Archive for category Aston Martin
Eccentric Cars Off The Roads
Want the oddballs in the automotive world? Well, brace yourself for the most eccentric cars off the roads. They are exotic. They are intriguing. But they are not for everybody to have and hold.
In today’s auto shows, manufacturers are shelling out a fortune to be part of the specialty market players that introduce the most eccentric cars. The recognition, regardless of the fact that the cars will not be allowed on the roads, is enough to make the automakers elated.
One of the exotic cars ever launched is the Artega, which was penned by Henrik Fisker, famed for being an extraordinary designer. The car is a fresh contribution from a new German automaker that plans to enter in the manufacture of high-performance sports cars for daily use. The 2008 Artega features a 3.6-liter Volkswagen-sourced V6 mated to the DSG twin-clutch gearbox of the company to produce maximum output of 300 horsepower via the rear wheels.
Another odd car is dubbed Carver One, which is said to be the “the world’s first commercially available self-balancing, tilting, three-wheeled vehicle.” Carver One is part motorcycle, part car; it is all about thrills over practicality. The contraption features a removable roof panel, 660-cubic-centimeter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 68 horsepower and 74 pound-feet of torque.
Gumpert Apollo Sport is another eccentric car to behold. Apollo Sport is given the high-performing mid-engine supercar powered by a 4.2-liter Audi V8 engine. It also features a fixed rear wing, rugged body, and gullwing doors that flip up on their roof-mounted hinges. It resembles the looks of a race car straight out of the FIA GT European supercar series.
Make way for the Rinspeed eXasis, a drivable “glass” car that features an aluminum frame with a clear plastic body and floor. The car is powered by a 150-hp two-cylinder engine, which sits on the transmission. To note, the car’s power-to-weight ratio puts it in line with the likes of a Porsche.
The Spanish automaker A. D. Tramontana has set forth a carbon-fiber road missile as a melding of Formula One cars and fighter planes. The company said the Tramontana was “modeled on the streamlined curves of the Costa Brava’s winds.” The car is given a twin-turbo V12 engine that generates 720 horsepower, about as powerful as a race car. The full production version of the car will go on sale this summer in Europe. Read the rest of this entry »
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage Motor Car
Posted by in Aston Martin on June 23, 2011
The V8 Vantage is one of the most powerful luxury sports cars on the market. This car features a 4.7L V8 engine that can reach speeds of 180 miles per hour. The 4.7L here refers to a 4700cc engine and the V8 refers to the engine using 8 cylinders in the shape of a V. Each engine is hand made and is designed at Aston Martin’s engine design factory in Cologne.
The Vantage is engineered to accommodate as much weight as possible within the wheelbase. One of the ways it does this is by reducing the amount of front and rear overhang. The engine is positioned well behind the front axle line, just ahead of the cabin, creating what is effectively a front mid-engined car. The transmission is mounted forward of the rear axle line, improving weight distribution still further. Dry sump lubrication is a technology that allows the engine to be lower in the Vantage. A weight balanced car is a stable car.
The Vantage is also made with lightweight durable materials. Each car has a body made with magnesium alloy, aluminum, steel and composite materials. Such a combination of materials makes for a tougher car.
The Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Emergency Brake Assist features work to balance the braking system’s power while helping maintain control of the vehicle. Another unique feature is that the trip computer which can be programmed for directions while driving.
There are front LED indicators and side lamps which are joined by rear lamps employing 360 LEDs for lights, brakes and indicators, while optional xenon dipped beam headlights are also available. The ultra-quick illumination of the LEDs provides crucial additional reaction time for the car behind in the event of an emergency stop. In a potential roll-over situation, sensors in the Vantage Roadster instantly deploy two roll-hoops from the rear cover.
The V8 Vantage exemplifies Aston Martin’s approach to design: a commitment to engineering excellence that is pleasing to the eye. The Vantage shares the same lineage to some of the great Aston Martin models of the past, such as the DB2, and DB4. As either a closed coupe with sleek lines, or a beautiful convertible, the V8 Vantage combines grace with power and practicality. Read the rest of this entry »