2011 Ferrari 599 GTB Roadster Special Edition Coming Soon

The next new model to come out of the Maranello shop will be a roadster version of the 599 GTB supercar.

Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo dropped the news himself yesterday morning during a special press gathering in Central London...

How Consumer Reports tests Cars

Such a safety warning has been issued for only twelve different cars in the past 31 years. Like the Lexus, most of the vehicles have been charged with unsafe handling, typically in high-speed, emergency situations. However, there’s more than one way to flunk a Consumer Reports evaluation, as evidenced by some of the past failures. 1969 Subaru 360: Subaru’s first mass-produced car was deemed too slow to be safe, as the 25-hp two-stroke engine needed 37.5 seconds to accelerate the car from zero to 50 mph...

2011 Bentley Mulsanne enters the 2010 Concours d'LeMons

In case you're not familiar, the Concours d'LeMons was recently described by our own Frank Markus as, "a refuge available where even Thousandaires rolling rented Sebrings can walk smugly among the car-world's hoi polloi feeling all superior 'n stuff." Long story short, it's a show for $500 cars. As the founders told me upon arrival, "The Concours d'LeMons is put on to counter the uppercrust, privileged attitude that is induced by arriving at Monterey Auto Week in a Bentley." Point being, you'd have to be a pretty big jerk to bring a car to Concours d'LeMons worth several times more than all the other vehicles present, combined. Hi Mom. Here's the thing, however. As an automotive journalist, I'm only playing rich with a borrowed Bentley. Still, I did get a C in theater class back in the 10th grade. Or was that a D? Either way, I began psyching myself up on the ride down to Toro Park by chanting in my most ridiculous British accent, "Ding dong old chap! Let's take the Mullsy down to the LeMons...

2010 Aston Martin Volare Concept Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology

2010 Aston Martin DBS Volante Photo Shoot - New Car Pictures

When the Aston Martin DBS Volante made its debut at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show, Aston released only a couple of studio shots.

In between, the Aston Martin Rapide and the Aston Martin Cygnet, the folks at Gaydon have found a little time to take some real-life shots of the DBS Volante...

2010 Aston Martin One-77 Supercar: Only for 77 Lucky Car Owners for 2010

The era of epic supercars is certainly not over at Aston Martin, with the carmaker confirming the development of a brand new flagship model late last year. A life-size mock up was then put on display at the 2008 Paris Motor Show to tease the public and start building interest for the car, which is estimated to cost a cool £1.2 million. A technical design showcase at last month’s Geneva Motor Show revealed more features, including its bespoke carbon-fiber chassis and V12 engine, and earlier this month Aston released the first tentative details about production plans. Finally, the first completed model was revealed at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este at Lake Como, Italy, where it also took the event’s prestigious design award.

Aston Martin’s European operations chief Marcel Beci revealed in March that the first actual customer car will roll out of the company’s Gaydon factory later this year and that the limited production run of just 77 cars will be complete by the end of 2010.

Beci also explained that Aston Martin keeps in close contact with all its One-77 customers, and that every effort is being made to ensure the car does not fall prey to resellers who may attempt to profit from it. After all, the One-77 is being built not just as a halo car, but as an ultra-halo car, a sort of rekindling of the legacy of Aston Martin, plus a projection of the brand into the future. It's designed to be the most quintessential Aston Martin ever, and the most perfectly personalized car available.

2010 Aston Martin Rapide is a V12 Engine Powerhouse - First Look

Yes it is true! These facts were revealed by Marcel Beci, Aston Martin’s General Manager on European Operations in a recent interview with the Dutch newspaper, De Telegraaf. It appears that in no way the upcoming Rapide Sedan will not receive a V8 engine because the manufacturer wants power and only the V12 can offer this.

The new Rapide will receive the V12 engine from the DB9, but the source didn’t want to spoil the surprise and we will find this only when the car will be officially launched.

