racing, Audi, Peugeot]

Continue reading Le Mans 2010: Peugeot grabs first four grid spots, Corvette on GT2 pole

Le Mans 2010: Peugeot grabs first four grid spots, Corvette on GT2 pole

Following the introduction of the Rapide and One-77, and with the miniaturized Cygnet on its way, Aston Martin is turning its attention to its two core model lines. But rather than replace the existing DB9 and Vantage with all-new, ground-up redesigns, word from the UK is that Gaydon is planning thorough revisions of the existing models, including to their chassis and engines.

Both the DB9 and the Vantage are based on Aston’s flexible VH platform, which will reportedly carry on for another generation. However Aston’s aiming to cut weight by around 10 percent. Although the VH is made of aluminum, the vehicles based on the platform are heavier than they should be. A comprehensive re-engineering of the platform components, as well as the possible use of lightweight composite body panels, should help Aston trim the weight off the next-gen mode – expected to arrive around 2013/14 – thereby helping the company reach EU emissions targets.

The current DB9’s V12 engine is also expected to carry on for another generation, although significant revisions are expected there as well. Technologies developed for the brand’s racing program will be brought to bear for the road car, although it remains to be seen whether the potential benefits of incorporating direct injection will outweigh the costs involved.

Stylistically, both the DB9 and Vantage are expected to take their cues from the One-77, with a low, wide grille and strong character line running from the signature front-fender vent to the rear, albeit somewhat toned down for the volume models.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Aston Martin to debut revised DB9, Vantage in 2013/14

Fans of endurance racing need no introduction to the first ever AMG racing luxury sedan, the 300 SEL 6.8. You non-fans, however, do. Known affectionately as the roten Sau (i.e. Red Pig, though for some reason Daimler left this little factoid out of their otherwise way-more-than-comprehensive press release), the beyond-blueprinted engine (increased from 6.3 to 6.8 liters) kicked out 428 horsepower and allowed the pre-Hammer to smash its way to a startling second place finish at the 1971 24 Hours of Spa.

Let’s rephrase that: the 300 SEL 6.8 AMG bullied its way to an uttlery astonishing second place finish, and became the crowd favorite while doing so. Why so unbelievable? The Red Pig weighed a porcine 3,600 pounds, partly because AMG left the heavy air suspension and exotic wood trim in place. Luckily, Spa’s long straights allowed the hard-working brakes plenty of time to cool down, and the heaviest car on the track finished the day way ahead of everyone save the winning Ford Capri and AMG’s expectations.

Fast forward thirty nine years and look what we’ve got here: the 2011 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG Thirty-Five. Why Thirty-Five? That’s the same number the roten Sau wore back at Spa. But this is not your rich banker neighbor’s S63. Long gone is the magnificent 6.2-liter V8, having been replaced by the all new yet still hand built twin-turbo 5.5-liter AMG V8. In “stock” form, this motor produces 544 hp and 590 pound-feet of torque. Though the S63 Thirty-Five’s motivator has been BAMMED! up a notch to produce 571 horses (the same amount as the SLS AMG) and 664 lb-ft of twist. Yowza! The big sedan also gets AMG’s frankly awesome wet clutch Speedshift MCT 7-speed transmissions that in full manual mode will embarrass all but the most exotic dual-clutches.

The run to 60 happens in about 4.3 seconds, which is impressive as even though Daimler left the S63 Thirty-Five’s weight out of the press release, it porks clocks in right around 2.5 tons. Once again: Yowza! Also, the big AMG has a roll cage, and those ain’t light. Both identically liveried cars got driven around Spa by none other than Hans Heyer and Clemens Schickentanz, the men behind the wheel for the 1971 race. You can read all about it in the press release after the break.

[Source: Daimler]

Continue reading Spa Treatment: Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG “Thirty-Five” meets 300 SEL 6.8 AMG

Spa Treatment: Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG “Thirty-Five” meets 300 SEL 6.8 AMG

Before the original Aston Martin DB5 Bond-mobile goes on the auction block this Fall, it and three other Astons from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s will get together for a party in the UK. The DBS, Vanquish, and V8 Vantage Volante from Quantum of Solace, Die Another Day and The Living Daylights will be on hand for the Midsummer Classic at the Park Stoke Club.

