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Aston Cambridge celebrates British Spitfire with bespoke V12 Vantage S

Update: These special-edition Aston Martins are a creation of Aston Martin Cambridge, a dealer. They are being built in cooperation with Aston's Q bespoke division. The Supermarine Spitfire is well-known in the UK for its role in World War II. To commemorate the plane's first flight, which took place 80 years ago, Top Gear reports that Aston Martin Cambridge has created a limited-edition model of the V12 Vantage S. The automaker will only build eight units of the Spitfire 80, and it's safe to assume that none will make it to the US. As a special-edition model, the V12 Vantage S is finished in "Duxford Green" – aptly named after the Royal Air Force base where the first Spitfire squadron was stationed – with a yellow pinstripe along the side of the vehicle. The special edition isn't just a fancy paint job, as Duxford's Aircraft Restoration Company hand-built several components for the vehicle. The most prominent include the tailpipe finishers that have a rainbow bloom effect to match the original Spitfire's exhaust. Aston Martin's Q division added special touches to the interior with bespoke embroidered logos on the headrests, and the RAF's iconic roundel is integrated directly into the central dash. According to a Facebook post by Aston Martin Cambridge, the seats and inside of the glovebox feature Kestral Tan leather with black stitching, while the rest of the interior has black Alcantara with Kestral Tan stitching. Because of the car's exclusivity and unique touches, Aston Cambridge priced the Spitfire 80 at roughly $240,210, which is almost $50,000 more than a standard V12 Vantage S. An unspecified percentage of the vehicle's price will be donated to the RAF Benevolent Fund. All eight owners will receive their vehicles at IWM Duxford – a historic airfield and museum – on October 18th and go for a flight in a Spitfire. Related Video:

Aston Martin DB10 based on V8 Vantage

If you looked at the new DB10 that Aston Martin revealed just a few days ago and thought as we did that it looked an awful lot like a reskinned Vantage, there's good reason for that. According to Automotive News, a reskinned V8 Vantage is exactly what the DB10 is. Instead of basing the limited-production spymobile on the new architecture it's developing and fitting it with the new engine it's sourcing from Mercedes-AMG, the DB10 is built around the same VH platform and V8 engine as the aging Vantage. Though it's evolved over the years, the VH platform dates back to the V12 Vanquish that launched way back in 2001. The second generation of that platform underpins the Vantage on which the DB10 is reportedly based, powered by a version of Jaguar's AJV8 engine that dates back to 1996. What is new about it is the design language that the new DB10 previews. More than any recent concept – like the DP-100 Vision Gran Turismo, CC100 Speedster or the most recent Zagato one-offs – the DB10 is said to embody the new direction in which Marek Reichman and his team plan to take the company's styling, moving away from the current theme it has employed for the past couple of decades. So while the DB10 you see here may not be packing much in the way of new technology, the subsequent models that will follow its lead hopefully will.

Henrik Fisker presents 'Thunderbolt,' a take on the Aston V12 Vanquish

Henrik Fisker's name no longer even appears on the vehicles from his former brand, but since leaving the company, the man is slowly transitioning back into what made him famous in the first place: design. Fisker has already put pen to paper for a concept motorcycle and a carbon-fiber-bodied Ford Mustang. For his latest project, Fisker has made his unofficial return to Aston Martin to create a one-take on the Vanquish called the Thunderbolt. Debuting its carbon fiber skin at the 2015 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, Fisker keeps his transformation of the Vanquish far more subdued than his recent work on the Mustang. He enlarges the grille to take up the entire front end but retains Aston Martin's traditional shape, and the hood receives a power dome with triangular air intakes on each side. In profile, this is still clearly an Aston just sharper and leaner. It's also lowered 0.6 inches and rides on 21-inch wheels. A big change comes at the back where Fisker adds wraparound rear glass and transforms the taillights into thin strips of LEDs. The interior offers a mix of high-end leather and more carbon fiber, plus an 11.6-inch Curved Control Screen from Panasonic. Unfortunately, even if you have the means and want to buy this Thunderbolt, it's not for sale. However, Galpin Aston Martin is taking limited orders for a tweaked version with a revised front end that includes different intakes on either side of the grille and without the Panasonic infotainment screen. As designer for the Aston Martin DB9 and V8 Vantage, the Thunderbolt can be thought of as Fisker's return to the British brand, albeit in an unofficial and extremely limited way. Still, it's fascinating to get a glimpse at what the marque's models might look like, if he were still there. Related Video: HENRIK FISKER UNVEILS HIS LATEST DESIGN STUDY, A TIMELESS GT COUPE, AT 2015 AMELIA ISLAND CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE One-Off V12 Vanquish-Based Coupe Features Carbon Fiber Coach-Work and World's First Panasonic Curved Screen Infotainment System Amelia Island, Florida (March 14, 2015) – Henrik Fisker today took the wraps off of his latest design study, the "Thunderbolt," at the 2015 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. Designed by Henrik Fisker as a powerful GT coupe; this is his personal interpretation of how his Aston Martin V12 Vanquish coupe could look like.