Aston Martin Vantage N420's $132,000 Pricing is a Steal

Aston Martin, seeing the competition catching up to its exalted level, recently issued details on its 2011 DB9 coupe, the Volante convertible, and Vantage N420.

The 2011 DB9 coupe will start at $187,615, while the drop-top Volante will run $201,115. Exterior updates for the 2011 DB9 include a new front and rear fascia, headlamp bezels, a reshaped hood, clear taillights, and newly designed 20-inch wheels. Aluminum trim graces the inside, as does an upgraded Bluetooth system, and a Bang & Olufsen stereo is now an optional upgrade. The Adaptive Damping System, standard on the DBS and Rapide, is now standard on the DB9.

Pricing for the Vantage N420 came in much lower than estimated, with the coupe retailing for $132,000 and roadster starting at $145,000. Aston Martin's race-team-derived N420 pushes out the same power as the V8 Vantage it's based upon, but that's where the bulk of the similarities end. A sport suspension, new exhaust, and 59 pounds of weight savings comprise the performance-enhancing upgrades. Exterior upgrades include a carbon-fiber front splitter, ten-spoke wheels, and the option of race-inspired paint hues. On the inside, sill plates, carbon-fiber seats, graphite instruments, and a steering wheel covered in either leather or Alcantara are available.

Full press releases for the DB9 and N420 can be found below. Note that deliveries of the DB9 and Volante are scheduled to commence this fall, and the N420 will make its first U.S. appearance at next month's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, with deliveries scheduled to start late this year.

Aston Martin DB9: The Definitive Sports Grand Tourer
28 June 2010, Gaydon, Warwickshire: In the most significant programme of upgrades since its world debut in 2003, Aston Martin’s DB9 range has received a complete package of styling, engineering and equipment enhancements.

As the most successful Aston Martin of all-time (an honour it shares with the V8 Vantage) the DB9 has established itself as the definitive grand tourer, thanks to an enduring combination of understated elegance, sporting character and genuine luxury.

For Dr Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin’s Chief Executive, the DB9 remains a very special car: “The DB9 is the quintessential sporting grand tourer and offers an unrivalled combination of driver involvement, character, luxury and refinement. This car combines our unique Aston Martin character with an uncompromised design philosophy, craftsmanship and trademark Aston Martin performance ability.”

This new package of improvements compliments these core qualities perfectly. Subtle styling changes freshen the DB9’s appearance, with a new front bumper, bright finish radiator grille and a re-shaped lower intake featuring bright hexagonal mesh.

New headlight bezels, re-styled sills, silver brake calipers, 20-spoke diamond turned alloy wheels and clear rear light lenses complete the external revisions.

Under the skin the DB9’s passive damping system has been replaced by a new Adaptive Damping System (ADS), which offers enhanced ride comfort together with sharper handling when switched to Sport mode. The ADS system is offered as standard equipment across the DB9 range, encompassing both Coupe and Volante (convertible). A new tyre pressure monitoring system, a revised Bluetooth microphone system and the addition of a new Double Apex alloy finish trim and Bang & Olufsen hi-fi options broaden the DB9’s specification.

Aston Martin’s Product Development Director, Ian Minards, explains that it is all part of an ongoing commitment to continual improvement: “The DB9 was the first car built at Gaydon adopting the VH architecture. It has evolved every year since, with significant changes including a power upgrade and successive reductions in CO2 emissions. The latest package of improvements goes further than ever, highlighting the DB9’s qualities as a true sporting GT and underlining its role as the backbone car of our range.”

The Aston Martin DB9 is available as either Coupe or Volante (convertible) with rear mid-mounted six-speed manual gearbox as standard or optional ‘Touchtronic 2’ six-speed automatic transmission. Production of the revised DB9 is already underway, with deliveries commencing in July. Prices start from £122,445 for the DB9 Coupe and £131,445 for the DB9 Volante.