The Park Stoke Club is hardly new to Agent 007, having been a setting in at least two Bond flicks among other lesser known films. The absence of the original DBS from 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and the V8 Vantage coupe from The Living Daylights means this isn’t quite a complete set, but it’s close enough. Now we just need to bring together the Lotus Esprits and assorted BMWs from the middle years of Bond for a more complete retrospective.

[Source: MotoBullet]

Reunion for four of Bond’s Astons planned at Park Stoke Club

Just about every time Ferrari comes up with a new variant of one of its supercars – be it the Scuderia, Spider, Challenge, XX or what-have-you – someone takes it upon themselves to imagine what another Prancing Horse from the stable would look like with the same treatment. Some come out looking better than others, but push comes to shove, there is no 458XX, no 599 Challenge and no California Scuderia. Once in a while, though, someone comes up with something truly intriguing.

In this case, that someone is Sasha Selipanov of Berlin, Germany, also known as the Angry Car Designer. Sasha’s idea? The Ferrari 612 GTO. Only the thing is, these renderings don’t depict what the Scaglietti would look like given the same treatment as the 599 GTO. No, this is something altogether more intriguing. More like a mix between the Aston Martin One-77 and the Ferrari 458 Italia, with a few elements from the original 250 GTO thrown in there for good measure. (Ferrari, Pininfarina? Are you paying attention for the 599’s upcoming replacement?)

It’s a design study, so there’s little more left to discuss other than viewing the renderings for yourself, so check ‘em out in the large gallery below. And if you like this, check out the source site, where Sasha’s got some other intriguing designs on file. Most of them Ferraris, natch.

[Source: AngryCarDesigner.com via autoblog.nl]

Angry Car Designer dreams up a Ferrari 612 GTO

Enough is enough here, people. Sure, Mansory has given us a couple of lookers, like the Bugatti Veyron Vincero and the Aston Martin Cyrus. But there isn’t enough carbon fiber in the world to make up for some of its more questionable lapses in judgment. We’re talking here about the Pepto-pink Bentley, the gilded Rolls, and this latest Porsche Panamera.

Now the renderings which Mansory released back in October didn’t look bad, per se. At least not in relation to the unfortunately-shaped vehicle on which it is based. But somewhere along the line from conception to realization, all measure of good taste appears to have gone right out the window. One of the many windows, anyway.

It’s hard to argue with what Mansory has done under that long front hood. After all, what’s not to like about boosting the Turbo’s output from 500 horsepower all the way up to 690? The claimed four-second 0-62 sprint is hard to find fault with too. But they’ve lost us after that. The exterior has been fitted with an outlandish carbon fiber body kit, including front skirt, hood, LED running lights, wheel arches, side skirts, diffuser and rear wing. And those specially-designed wheels, of course. But if you can’t stand the sight of the garish bodywork, don’t even dare check out the custom interior with its Polo-Sport-on-acid two-tone leather upholstery. If you’re a glutton for punishment, though, you can check it all out in the gallery below. Just don’t say we didn’t warn you.

[Source: Mansory]

Man, Sorry Just Doesn’t Cut It: Porsche Panamera Turbo by Mansory

Since returning to the sportscar racing scene in 2005, Aston Martin Racing has expanded its scope to cover every category of GT racing from the GT4-spec Vantage to the GT1-spec DBR9. But few were prepared for the full-on assault the British outfit launched last year in the top-tier, winner-takes-all LMP1 category.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the last Aston Martin overall victory at Le Mans, the team shoehorned the V12 engine from the victorious DBR9 into an existing Lola chassis with support from veteran LMP1 campaigners Charouz Racing System. The Aston-powered Lolas emerged among the most successful gasoline-powered entries (behind the diesel-powered Audis and Peugeots). But that was only a stop-gap measure. This year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans – set to kick off next weekend – is slated to be the last time Aston uses the Lola chassis before it launches its own.

Developed by Aston’s racing partner Prodrive – directed by Aston chairman David Richards – the ground-up Le Mans prototype is set to take to the track next year. But Aston won’t be keeping the fun all to itself. According to the latest reports, the factory works team will field two cars of its own, and sell an additional two cars to a privateer team next year and then another two in 2012. If Aston can find an edge against the longer-running diesels – this is an endurance race, after all – or if the series organizers find an effective way of equalizing the performance between the fuel types, a field of six Aston prototypes stand a good chance of topping the podium within the next couple of years.

