2005 Aston Martin Db9 on 2040-cars

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Aston Martin gets to work on DB9 successor

Introduced over a decade ago, the DB9 is by now the oldest model in the Aston Martin lineup. It predates the arrival of the V8 Vantage, outlasted the Virage and DBS that spun off from it, and outlived the One-77, V12 Zagato and Cygnet that have all come and gone over the length of its tenure. But soon the current DB9 will be retired. In its place, we're looking forward to an all-new model to spell the beginning of the end of Aston's long-serving VH architecture and restrict the ubiquity of the 6.0-liter V12. In their place, as we well know, the DB9's successor will be based on an all-new aluminum platform and be powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 to be furnished by Mercedes-AMG. Though AML insists that the engine is being developed by both parties and built by AMG to Aston's exact specifications, Autocar reports that it will be the same unit being developed for Mercedes' own models, with modifications limited to ECU, exhaust and possibly turbo boost, but with no internal modifications. Even as-is, the engine is expected to produce almost as much power as the DB9's current V12 but a bit more torque – which, combined with the lower weight, ought to make Aston's new core GT quicker than the one it will replace. Rather than using the new eight-speed automatic introduced for the latest twelve-cylinder Vanquish and Rapide S, the current DB9 is expected to continue using the old six-speed slushbox until its replacement goes with Mercedes' new nine-speed unit. Expect a step forward in styling but with familiar Aston cues, potentially previewed by the Zagato one-off pictured above and the new Lagonda sedan, when it arrives in 2016. The big question is what Aston will call the next-gen DB9. It skipped the DB8 when naming the replacement for the DB7 – ostensibly to show how big a step it was, but probably also to avoid confusion over its cylinder count. We couldn't imagine Aston going backwards in its naming scheme, but whether it sticks with DB9, moves on to DB10 or jumps to DB11, one thing's for sure: it will definitely carry the initials of the company's former president David Brown. When reached for comment on the development of the DB9 successor and what that would mean for the future of the V8 Vantage, Aston Martin spokesman Matthew Clarke told Autoblog: "Part of our agreement with Mercedes is specifically for V8 engine development but never have we anywhere made any comment as to where such engines would or wouldn't be used."

Buy Sir Stirling Moss's '54 Aston Martin DB3S for just $10m

Bonhams estimates this rare 1954 Aston Martin DB3S will fetch as much as $10 million when it hits the auction block late next month. The fifth of 31 examples (and only 11 works racers) built, this particular DB3S was originally built for the private use of the company's owner David Brown. But after three other examples were destroyed at Le Mans in 1954, Brown handed his car over to the racing department, which replaced the fiberglass bodywork with aluminum and put it to work. Drivers like Sir Stirling Moss, Peter Collins, and Roy Salvadori drove it at Spa, the Nurburgring, and the Mille Miglia. As if that provenance weren't enough, the roadster then went on to appear in the '60s comedy School for Scoundrels alongside Ian Carmichael, Terry-Thomas, and Janette Scott – plus an Austin-Healey 100-Six and a 1928 Bentley 4 1/2 -Litre Open Tourer dubbed the "Swiftmobile." Bonhams has chassis number DBS3S/5 consigned for its upcoming sale at the old Aston Martin Works factory in Newport Pagnell. With all that history, the auction house anticipates it will sell for GBP6,000,000-7,000,000 – equivalent to $8.5-10 million at current exchange rates. That would, according to the records at Sports Car Market, make it one of the most valuable Astons ever sold at auction, besting the DB3S that Gooding & Company sold in 2014 for $5.5 million. Related Video: THE 1954 ASTON MARTIN DB3S: CAR OF THE SILVER SCREEN RACED BY THE GREAT STIRLING MOSS, NOW OFFERED AT BONHAMS A rare Aston Martin Works team car – chassis number DB3S/5 – which was campaigned in period by such legendary racing drivers as Sir Stirling Moss, Peter Collins and Roy Salvadori, and latterly went on to co-star with Terry-Thomas in 1960s movie classic 'School for Scoundrels', will be offered at Bonhams Aston Martin Works Sale on 21 May 2016. It is estimated at GBP6,000,000-7,000,000. This historic Aston Martin began life as the personal road car of David Brown, the multi-millionaire industrialist owner of the Aston Martin marque. Under Brown's reign the legendary post-World War 2 'DB' series of Aston Martin cars were built, including the Atom, the DB2, DB3, DB4, DB5, DB6, DB7, DB9 and the DBS, all named using Brown's initials. Aston Martin also built a number of DB3S models for the Works racing team.

Aston Martin mulls Formula E, but one thing must change

It may be the off-season, but Formula E is on fire. It seems that everybody is scrambling for a spot on the grid. Jaguar relaunched its racing program in the electric series, and is doubling down with a support series. Audi took a more prominent position for next season. BMW's in. Mercedes-Benz will be joining, too. Porsche has ditched WEC for Formula E. FCA is interested. So it shouldn't be too surprising, then, that Aston Martin is now considering a Formula E entry, as Automotive News Europe reports. Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer told the outlet that the series could support the company's development of electric vehicles, such as the upcoming RapidE, pictured above. "We don't have an electric car yet, but we will have in 2019," he said. "You can imagine the two coming together. I love Formula E." Palmer said, though, that Aston Martin wouldn't want to join the series until it does away with car swaps mid-race. "For me, the use of the two cars reinforces the range anxiety," Palmer told Automotive News Europe. "That will change, and then it starts to get interesting." In the past, other automakers have expressed similar concerns about car swaps. The upcoming season will be the last to use the practice, and Formula E will move toward using a single car per driver for each race beginning in the 2018-19 season. Aston Martin scaled back plans for the RapidE electric car after its partner LeEco pulled out of the project. Instead, Aston Martin will rely on the engineering expertise of Williams, and limit the RapidE to 155 units, priced at around $255,000. Related Video: Featured Gallery Aston Martin RapidE concept View 12 Photos News Source: Automotive News EuropeImage Credit: Aston Martin Green Motorsports Aston Martin Electric Racing Vehicles Formula E aston martin rapide fia formula e championship