2002 Aston Martin Db7 Vantage Volante Convertible 2-door 6.0l on 2040-cars

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The mood at this year’s Paris Motor Show: Quiet

The Paris Motor Show, held every other year in the early fall, typically kicks off the annual cavalcade of automotive conclaves, one that traverses the globe between autumn and spring, introducing projective, conceptual and production-ready vehicle models to the international automotive press, automotive aficionados and a public hungry for news of our increasingly futuristic mobility enterprise. But this year, at the press preview days for the show, the grounds of the Porte de Versailles convention center felt a bit more sparsely populated than usual. This was not simply a subjective sensation, or one influenced by the center's atypically dispersed assemblage of seven discrete buildings, which tends to spread out the cars and the crowds. There were not only fewer new vehicles being premiered in Paris this year, there were fewer manufacturers there to display them. Major mainstream European OEM stalwarts such as Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Nissan and Volkswagen chose to sit out Paris this year, as did boutique manufacturers like Bentley, Aston Martin and Lamborghini. This is not simply based in some antipathy on the part of the German, British and Italian manufacturers toward the French market — though for a variety of historical and societal reasons that market may be more dominated by vehicles produced domestically than others. Rather, it is part of a larger trend in the industry. Last year, Mercedes-Benz announced that it would not be participating in the flagship North American International Auto Show in 2019 — and that it might not return. Other brands including Jaguar/Land Rover, Audi, Porsche, Mazda and nearly every exotic carmaker have also departed the Detroit show. Some of these brands will still appear in the city in which the show is taking place, and host an event offsite, to capitalize on the presence of a large number of reporters in attendance. And even brands that do have a presence at the show have shifted their vehicle introductions to the days before the official press opening in an attempt to stand out from the crowd. In many ways, this makes sense. With an expanding number of automakers, with diversification and niche-ification of models and with wholesale shifts that necessitate the introduction of EV or autonomous sub-brands, there is a growing sense that, with everyone shouting at the same time, no one can be heard.

Aston Martin Vanquish S gets harder, better, faster

Now in its second generation, the Aston Martin Vanquish has finally earned a red "S" badge. That means a subtle revamp of the Vanquish's shape, speed, suspension, and interior specification to separate the new coupe from both the previous model and the new hotness, the incoming DB11. A meaner front fascia and a racy rear diffuser, both in exposed carbon fiber, reduce frontal lift. The new black quad exhaust pipes tucked into triangular cutouts just look mean. For those who want to go further, the already considerable option sheet gets new elements like carbon-fiber engine louvers and a new diamond-turned wheel design. Aston Martin also talks up an array of "striking painted graphics packs," which likely lean toward the subtle sky blue accents in the car pictured above as opposed to a purple and yellow Indy Pace Car package. The 6.0-liter V12 adds 12 horsepower for a total of 580. Larger inlet manifolds and a freer-breathing intake bestow finer throttle response for an anxious right foot. The eight-speed Touchtronic III gearbox adds refinement at the same time as it swaps cogs more quickly than before. Changes made throughout the suspension, from spring rates to damper internals, should do the trick when driving calls for more hammer than velvet. Not that you need to drive anywhere in the Vanquish S to enjoy it fully, since the cockpit is a reward unto itself. Chopped carbon fiber drenched in a satin sheen comprises the waterfall center console, in high-tech brutalist contrast to the new "Filograph" quilted seats in Bridge of Weir leather. One unsubtle aspect of the Vanquish S: the $294,950 price for the coupe, and a cool $312,950 for the Volante. Deliveries commence in December. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Aston Martin Vanquish S View 16 Photos LA Auto Show Aston Martin Convertible Coupe Luxury Performance aston martin vanquish 2016 LA Auto Show aston martin vanquish s

Kahn Vengeance has Aston Martin's blessing [UPDATE]

Last week we brought you the first renderings of a coachbuilt Aston Martin DB9 called the Vengeance that's being developed by Kahn Design. The emergence of the project raised a valid question: if Aston Martin quashed a similar venture by Henrik Fisker, wouldn't the Kahn Vengeance suffer a similar fate? Not according to Kahn. In a statement released to the press, company spokesman Mo Bhana said that "unlike the David Brown Speedback GT and recent Fisker Thunderbolt that ended in a lawsuit, there are no copyright issues with the Vengeance since Aston Martin has confirmed they have entered into a supply deal with us." The incidents Bhana refers to are over two coachbuilder projects that have come up recently and which have drawn the ire of Gaydon. The first is the Speedback GT developed by David Brown Automotive and assembled by a British coachbuilder called Envisage. The latter company also supplies parts and tooling to Aston Martin, which sued Envisage over concerns that its designs were being misappropriated. Given the resemblance of the Speedback to certain classic Astons, and the use of the name David Brown (which happens to be shared by the Speedback's patron and a key figure from Aston's history), reports began circulating that Aston was suing Envisage over the Speedback project, however David Brown Automotive refuted the allegations. The second was Project Thunderbolt, a rebodied Vanquish designed by Henrik Fisker – the same Danish designer who penned the DB9 and V8 Vantage while serving as Aston's design director before striking out on his own. Despite the former association, Aston objected to Fisker's project, launched a lawsuit against him and only agreed to drop it after Fisker agreed not to produce the Thunderbolt. Given Aston's track record, fearing that it would go down the same path would seem reasonable, but Kahn apparently doesn't expect any such difficulties with its supplier. And the company does, after all, also have a history of collaborating with coachbuilders - most notably Zagato. We've reached out to Aston Martin itself for confirmation and will update you as soon as we hear back. In the meantime, you can ponder the second set of renderings released and which we've included above.