World Auto News & Reviews

There are plenty of things to admire about a company like Aston Martin, and not the least of them is that it loves racing as much as it loves making sports cars.

Take its latest product, for example. After its debut at the Villa d’Este concours, Aston announced that it would take the V12 Zagato for a short race at the Nürburgring and then a full 24-hour assault later this month. The first one already took place, and the second one hasn’t rolled around yet, but Aston has already found time to fit in an extra race in between.

Aston Martin’s lineup has ballooned in recent years to now include 14 different models, but that product expansion doesn’t look to be over just yet. The British automaker is said to be putting the final touches on an even higher performing version of the Rapide sedan.
Although the Rapide’s 470 horsepower 6.0L V12 never left us wanting for power, Aston Martin is now behind the power curve in the luxury sedan segment, trailing rivals like the 518 horsepower Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG and the 550 horsepower Porsche Panamera Turbo S. As such, the Rapide is reportedly in line for a power bump for the 2012 model year.

The Aston Martin V12 Zagato endurance race car concept has completed its first run under racing conditions in the 53rd ADAC ACAS H&R-Cup VLN race at the Nurburgring. The four-hour race among some other 150 competitors is just the start of preparations for a two-car V12 Zagato entry at the Nurburgring 24-hour race in late June.

The new V12 Zagato was joined by four other Aston Martins on the track, including the factory supported V8 Vantage (aka Smurf) and V12 Vantage (aka Kermit).

If you’re anything like us, you’ve been waiting to unleash the full might of the Aston Martin customization program on the Toyota iQ Cygnet. What colors, both hideous and delicious, will the pint-sized Aston boast? What kind of leather will coddle the behinds of the overpaid and tasteless? Fear not, friends. All these questions and more are now easily answered with nothing more than a visit to the brand-new Aston Martin website. From there, you can easily configure your Cygnet in any fashion possible.

Aston Martin wants you to push its cars to the limit – at least, after you’ve signed some waivers and paid $2,500. If that’s the case, you’re probably at Aston Martin’s Performance Driving Course located at the Ford Proving Grounds in Romeo, Michigan. The fleet of cars at your disposal includes the V8 Vantage, DB9, Rapide and DBS, and now Aston Martin has added its new V12 Vantage to the driving school’s list of exotic motorcars you can hoon for a nominal fee.