Aston Martin: Db9 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

So we think the Aston Martin DB11 Volante is coming in Spring 2018

Most automakers go out of their way to disguise new cars. There's camouflage and body cladding and if a spy photographer does get close enough to get a snap, engineers usually greet them with certain hand gestures. Aston Martin is not most automakers – instead of hiding the new DB11 Volante, it headed to the Arctic Circle in an undisguised car with a "DB11 – Opening Spring 2018" sign on each door. Subtle, guys. The new images of the droptop DB11 should assuage the emotions of critics of the hardtop model's odd roofline. The addition of a fabric softtop improves the car's look immeasurably, giving it a much more conventional profile. Where the sloping, floating roof on the DB11 coupe fights for visual attention with the rear haunches, the convertible top is innocuous, blending in favorably with the strong line over the rear wheels. We can't wait to see this car with its roof down, because it will look stunning. But as is the case with most convertibles, the roofline is the only place where changes happen. Below the beltline, the Volante shares its fascia and, rather unfortunately its weird side vent, with the hardtop model. And of course, the droptop is also sharing its engine with the coupe. We expect the same 5.2-liter, twin-turbocharged V12 and eight-speed automatic when the DB11 Volante debuts. Normally, this is the point in a spy photo story where we'd speculate about when and where a new car will debut. But since Aston Martin helpfully scrawled part of that info on the side of the car, it's not really necessary. The Aston Martin DB11 Volante will debut in spring of 2018, a period that lines up neatly with the Geneva Motor Show. Related Video:

Driving the BMW M2 Competition, Honda Odyssey and Toyota RAV4 Prime | Autoblog Podcast #651

In this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by West Coast Editor James Riswick. This week, they talk about driving the BMW M2 Competition, Honda Odyssey and Toyota RAV4 Prime. Then they discuss James' experience testing the new Yakima CBX cargo carrier, Autoblog readers' preference for the GMC Hummer EV over the Tesla Cybertruck, and Mercedes-Benz taking a larger stake in Aston Martin. Lastly, they help James' father find a new car in the Spend My Money segment. Autoblog Podcast #651 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Cars we're driving 2020 BMW M2 Competition 2021 Honda Odyssey 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime Testing the Yakima CBX Cargo Carrier on the Subaru Outback 75% of Autoblog Twitter follower prefer the GMC Hummer EV over the Tesla Cybertruck Mercedes-Benz to boost stake in Aston Martin to 20%, lend it some tech Spend JamesÂ’ fatherÂ’s money Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video:

This Aston Martin DBS has lived in a barn since 1986

For a moment, think of every major event that has occurred in your life since 1986 (if you're old enough, of course). Many birthdays have come and gone, children have grown to become adults, and we went from listening to "Rock Me Amadeus" to well... Justin Bieber. In a nutshell, things have changed quite a bit, but not for everything. In 1986, this Aston Martin DBS was rolled into a barn and locked safely away from prying eyes, and for the last 30 years, that is exactly where it has remained, until now. The dusty yet gorgeous Aston will cross the Silverstone Auctions block in May, where it's expected to fetch upwards of GBP60,000 (about $87,000). New in 1968, it would have cost about GBP4,470. RELATED: See More Photos of this Barn Find Aston Martin DBS Few words can describe the emotional weight of these barn find images, but "haunting" seems to fit. The Aston's three decades of shed isolation have written their story across its fastback bodywork, which now comes layered thick with dust, dirt, and a spot of bird dirt or two. Peer beneath the grime though and the DBS still wears its original coat of Mink Bronze paint. Inside the grand tourer's cabin, time has stood equally still, however the elements have been a bit less fair. The rich leather front seats and upholstery have grown grey and mottled with age. And while no one has sat in the back seat of this DBS for ages, it would appear critters haven't long given up roost there. Even so, it's utterly jaw-dropping to see in its untouched state. RELATED: Check Out James Bond's Actual 1964 Aston Martin DB5 According to the auction house, the Aston Martin was sold new on November 5th, 1968, to its first owner in Surrey, England, who held onto it for a little under two years. In April 1970, the DBS passed to its second owner—a 'Mr. Pasqua'—who relocated the car to the island of Jersey (the largest of the UK's Channel Islands). For the next 16 years it would accumulate a scant number of miles before getting tucked away in a barn on the island, and to this day, the odometer reads just 30,565 miles driven. Then again, how far can you really drive on an island that's only five miles wide and eight miles long. RELATED: This '66 Porsche Barn Find Looks Ravishing in Red As for its model history, the DBS was the rather radical successor to the storied and much more sweeping Aston Martin DB6.