[Source: Autosport]

Aston Martin looks set to flood Le Mans grids with new prototype

If you’ve felt an unexplained disturbance in the automotive force recently, it can probably be attributed to the scheduled arrival of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage on American shores. We’ve been lusting after this thing since it first cropped up as concept way back in 2007, and now the ridiculously wealth or the fantastically in debt can finally get their paws on the car here in the U.S. The recipe is simple – take the brawny, 510 horsepower 6.0-liter V12 from the DBS, cram it into the engine bay of the lithe Vantage, add louvers and call it a day. Sorta.

Aston Martin has taken it upon itself to prime the collective American pump for the V12 Vantage debut by releasing a quick teaser video. It’s dipped in sweet, slow-motion glory shots of the car doing what it does best – sending tires to their smoky grave and conning otherworldly speed out of seemingly plebian strips of asphalt. There are even a few shots of the race-derived version loftily beating its way around the Nurburgring. We’re in love. Hit the jump to see it for yourself.

[Source: Aston Martin via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Aston Martin V12 Vantage rocks our world

Video: Aston Martin V12 Vantage rocks our world

First Drive: 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost is smaller in size, still larger than life

What it’s like to live the good life? We take the newest Roller for a spin to find out.

James Bond’s 1964 Aston Martin DB5 expected to top $5 Million at auction

It’s the most recognizable movie car in the world and the lucky new owner gets rotating plates, guns, an ejector seat and more for the princely sum of just $5 million.

Officially Official: Ford kills Mercury to expand Lincoln lineup

Mercury dies at the end of this year and Ford directs its efforts on revamping the Lincoln line-up.

Also of interest:

• Report: BMW M1/135is to go on sale in Q2 of 2011
• Panoz Abruzzi teased again ahead of Le Mans debut
• Report: Lexus LFA sold out
• Ford Mustang sales top Chevrolet Camaro in May
• Report: McLaren to launch 2+2 version of MP4-12C supercar?
• BMW art car by Jeff Koons unveiled for 24 Hours of Le Mans [w/video]

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 6.2.10

The mantle of “world’s most famous car” is a heavy one indeed. But if any single automobile ever created deserved the honorific, surely it’s the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 used on-screen in the production of the iconic 007 films Goldfinger and Thunderball. And in case you were disappointed at having missed the opportunity to get your hands on one of the stunt cars, the real thing is now up for grabs in London, where RM and Sotheby’s will be auctioning it off to the highest bidder.

The car in question was prepared by Aston Martin for use in the Bond films. After that it went back to the manufacturer, which then sold it to radio host and philanthropist Jerry Lee, who’s been holding onto it for the past 40+ years. In pursuit of his charitable work, Lee is finally putting the car up for sale, with bids expecting to top $5 million when it goes under the hammer on October 27.

One of only two made and the only one still in existence, the custom DB5 comes packed with all the extras the Q-Branch installed for Bond’s use, from the revolving license plates and tracking device to the oil slick dispenser and smoke screen. You can check out all the details in the press release after the jump, along with the 100+ high-resolution image gallery that very well might be the largest we’ve ever compiled. Oh, and do be careful, Bond.

[Source: RM Auctions]

Continue reading James Bond’s 1964 Aston Martin DB5 expected to top $5 Million at auction

James Bond’s 1964 Aston Martin DB5 expected to top $5 Million at auction

Aston Martin has finally put a U.S.-approved sticker onto the V12 Vantage, and if you’re aching to get into the 510 horsepower coupe, you’ll need to set aside $179,995 for the “base” model.

Included in the kit is the DB9-sourced V12 powerplant putting out the aforementioned 510 ponies and 420 pound-feet of torque, capable of scooting the svelte coupe to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 190 mph.

If the standard V12 Vantage is just too plebeian for your tastes, you can option up for the Carbon Black Edition – an exclusive trim for the States – which includes black metallic paint, carbon fiber accents, a reworked grille, 10-spoke black wheels and a host of interior appointments.

