2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Base V8 Vantage Convertiblke on 2040-cars

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Aston Martin sues supplier Envisage over copyright infringement

Automakers don't make the entire cars themselves. They typically design and engineer them, outsource many of the components to outside suppliers, and put them together at assembly plants. Farming out work to those suppliers can result in some leaks in the automaker's intellectual property, but while that's typically covered in extensive legal documents, disputes can arise. And in this case, it's arisen between Aston Martin and one of its suppliers. That supplier is the Envisage Group, a British firm based in Coventry that has, among its various clients, performed design work for Aston since 2007 and supplied parts and tooling since 2011. That means it has access to certain proprietary information regarding Aston and its products, and now the automaker is claiming the supplier has taken unlawful advantage of that access and its copyrights to further its other businesses. Among its other services, Envisage operates a coachbuilding operation that handles the production of vehicles like the Eagle's customized Jaguar E-Types and the Speedback GT for David Brown Automotive. The latter, pictured here, bears more than a passing resemblance to classic Astons, and the company name itself suggests a certain affiliation as well. However both Aston Martin and David Brown Automotive insist that the lawsuit is unrelated. In correspondence with Autoblog, the latter sent the following statement: Following speculation in recent press reports that David Brown Automotive and Speedback GT are the subject of, or involved in, legal proceedings by Aston Martin Lagonda Limited against Envisage Group Limited, David Brown Automotive can confirm that it, and its products, are in no way implicated and the production of our vehicles continues unaffected by the litigation. According to the report from the Telegraph, the lawsuit filed with the UK's High Court makes specific mention of badges, wheels and headlights belonging to Aston Martin that Envisage has allegedly used in promoting its services. Featured Gallery David Brown Automotive Speedback View 18 Photos News Source: The TelegraphImage Credit: David Brown Automotive Design/Style Government/Legal Aston Martin lawsuit court david brown automotive david brown automotive speedback

Aston Martin teases extreme Vantage GT3 for Geneva

Aston Martin's Vantage range has been on the market for ten long years, dating back to the Ford era and making it just a bit younger than the DB9, but still ripe for replacement. And that's just what Aston Martin has in store, with a new platform under development and a new engine deal with Mercedes-AMG. But before a replacement arrives, the British automaker will send off the current Vantage with what promises to be its most extreme version yet. First mooted over a year ago and spied more recently undergoing testing at the Nurburgring, Aston has now released this teaser video announcing the upcoming debut of the Vantage GT3 to bridge the gap between the top-of-the-line V12 Vantage S road car and the competition-spec V12 Vantage GT3. As such, we're expecting it to pack the company's ubiquitous 6.0-liter V12 engine, likely with some upgrades: what produced 510 horsepower in the previous V12 Vantage and 565 hp in the newer V12 Vantage S is likely to nudge the 600-hp mark in the GT3. Along with the expected power upgrade, we can look forward to all the usual suspects: more extreme aero and cooling, upgrades suspension, brakes and rolling stock, a stripped-out cockpit and more. The Vantage GT3 is confirmed to debut at the Geneva Motor Show this coming March.

Check out Christina Nielsen, the 23-year-old Dane leading the IMSA GTD series

Thanks to hard driving, a good car, consistency, and four podiums this season, 23-year-old Christina Nielsen from Horsholm, Denmark owns the lead of the GT Daytona class in the IMSA Tudor United SportsCar Championship. It's a slim lead at 199 points, just two points over Christopher Haase and Dion von Moltke, co-drivers of the #48 Paul Miller Racing Audi R8 LMS who are second and third and both on 197 points. Nielsen drives the Aston Martin Racing #007 TRG-AMR V12 Vantage GT3 in both USCC and the GTA class of the Pirelli World Challenge. Kuno Wittmer is her co-driver in the USCC, you might remember him as the winner of the driver's championship with the short-lived Chrysler factory team. TRG-AMR recently inducted the Canadian and 17-year-racing veteran to the be the team's number one development driver and be a mentor to Nielsen. Nielsen is the daughter of a Danish sports car racer but she only started racing in 2007 when a friend took her to a kart track. She said she got hooked on that first visit, and in 2011 she finished third in the Karting World Championships. Two years later she won the B Championship at the German ADAC GT Masters with 14 podiums in 16 races, including two victories. Last year she drove in the Patron Endurance Cup and Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, this year she graduated to TRG-AMR. There are three races left in the USCC season, and Nielsen said she likes the upcoming tracks and the team's chances. You can check out her race-craft in the two videos below. News Source: IMSAImage Credit: Brian Cleary/Getty Images Motorsports Aston Martin Coupe Racing Vehicles Videos uscc