RE: Aston Rumours
Tuesday 21st October 2003
Aston Rumours
No baby Aston Convertible says AutoSpies.com
Autospies.com is reporting that Aston has binned the idea of a convertible version of the new baby Aston. They reckon that Ford believe the model would overlap too much with the new DB9 (the DB7 replacement).
According to the story, the new baby model will feature an entry level car with half hide interior and a Jaguar engine with just 265bhp. A range of upgrades will then be available to punters with more money.
Discussion
So nothing new there then… considering the web site is called “autopsies” I was expecting a scoop!
As announced in Autocar 8th January 2003 the Aston Martin V8 Vantage will have an a modern leather interior with linen inserts to the seats and doors (and bloody lovely it looks to
). Regarding the engine they say “a single V8 engine is planned although a smaller capacity would be possible, as would a higher output version, a V6 has been ruled out”.
So there we are, back in January we knew it will have half leather and that a lower state of tune for the V8 was likely. I guess the entry level car will be called the AMV8 with the Vantage name used for the 320bhp version, in line with Aston’s usual naming protocol.
I remain very interested
. Rich…
p.s. I have not heard of a DB8 I believe the plan is for a 3 x model line up of; AMV8, DB9 & Vanquish
As announced in Autocar 8th January 2003 the Aston Martin V8 Vantage will have an a modern leather interior with linen inserts to the seats and doors (and bloody lovely it looks to
). Regarding the engine they say “a single V8 engine is planned although a smaller capacity would be possible, as would a higher output version, a V6 has been ruled out”. So there we are, back in January we knew it will have half leather and that a lower state of tune for the V8 was likely. I guess the entry level car will be called the AMV8 with the Vantage name used for the 320bhp version, in line with Aston’s usual naming protocol.
I remain very interested
. Rich… p.s. I have not heard of a DB8 I believe the plan is for a 3 x model line up of; AMV8, DB9 & Vanquish
This isn't true. The car will have one engine (as stated above) in one state of tune at first (Vantage is bound to follow later) and the interior will be standard with options availible to spec it up a la 911.
I agree that a Volante version is the wrong thing to do (again, diluting the brand and stepping on DB9's toes).
The name DB8 has been rumoured for the car but I doubt that it will get that nametag. Again the 'official' line from the factory is that it will retain the AMV8 tag.
I agree that a Volante version is the wrong thing to do (again, diluting the brand and stepping on DB9's toes).
The name DB8 has been rumoured for the car but I doubt that it will get that nametag. Again the 'official' line from the factory is that it will retain the AMV8 tag.
v8thunder said:
Is this the AMV8? Or is it something else? Is it the DB8? What the hell's going on in the Aston Martin names department?
The DB9 is the DB7 replacement, which will be built from january onwards. The V8 vantage is the new baby Aston (which is not replacing anything).
They did not call the V8 Vantage the "DB8" because they think that residents of a certain large country to the west of Ireland might get confused with the DB9....
The only convertable Aston will be the DB9. Neither Vanquish or V8 vantage will have convertable models.
It's a pity though, that they can't keep ot David Brown's naming tradition simply because they think we'll be confused. Aston Martin's late '60s/early '70s line-up contained the DB6 (with Vantage and Volante), the DBS (with DB6 Vantage engine) and the DBSV8 (with a V8). I can see the comparison nowadays, with the DB9 as the DB6, and the AMV8/Vanquish in place of the DBS/V8.
To be honest, I questioned the relevance of replacing the 6-cylinder DB7 engine with the V12 with the Vanquish on the scene. It's all got rather confusing.
Remember the '80s, when you could have a V8 - coupe, convertible or Vantage. And that was it.
To be honest, I questioned the relevance of replacing the 6-cylinder DB7 engine with the V12 with the Vanquish on the scene. It's all got rather confusing.
Remember the '80s, when you could have a V8 - coupe, convertible or Vantage. And that was it.
"Overlapping the model range" 
WTF then is putting a 265bhp Jaguar engine in then, considering it will then overlap the XK8
It's getting very blurry in there. Jaguar should stick to big exec saloons and exec coupes and Aston should stick to hand built higher level, high power Grand Tourers. Stick to the plan guys.
WTF then is putting a 265bhp Jaguar engine in then, considering it will then overlap the XK8
It's getting very blurry in there. Jaguar should stick to big exec saloons and exec coupes and Aston should stick to hand built higher level, high power Grand Tourers. Stick to the plan guys.
Its all a bit confusing just now because (as happens all the time) we are basing this on speculative stories in the press. Lets wait and see what happens when the cars are all out.
However going on the info I know this is how it should pan out:
1. AMV8 to start range off. 2 Seater, 4.1 litre V8 engine producing 320bhp as standard. Price will start at just below £80,000. Vantage version will enivitably follow in the future.
2. DB9 Coupe and Volante. The 2+2 GT of the range. 6.0 Litre V12, 450bhp. Prices start at £105,000. More of a competitor for the Bentley Continental GT.
3. Vanquish. Currently 460bhp but will be increased to 500bhp+ to bring it more in line with top level supercars and also be more of a direct replacement for the last of the twin supercharged V8 Vantages.
However going on the info I know this is how it should pan out:
1. AMV8 to start range off. 2 Seater, 4.1 litre V8 engine producing 320bhp as standard. Price will start at just below £80,000. Vantage version will enivitably follow in the future.
2. DB9 Coupe and Volante. The 2+2 GT of the range. 6.0 Litre V12, 450bhp. Prices start at £105,000. More of a competitor for the Bentley Continental GT.
3. Vanquish. Currently 460bhp but will be increased to 500bhp+ to bring it more in line with top level supercars and also be more of a direct replacement for the last of the twin supercharged V8 Vantages.
jhoneyball said:
Only the most rose tinted spectacle wearers thinks that the supercharged v8 vantages made 550bhp or 600bhp. They might have been just over 500 or so, but i doubt they were any more than that.
You're doubts are unfounded, Johnny. Those twin 'blowers did make 550 bhp/ 600 bhp. I've seen the telemetary.
Incidentally, the DB9 engine produces over 100 bhp from tickover...
That's true. No V8 Vantage ever left the factory with 550bhp. Most were between that and 600bhp as standard anyway, so the V600 probably produced slightly more than 600bhp as standard.
Monster cars and huge performance. I have been lucky to drive some wonderfully fast cars in my life, but these V8's are just awesome. So much bigger than the driver. They are animals.
Monster cars and huge performance. I have been lucky to drive some wonderfully fast cars in my life, but these V8's are just awesome. So much bigger than the driver. They are animals.
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