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Aston Martin requests exemption from stringent US safety regulations

If you were intrigued by the chance to buy a new Aston Martin Vantage GT for $99,900, it might be best not to wait too long. There is a slim chance that the Vantage and DB9 may not have much life left in the US because they don't meet new crash standards. Aston Martin has filed documents with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration asking that the new pole and moving barrier crash safety requirements – internally referred to as FMVSS 214 – be waived for the two models. The company is claiming "substantial economic hardship" and says that it can't afford to bring the vehicles into compliance. We aren't talking about a huge number of vehicles here. The Rapide and Vanquish comply with the new rules, and Aston Martin predicts that it would import 670 Vantage and DB9 models into the States between September 1, 2014 and August 31, 2017. The automaker estimates it would cost around $30 million to make them compliant. The company has indeed been in rough shape in the not-too-distant past. According to the documents, sales volume decreased by about 48 percent from a high of 7,281 units in 2007 to 3,786 vehicles in 2012. The automaker had planned to have new models ready in time so that it wouldn't need an exemption, but the global economic crisis delayed it. Interestingly, the paperwork reveals that Aston currently plans to launch a replacement for the DB9 between September 2016 and August 2017. Aston Martin doesn't have very long for NHTSA to deliberate. The new rules go into effect for them on September 1, 2014 for hardtops, and September 1, 2015 for convertibles. While it would still be able to sell its other models here, it would certainly be a shock if it had to pull the the Vantage and DB9. Both documents are available in PDF format to download and read.

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

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.