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Aston Martin considers building DBX in Macedonia

To build the new DBX crossover, Aston Martin is preparing to expand production outside of its home in Warwickshire. It just hasn't decided where the new plant will be. But while it has narrowed its search to just a few locations, one site that was previously discounted is now reportedly back in the running: Macedonia. The former Yugoslavian republic to the north of Greece has been soliciting car companies for manufacturing projects for years. And though it doesn't currently have any final assembly plants, it does have numerous component suppliers located within its borders. According to Automotive News, the Balkan country boasts relatively low wages and an educated workforce – a hard mix to come by. Perhaps best known as the birthplace of Alexander the Great, Macedonia was initially short-listed among 18 other locations as a potential site for the new Aston plant. The British automaker initially ruled it out as it whittled its list down, but Reuters reports that the country has since come back with a more attractive proposal with greater incentives from the government, putting it back in the running. Other locations under consideration include two locations in the UK, one in the Middle East, and one here in America. The Alabama site would be conveniently located near the plant in Tuscaloosa where Mercedes builds many of its crossovers, which could be a huge advantage – especially if the DBX borrows some of its underpinnings from Daimler. The last Aston Martin built off-site was the Rapide, which was previously manufactured by Magna Steyr in Austria until 2012 when Aston moved production in-house to Gaydon. The Cygnet was also manufactured by Toyota in Japan alongside the Scion iQ on which it was closely based, but the finishing touches were put on by Aston in Gaydon until the model was discontinued. Other European automakers also operate plants in the region. The Volkswagen Group and Peugeot SA manufacture in Slovakia. Renault and Smart build their city cars in Slovenia. Mercedes and Audi run assembly plants in Hungary. And Fiat builds in Serbia and in nearby northeastern Turkey, where Hyundai, Honda, Toyota, and Renault also have plants. News Source: ReutersImage Credit: Aston Martin Plants/Manufacturing Aston Martin Crossover Luxury Performance aston martin dbx macedonia

Weekly Recap For 5.20.16 | Autoblog Minute

Senior Editor Greg Migliore recaps the week in automotive news, including a look at the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato, two Volvo concepts, and the FCA Jeep airbag recall.

What does Aston Martin have planned for the name Aeroblade?

Aston Martin is working on something called Aeroblade, and the company recently filed a trademark application for the name. According to AutoGuide, the paperwork suggests the name could be used for a component, not for a model designation. The word indicates some kind of aerodynamic element, potentially in the form of an adaptive wing like those seen on the McLaren 650S, Bugatti Veyron, and so many Porsches over the years. Deployable spoilers allow a sports car to keep the airflow clean and undisturbed in some conditions and generate extra downforce under others. The use of the Aeroblade name for a component makes more sense than an actual model name. Aston typically starts its nameplates either with the letter V (as in Vanquish or the Vulcan pictured above) or DB (as in the current DB9 or forthcoming DB11). It has been known to make exceptions – like in the case of the Rapide four-door coupe or Cygnet city car – so we could be in for a surprise. The British manufacturer of luxury vehicles is working on a new generation of models to replace its current lineup. That includes a new platform to replace the aging VH architecture and a new engine under development with Mercedes-AMG. It's also working on bringing its first crossover to production, as previewed by the DBX concept at the Geneva Motor Show. Related Video: