2020 Aston Martin Vantage Gt4 Competition Race Car on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Aston Martin One-77 designer gives back to teacher who changed his life

It's a pretty fair bet that we've all had "that" teacher. The educator that stood out above all the others while we were in school and not only taught us, but made us into a better person – our very own Mr. Feeny, Mr. Belding, Mr. Holland or even Mr. Miyagi. The Windsor Star has the story of one such teacher and her troubled student that went on to help design some of the most desirable cars in the auto industry. Karlene Berry spent 30 years as a teacher, and among her many, many students is Michael Lehti, the product of a broken home and self-described has having "never been the greatest academic." What Lehti could do, though, was design cars. With the help of Berry's class, he overcame his early obstacles and went on to work with the design team on the Aston Martin One-77 (pictured above) and the RUF CTR3, among other vehicles. With Lehti and Benson's old school closing, the pupil reached out to his teacher 32 years after graduation to say "thanks" and pay tribute for her impact on his life. Head on over to The Windsor Star, and check out this inspiring story. Featured Gallery Aston Martin One-77 News Source: The Windsor StarTip: Mike Read This Aston Martin aston martin one-77

James Bond will return ... in an Aston Martin DB5

The 25th James Bond film has a title: "No Time to Die." Honestly, it's bit generic and indicative of the Brosnan-era films or a post-Fleming novel. Whatever, as a diehard 007 fan, they could call it "Octopussy 2: Revenge for Vijay" and I'd still be giddy with anticipation.  Now, though I'm desperate to avoid spoilers, I couldn't help but notice news over at James Bond experts MI6-HQ that filming has begun in Italy with an Aston Martin DB5. They share images of multiple DB5's in a car transport along with what appears to be some new Jaguars. As you might recall, "Spectre" ends with Bond driving off into the sunset in his DB5 with Madeleine Swann. We already knew that Lea Seadoux would be returning for "No Time to Die," and now we know the car is coming back, too.  However, there was also the earlier news that another classic Bond Aston Martin would be returning: the V8 Vantage featured in "The Living Daylights." Same number plate and everything. That sounds absolutely awesome, yet I'm also sad I know it. Damned spoilers. Wait, I guess I'm now part of the problem.  Related Gallery 007 Best James Bond Cars View 20 Photos

Aston Martin to keep V12 alongside new AMG V8

Aston Martin is embarking on a brave new future. After thirteen years basing the bulk of its lineup on the VH architecture, Aston is developing a new platform, and is partnering with Mercedes-AMG to develop a new V8 engine and electronic systems. But what will happen to the old platform and engines once the new ones arrive? You might think that they'd be retired, but that won't necessarily be the case. At least as far as the AM11 V12 engine goes. The 6.0-liter engine was developed by Cosworth, based on a Ford block, and first appeared on the DB7 Vantage way back in 1999, but still powers everything Aston offers, save the V8 Vantage. It's evolved heavily over the past decade and a half, rising in output from 420 horsepower to 565, but Aston is one of the only British automakers still offering a V12 these days (Jaguar no longer does, Bentley's is actually a W12 and while Rolls-Royce does, its vehicles are mostly of a decidedly more sedate nature), and will surely want to carry on that legacy. That's why Aston spokesman Matthew Clarke revealed in correspondence with Autoblog, "Our 6.0-liter V12 engine will remain, with ongoing development, at the heart of a number of our flagship models for the foreseeable future," long after the new engine being developed with Mercedes arrives. Just which models will receive the new eight-cylinder engine and which will keep the twelve remains to be seen, but we get the feeling Aston's eight-cylinder range will broaden to include more than just the Vantage. As for the VH architecture, you can expect it to sail off into the proverbial sunset once the new platform is ready, though we wouldn't be surprised to see it phased out more gradually than abruptly. A 13-year tradition doesn't end overnight, after all.