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Aston Martin rules out going downmarket

When Aston Martin sat alongside Jaguar under the Ford umbrella, the two had to be careful not to step on each other's toes. That kept the top end of Jaguar's sports and GT lineup at bay, and in the years since they parted company, Jaguar has steadily moved up-market with new versions of the XK and now with the new F-Type. But does that mean Aston Martin will in turn start offering cheaper models? "No, not at this stage," Aston's US chief Julian Jenkins told AutoGuide.com. "If there is an opportunity that we can sit comfortably within we will go after it." But for the time being, the V8 Vantage will remain the brand's entry-level model, coming in just under the $100K mark in base Vantage GT trim. Enthusiasts will remember the Cygnet, a version of the Toyota/Scion iQ which Aston reskinned and sold to customers looking for a more compact, economical mode of transportation without skimping on luxury. But that model never made it to North America, and lasted only a few years before being discontinued in 2013. More recently, Aston branched into the four-door market, first with the Rapide and now with the Lagonda Taraf. The Lagonda Taraf is a four-door luxury sedan initially launched in the Persian Gulf, but under consideration for additional markets. The company has been on and off the fence regarding launching a crossover SUV like the Lagonda concept it showcased at the 2009 Geneva auto show to lukewarm reception. If Aston were to proceed with such plans, it would be up against the likes of the upcoming Jaguar F-Pace, Bentley Bentayga and Maserati Levante.

Aston Martin Vulcan teased in video

Get ready for the Aston Martin Vulcan. We're not sure exactly what that is – but Aston has released a teaser of its upcoming model/concept/thing – and it has a racy sound, that's for sure. That's about all we know from this video, as the car isn't shown. The Vulcan is set to debut March 3 at the Geneva Motor Show, and the official YouTube channel calls it "something very special." The Vulcan's pending reveal comes as Aston is set to get a cash influx from Investindustrial, an Italian equity fund that owns a chunk of the British automaker. The money will fund the company's new product plan, which is expected to help push Aston's global sales to 8,000 annually, double its current level. Aston's lineup of sporting machines has largely grown long in the tooth. New CEO Andy Palmer, who joined the company from Nissan, is charged with updating the portfolio to better compete with other high-end brands. The Vulcan appears to be the start of this, and it literally sounds pretty good. If nothing else, this engine sounds would like it make a nice ringtone for James Bond. News Source: Aston Martin via YouTubeImage Credit: Aston Martin Motorsports Geneva Motor Show Aston Martin Luxury Performance 2015 Geneva Motor Show aston martin vulcan

Get your Aston Martin Vulcan in Ohio for just $3.4 million

Want to get your hands on an Aston Martin Vulcan? Good luck: the manufacturer is only building 24 of them, and each carries a price tag of over $2 million. But if you're willing to shell out, there's one for sale in Cleveland. This Fiamma Red example listed for sale on the duPont Registry is described as the first Vulcan in the United States. It bears the VIN AMLVULCANXXXXXX07, indicating that this is the seventh of those two dozen examples to be made. And it can be yours for the small matter of $3.4 million, which is one heck of a markup on a vehicle that's already enormously expensive. The Vulcan, for those unfamiliar, is the supercar that Aston Martin built specifically for use on the track. That puts it in the same league as the McLaren P1 GTR and Ferrari FXX K. The Vulcan features an old-school naturally aspirated 7.0-liter V12 rated at over 800 horsepower – mounted up front but entirely behind the axle. It's built around a carbon-fiber tub that's even stronger and lighter than the one at the center of the One-77. And that aero kit derived from Aston's GT3 racer will generate as much as 3,000 pounds of downforce at top speed. The Aston is also more rare than its counterparts, of which McLaren will build 35 and Ferrari fewer than 40. That's rather rare company indeed, in which the Vulcan looks poised to be the rarest. So if you want to gain admission into the club, it won't come cheap. Related Video: