Aston Martin
Aston Martin builds luxury performance cars which feature plenty of power and some of the most attractive designs in the business. The firm has a chequered history, but remains ambitious, launching the Rapide super-saloon and competing in the Le Mans 24-hour race.
Aston Martin Cygnet
Using the Toyota iQ as a starting point, the Aston Martin Cygnet adds hand-finished bodywork, unique paint and a luxurious interior to the city car formula. At the front, a miniaturised classic Aston Martin grille has been grafted on, alongside V12 Vantage-style bonnet vents and the famous badge. The trademark side gills, boomerang tail-lights and unique 16-inch alloy wheels finish off the exterior enhancements. But it's inside the cabin where Aston has really rung the changes. A wide range of bespoke materials are available to trim the cabin, along with every gadget you'd expect to find in a modern luxury car. An iPod dock in the centre of the dash, built-in sat-nav and leather on almost every surface available. There's only one engine option, the larger 99bhp 1.3-litre engine from the iQ, so performance won't be on a par with other cars in Aston's range. But that's missing the point - the idea behind this car is to reduce emissions across the line-up.
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Aston Martin DB9
The Aston Martin DB9 is one of the best looking cars money can buy, whether you opt for the svelte coupe or the convertible Volante. Its sleek, stylish exterior is matched by a hand-crafted interior that's supposed to seat four, although the rear seats are more useful for transporting luggage than people. Aston Martin's glorious 6.0-litre V12 provides the power. It sounds fantastic when overtaking and settles down to a quiet hum when you’re cruising on the motorway. The ride is a little firm, but the interior features very comfortable seats to compensate. Aston Martin has been building sports cars for years, and is well prepared to offer buyers a whole host of bespoke customisation options for both interior and exterior.
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Aston Martin DBS
The top-of-the-range Aston Martin DBS is most famous for being James Bond's company car. The DBS is based on the DB9, so coupe and Volante convertible models are available. The DB9's 6.0-litre V12 engine is uprated with more power in the DBS, while carbon fibre body panels and ceramic brakes help save weight and improve the car's performance. Aston Martin has added a more aggressive bodykit to help the car stand out. On the road, the DBS is an effortless cruiser and gobbles up long distances. The DBS has a small boot, but the DB9's rear seats have been omitted for extra storage. The Bang&Olufsen stereo is impressive, if you ever tire of listening to the DBS’ engine sing.
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Aston Martin One-77
The Aston Martin One-77 is one of the most exclusive cars ever produced. Its name comes from the fact that only 77 are being manufactured, at a cost in excess of £1million each. Each one is hand-built using the very latest technology; the chassis is made from carbon fibre, the body hand-crafted from aluminium, the suspension uses Formula One technology and each 7.3-litre V12 engine is assembled by hand, too.
Aston Martin Rapide
The Aston Martin Rapide is a luxury four-door with a sporting edge. It's based on the same mechanicals as the DB9 and DBS, but the Rapide is longer to allow room for the extra doors and bigger rear seats. It uses a 6.0-litre V12 engine which has been tuned to be quiet on long journeys, while a smooth automatic gearbox increases the ease of driving. The interior is the height of luxury, and there are plenty of personalisation options. There's a knack to getting into the back seats because the rear door openings are quite small, but once inside, there's space for two adults. The Rapide isn’t as exciting to drive as a Porsche Panamera, and is more expensive, but the Aston Martin has exclusivity on its side.
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Aston Martin V12 Vantage
The Aston Martin V12 Vantage puts the firm's biggest engine in its smallest sports car, and the result is spectacular. Aggressive looking bumpers front and rear, different wheels and carbon fibre air vents give it a meaner look than standard V8 Vantage, while the hand-built V12 engine gives stunning performance. The V12 Vantage handles well, but it's a physically demanding car to drive, as it requires firm inputs to the steering wheel, pedals and gearlever. Like the V8 model, the V12 Vantage isn’t quite as polished as a Porsche 911 GT3, but it makes up for that with exclusivity and a British-built charm the German car can’t match.
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Aston Martin V12 Zagato
The Aston Martin V12 Zagato is a race-inspired take on the V12 Vantage, featuring the same 6.0-litre V12 engine. Built to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original Aston Martin DB4 Zagato, the V12 features a host of lightweight parts plus an alloy and carbon fibre body.
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Aston Martin V8 Vantage
The two-seater Aston Martin V8 Vantage is available as a sleek coupe or an equally stylish convertible, and is a rival for the Porsche 911. There's just one engine choice, a growling 4.7-litre V8, which sounds fantastic. The V8 Vantage handles very well, but is a physical car to drive, requiring firm inputs to the steering wheel, pedals or gearstick. There is an automatic option which reduces some of the effort. The Vantage is more expensive, less fuel efficient and isn’t quite as well built as a Porsche 911, but it makes up for that with exclusivity and a British-built charm the German car can’t match.
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Aston Martin Vanquish
The Aston Martin Vanquish is a replacement for the DBS – but gets more power, a new design and an all-new interior. The engine is the same 6.0-litre V12 as the DBS, but it's been reworked to produce an extra 55bhp for a total of 565bhp. A launch control function allows you to use all that power and rocket from 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds and on to a top speed of 183mph. All the bodywork is made from lightweight carbon-fibre, so it's not just faster, it handles better too, and consumes 10 per cent less fuel. On the inside, a futuristic layout includes touch-sensitive buttons that vibrate when you touch them, while there's more space for passengers and a bigger boot.
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Aston Martin Virage
The Virage badge is back after a 10-year hiatus, and this latest version sits between the standard DB9 and flagship DBS in the Aston Martin range. It's available as a two-seater or with a pair of small seats in the back, and it blends the comfort and luxury of the DB9 with the performance and technology of the DBS. Power comes from the same hand-built 6.0-litre V12 engine that is found in the DB9, but in the Virage it produces an extra 20bhp, pushing power to 490bhp.
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