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Aston Martin hits the open water with Quintessence Yachts

We know, we know: life is tough. You drive your Aston Martin Vanquish Volante from your mansion to the yacht club, and then what? Just get on board any old yacht? Of course not. You're going to need an Aston Martin speedboat, and fortunately that's just what we have here. Born of a partnership among the British automaker, Dutch boatbuilder Quintessence Yachts, and the naval architects at Mulder Design, is the upcoming AM37. The speedboat, as you might have guessed, measures 37 feet long – which is a little more than two Rapides parked end to end (or nearly four Cygnets). Though there's only three images, we can already see the vessel's design takes cues from Aston's luxury GTs, particularly in the driving console. It looks a lot sleeker, at any rate, than the Voyage design we saw a few years ago, and at least as cool as the 20-foot speedboat Ian Callum designed to go with the Jaguar XF Sportbrake. Full technical details have yet to be released as well, but Quintessence says the vessel will feature a "hi-tech composite structure allied to luxury sports car-like handling, performance and comfort." It'll also incorporate voice control and touchscreen display for the navigation and multimedia system. The yacht will be offered in two versions: the AM37 with a top speed of around 50 knots (the maritime equivalent of 57 miles per hour) and the AM37 S that'll top out at 60 knots (nearly 70 mph). That's mighty fast on the open water, with no stop signs or traffic gridlock to slow you down. Just the waves on the open water. We don't know what will motivate the vessel to such speeds, but we're hoping for a marine version of Aston's signature 6.0-liter V12. Maybe even two of 'em. It wouldn't be unheard of, after all: Lamborghini has made boat engines, and a Ferrari-powered hydroplane set a longstanding record in the 1950s. Far more than the usual branded wristwatch or luggage, we're looking forward to seeing this one (quite literally) launch. Driven to succeed: Quintessence Yachts and Aston Martin • Exciting sports car firm association creates a series of unique powerboats • Stunning style, advanced technologies and exquisite craftsmanship • Highest standards of yacht design and construction 29 April 2015, Gaydon: Quintessence Yachts is today unveiling the first details of an exciting association with famous luxury British sports car maker Aston Martin which will result in the creation of a unique series of stunning new powerboats.

Aston Martin Vulcan revealed with 7.0L V12, more than 800 hp

Herewith, Aston Martin would like you to turn your attentions to its Vulcan – in case the sound it makes or the flames it shoots weren't still on your mind. Those two sensory incitements come from Aston Martin's V12, but one that has been bored out from the usual 5.9 liters to 7.0 liters. We haven't been granted a precise horsepower figure yet, but it's quoted as being more than 800. That heart lies just in front of a carbon fiber monocoque and is wrapped in a carbon fiber body, those bits assembled by company motorsports partner Multimatic – the same Canada-based Multimatic that will be fashioning the body for the coming Ford GT. This is an FIA-approved treat for the track only, so it's got a pushrod suspension with adjustable dampers and anti-roll bars, a six-speed sequential transmission, carbon ceramic discs and adjustable anti-lock brakes with Brembo calipers, and adjustable traction control. The 19-inch wheels in back rest on 345-section Michelin tires. The bad news: there will only be 24 of them, so if you want one you should get on the phone this instant. If you can get your name added to the list, you might also wish to sign up for the racing development program offered with it. Factory pilot Darren Turner, he with two GT1 class win for Aston Martin Racing in 2007 and 2008, will "support owners on their learning journey" as they are coached at tracks around the world. Vulcan owners will get classroom lessons on top of practical instruction in wares including the V12 Vantage S and One-77 as they work their way up to getting the most out of their Vulcan. On top of that, they can book time in Turner's Base Performance Simulators for virtual driving time. Or for the money all of this is sure to cost, they could just have a simulator installed in one of their Mediterranean lake homes. For the rest of us, the Vulcan contains design cues we'll see in future Aston Martins. We could know more about that, and its specs, when it's unveiled next week at the Geneva Motor Show. There's a press release below for now. ON TRACK FOR GLORY: ASTON MARTIN VULCAN PREPARES FOR TAKE-OFF - Geneva global reveal for limited edition, track-only, 7.0-litre V12 supercar - Motorsport-developed technology for extreme on-track performance - Expert tuition, technical support and experience programme for owners 25 February 2015, Gaydon: Introducing the Aston Martin Vulcan – a track-only supercar and the British luxury brand's most intense and exhilarating creation to date.

How to lease an Aston Martin for $1,900 a month, but drive it for free

A sad fact of life is that we can't always get what we want, but that doesn't mean it hurts to dream. For many drivers that yearning is for an exotic sports car that rests well outside their financial grasp. Aston Martin seems to be taunting those folks now with a way that makes the company's luxury GTs seem just a little more attainable. Ally Financial is the brand's new lease partner, and one of the announced deals offers a new V12 Vantage S coupe for $1,900 a month. For that money, customers get a vehicle capable of reaching 60 miles per hour in a scant 3.7 seconds thanks to a 6.0-liter V12 making 565 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque with a seven-speed automated manual gearbox. Still, $1,900 a month is hardly a bargain for most people, especially for a leased vehicle that eventually needs to be turned in. In fact the deal works out to $22,800 a year or about $63 a day. Of course, getting the chance to drive a V12 Vantage S for a little while might make the money worth it. That got us thinking: how could we offset the cost of this lease? There's a company called RelayRides that's essentially Airbnb for cars. People list vehicles, set a price, and the company covers the insurance. The renter is even supposed to replace any used gas, which might be a lot with the V12 Vantage. After browsing the service, normal transportation seems to hover around $50 a day, but high-end rides can go for a lot more. We found examples like a 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class for $135, a 2013 Tesla Model S for $199, a 2006 Porsche 911 for $189, and a 2012 Cayman for $195. You can probably see where we are going with this: rent the Vantage to recoup some (or all) of the monthly payment. Hiring out the Aston Martin every day seems highly unlikely, and in that case you never get to drive. Instead, offer it at $190. Clearly, the coupe's not alone in this price range, and the Vantage only needs to be out of your hands for 10 days a month to repay itself. For the rest of the time, you're behind the wheel. Obviously this is not any kind of financial advice. Depending on the popularity of RelayRides in a given area, an owner might be forking over the whole month's $1,900 to Aston Martin. Explain in Comments, if you can think of any other legal ways to use the Vantage to pay back it's monthly lease.