Pricing for the Carbon Black model comes in at a cool $194,995 (undercutting both the DB9 and DBS), and both prices include the $3,000 gas guzzler tax and $1,350 destination charge. If that’s too rich for your blood, just enjoy the high-res pics in the gallery below.

2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage priced at $179,995

Xenatech conversions – Click above for image gallery

Wonder where this firm Xenatech came from? The German company made headlines a couple of weeks ago with sketches of a Maybach coupe it intends to bring to market, but as you may well have guessed, the luxo-Merc isn’t the first chop job the company has undertaken.

Swing by the company’s website and you’ll find photochops of all manner of vehicles – most of them German, natch – that have been turned from sedan into coupe, coupe into sedan, and much more. The first few look like simple stretch jobs of sport-utes and sedans like the Audi Q7, Mercedes G-Class and Bentley Continental Flying Spur. But delve a little deeper and you’ll find an Aston Vanquish shooting brake, Lexus LS460 coupe and pickup versions of the Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg. A few of them are even a little prophetic: a Mercedes CLS wagon and four-door versions of the Porsche 911 and BMW 6 Series.

The best part is that Xenatech claims some of these have actually been made, though it isn’t saying which. Our fingers are crossed for that 7 Series with the extra headroom. Check out some of our favorites in the gallery below.

[Source: Xenatech via PistonHeads]

Frankenstein’s Garage: Maybach coupe isn’t Xenatech’s first conversion

German tuner Cobra Technology and Lifestyle has developed a range of aesthetic and performance parts for the Nissan 370Z coupe and roadster. One of them is an exhaust with a remote-controlled butterfly valve that allows the driver to control how loud it bellows. Delivering the same kind of effect you’d get by revving an Aston above 4,500 rpm, you can buy 120-mm pipes with a flap that ranges from “discrete sportiness to pure racing sound.”

You can check it the sound range in the video after the jump. Even with the flaps open it doesn’t seem bad at all, but it might still come in handy for those hamlets where any kind of loud noise is a no-no.

[Source: Gizmag]

Continue reading Remote-controlled exhaust valves now available for the Nissan 370Z

Remote-controlled exhaust valves now available for the Nissan 370Z

If you want to get your hands on a pristine or historically significant vintage Aston Martin, there’s only one place to go: Bonhams’ auction at the old Works Service in Newport Pagnell. Think of it as the Aston equivalent to RM’s event at Maranello every year. It’s been held for the past 11 years running, and this year’s was the most successful yet with £4.7 million ($6.8M USD) in sales.

Among the lots that rolled across the auction block were a 1950 DB2 raced by Sir Stirling Moss (£513,000/$740k) and a mint-condition ‘68 DB6 that went for £124,700 ($180k). The Goldfinger DB4 sold for a more modest £84,000 ($121k) – but even that doubled it’s low £40-50k pre-sale expectations, capping a day of sales far exceeding their estimated values. Details in the press release after the jump.

[Source: Bonhams]

Continue reading Bonhams auction at Aston Martin Works Service most successful yet

Bonhams auction at Aston Martin Works Service most successful yet

While Volvo’s fate isn’t perfectly clear yet, it appears that everyone might have been best served by Ford severing ties with the foreign branches of its Premier Automotive Group: Aston Martin, Volvo, Land Rover and Jaguar. True, Ford didn’t get to fully benefit from the labor it put into the cars those brands are unveiling to accolades right now, but it spared itself the continued financial and brain drain on its core brands.

It was a drain that was also felt by the company’s design arm, headed by J Mays. Referring to how thin The Blue Oval’s design resources were stretched, Mays called the efforts “an inch deep and a mile wide.” Part of it was that there were simply so many new models to keep track of, the other part being that so many of those cars had such vastly different requirements – an Aston couldn’t look like a Lincoln, and even though an Aston could use Volvo’s switchgear it shouldn’t look anything like S80 or an XF.

Now the team can focus on wrapping the company’s products and concept cars (like the Ford Start shown above) in the “Post-Kinetic” design language developed a few years ago. That, Mays says, is also easier because of Ford’s rationalization of its platforms – something that also could not have been as completely without selling the company’s PAG brands.

[Source: Ward's Auto]

Life much easier for Ford designers in a post-PAG world