Aston Martin Introduces V8 Vantage N420
Irvine, 6th July, 2010 -- Aston Martin has unveiled a new motorsport-inspired special edition; the V8 Vantage N420 which brings a new dimension of sporting prowess and dynamic ability to the V8 Vantage range. The N420 will make its US debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August 2010.

Successor to the special edition V8 Vantage N400 of 2007, the Vantage N420 is based upon the standard 4.7-litre, 420bhp, 180mph V8 Vantage and is available as a Coupe or Roadster, and with a six-speed manual or optional Sportshift automated manual transmission.

The Vantage N420 draws inspiration from the company’s experiences at the Nürburgring 24-hour race. In the 2006 running of the annual Nürburgring endurance classic amongst a field of mostly motorsport homologated cars, Aston Martin entered a near-standard, road-registered V8 Vantage. Driven by a team of employees, including Aston Martin’s CEO, Dr Ulrich Bez, the V8 Vantage – named ‘Rose’ by the team – finished 4th in class and 24th overall from a field of more than 200 specialised racing cars.

Since then Aston Martin has returned every year to compete in this gruelling endurance race, scoring a string of class victories and podiums with road-registered V8 and V12 Vantages and most recently the new four-door Rapide. Not only has this racing success spawned a burgeoning V8 Vantage GT4 customer programme run by Aston Martin Racing, but lessons learned in racing at the Nürburgring has led to aerodynamic and other performance developments being fed back into Aston Martin’s road cars.

A generous standard specification and some unique options ensure the special edition Vantage N420 is both exclusive and distinctive.

On the outside, wider sills combine perfectly with a carbon fibre splitter, side strakes and diffuser, while bold 10-spoke diamond turned alloy wheels complete with gloss black finish, black mesh vents and ‘Graphitic’ tailpipe finishers complete the co-ordinated look.

Inside the Vantage N420 offers an Iridium interior package, with graphite instruments, leather or Alcantara® steering wheel, special N420 sill plaques and adjustable sports seats, complete with ‘Race Track’ stitching as in the V12 Vantage. Bluetooth connectivity, cruise control and Park Distance Control are also standard.

2011 Aston Martin Rapide Test Driven by Motor Trend

The former is insanely expensive and impractical to drive on trips. The latter is not, and so in August 2000 when a lovely 1967 example came up for sale at an exotic car dealership 5.4 miles from home, I test-drove it right to my house for a quick snapshot that instantly became my screen saver. Seeing myself in that gorgeous car every day helped cement my resolve to pay about as much as I'd spent on all the cars I'd owned prior to that one combined. Ten years later I had the chance to drive what I feel is the most beautiful car in production today, and I was so smitten by it that I recreated the same screen-saver image as an affirmation that with hard work and clean living I may one day land an Aston Martin Rapide in my humble garage. I'm probably going to have to wait a lot longer for this one to depreciate into my price range. My Ghibli listed for about $19,000 in 1967--roughly $122,000 in today's dollars, and had depreciated by about 80 percent in modern money. The Rapide starts at $195,000, so if it holds up like my gorgeous Ghibli, it may be down to $39,000 in today's currency by 2043--a perfect bauble for my 80th birthday...

Few Changes in 2011 Honda Ridgeline Pickup Truck

The 2011 Honda Ridgeline pickup truck shall soon hit the floors with almost nary a difference from the 2010 model.

The biggest difference, of course, is the one-piece unit-body and steel ladder frame design. This gives the Ridgeline a more smoother ride associated with cars and crossovers than traditional body-on-frame pickup trucks.

The Ridgeline continues to be powered by Honda's 3.5-liter V-6 engine which produces 250-horsepower and 247 foot-pount of torque . Transmission is a five-speed automatic. Fuel economy is a decent 15 mpg city and 20 highway.

Pricing has not been released yet on the 2011 Honda Ridgeline.

Full details can be found in the press release below.

2011 Honda Ridgeline Offers Unique Pickup Truck Utility
07/02/2010 - TORRANCE, Calif. - The five-passenger Honda Ridgeline half-ton pickup truck is built with a closed-box, unitized body structure for a unique combination of capability, interior spaciousness and comfortable ride performance.

The Ridgeline delivers a wide range of conventional pickup capabilities with a maximum tow rating of 5,000 pounds and a half-ton payload rating, all while offering unique features like a large In-Bed Trunk® and an independent front and rear suspension.

“The Honda Ridgeline focuses on delivering the most-popular features and capabilities that a majority of recreational truck buyers typically use and need,” said Erik Berkman, vice president of American Honda Motor *** Inc. “As a company that also builds world-class motorcycles, ATVs, marine engines and power equipment, many features in the Ridgeline represent the best thinking from Honda.”

The four-door, five-passenger Ridgeline is powered by a 250-horsepower, 3.5-liter VTEC V-6 engine. A 5-speed electronically-controlled automatic transmission and a Variable Torque Management® 4-wheel drive system (VTM-4®) are standard. The EPA rates city/highway/combined fuel economy1 at 15/20/17. A MacPherson strut front suspension in the front and a rear multi-link suspension design contribute to a smooth ride and responsive handling. Standard equipment for towing includes an integrated tow hitch, transmission and oil coolers, heavy duty brakes, dual radiator fans and a wiring harness for a 7-pin trailer hook up (pre-wiring only on RT).

A 5-foot-long composite cargo bed with eight tie-down locations provides a half-ton payload rating of 1,100 pounds. Four cargo area lights illuminate both the bed and the in-bed trunk. A dual-action tailgate opens down for traditional access to the cargo area or to the side for ease-of-access to the 8.5 cubic-foot In-Bed Trunk. The Ridgeline is available with a wide variety of accessories and can conveniently accommodate motorcycles and ATVs.

The all-aluminum, 60-degree, SOHC 3.5-liter VTEC engine produces 250-horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 247 lb-ft. of torque at 4,300 rpm. The Ridgeline’s variable valve timing enhances low rpm torque while extending high rpm horsepower for a broad, confidence-inspiring power band. The 5-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission features Grade Logic Control to help maintain the most appropriate gear when going uphill or downhill to avoid gear “hunting.” The fully automatic VTM-4 system provides confident operation in rain, snow, ice, sand and mud, while also improving on-road and towing performance by distributing torque to all four wheels as needed. The system operates predominately in front-wheel-drive during dry-pavement cruising conditions and continuously proportions torque to the rear wheels during acceleration and low traction situations.

The Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) system, commonly referred to as electronic stability control, can apply braking force to a wheel with low traction and direct driving force to the wheel with more traction. For the rear differential, a "VTM-4" lock button located on the instrument panel allows the driver to temporarily hold engagement of both rear wheels to aid traction while in gears “1” and “2” at speeds of up to 18 mph.

The Ridgeline integrates an independent suspension with MacPherson struts in the front and a multi-link with trailing arm design in the rear. The VSA system with active yaw control monitors lateral (cornering) stability and can integrate traction control, four-wheel drive, anti-lock braking, throttle control and stability control functions by modulating brake power at each wheel and controlling throttle input.

The heavy duty braking system includes 12.6-inch front and 13.1-inch rear 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist. Steel wheels on the Ridgeline RT measure 17x7.5-inch; the Ridgeline RTS upgrades to alloy.

All-season P245/65 R17 tires are standard on the Ridgeline RT and RTS. The Ridgeline RTL is equipped with 18x7.5-inch alloy wheels and all-season P245/60 R18 tires.

The unit-body architecture is designed for vastly superior rigidity compared to traditional body-on-frame designs and provides the foundation for the Ridgeline's spacious interior cabin and bed, outstanding safety performance and class-leading ride and handling performance. The Ridgeline’s modern and athletic design incorporates a solid, one-piece appearance with no separation between the bed and the cab. Large truck-style side mirrors enhance rear vision while towing. The windshield wipers have a heated wiper zone to enhance wiper performance in cold, winter driving conditions and minimize ice scraping.