No Time to Die, the latest James Bond movie, has its world premiere in London today. Its global release was delayed due to the pandemic and it will progressively appear on screens around the world from the end of this month. It was to appear in Malaysian cinemas from September 29, but GSC announced that the film distributor has postponed the first screening to November 25, 2021, reasons unknown.
Once the premiere date was confirmed, the many brands associated with the movie quickly began their campaigns and Aston Martin, which has had a presence since the earliest films, started off with a unique campaign. It is a giant replica of the original Corgi DB5 model toy box that was sold in 1965 when Goldfinger was shown. Parents bought thousands of children the metal scale model of the iconic sportscar which would be a collectors item today, just like the real car.
There were other models of the car but Corgi’s was the most famous. Replicating the action features of the car seen in the movie, it was an instant success earning the UK ‘Toy of the Year’ and ‘Best Boys Toy’ titles at the National Association of Toy Retailers Awards in 1965. The model has proven so popular over the years that it has had to be retooled numerous times. Over 20 million units have been sold worldwide and it is still being produced to this day.
The large box, replicating the original Corgi item, has been on display near London’s Battersea Power Station (which is owned by Malaysian companies) and measures 5.66 metres long, 2.7 metres tall and 2.7 metres deep. Inside is an Aston Martin DB5 Goldfinger Continuation car complete with a broad selection of working gadgets. Fans will recognise the rotating numberplates, a retractable bulletproof rear shield, extending front overriders and of course, those pop-out machineguns hidden behind the headlights.
The display car is one of just 25 DB5 Goldfinger Continuation cars being produced, taking place more than 55 years after the last new DB5 was made. Each of the cars is an authentic reproduction of not only the original DB5 but also of the ‘Goldfinger’ car. Therefore, they are also in the same exterior colour – Silver Birch (just like the original) – with only minor modifications and enhancements to ensure the highest levels of quality and reliability.
“Aston Martin’s relationship with James Bond spans decades and the DB5 is, without question, the most famous car in the world by virtue of its 50-plus year association. Working with EON Productions and Chris Corbould to build 25 of the DB5 Goldfinger Continuations was a truly unique project for everyone involved at Aston Martin. Now, to work with Corgi – another quintessential British brand – and to see James Bond’s most cherished car sitting inside a to-scale toy box in central London is quite outstanding,” said Marek Reichman, Executive Vice-President & Chief Creative Officer of Aston Martin Lagonda.
No Time To Die, also has iconic Aston Martin models from the past, present and future. It is the first time that 4 different models have appeared in one 007 film: the DB5, the classic Aston Martin V8, the brand’s super GT – the DBS – and the Valhalla hypercar.
Like Aston Martin, Land Rover models are also involved in a lot of action in the movie. Alongside 10 of the latest Defenders are the Range Rover Sport SVR, the Series III Land Rover and a Range Rover Classic.
Sean Connery, the original James Bond, with the DB5 used in ‘Goldfinger’.
The Valkyrie, a product of the combined design and engineering talents of Aston Martin and Red Bull Advanced Technologies (RBAT), is one of the world’s most extreme hypercars. Only 150 units will be built (all already sold), each priced from US$3 million (about RM12.707 million). Joining the Valkyrie at a California debut is the Valkyrie Spider and only 85 units will be available – all of which are also taken.
Taking the roof of the Valkyrie promises an even more intense experience, perhaps comparable to the feeling that Formula 1 drivers have. Of course, the Valkyrie Spider is a roadgoing car and so it must meet the high standards of comfort and luxury customers (who will pay more than US$3 million) will expect.
While the 1,155 ps hybrid V12 powertrain remains the same, the Valkyrie Spider has received revisions to its carbonfibre structure, plus precise recalibration of both the active aerodynamic and active chassis systems.
Key to superlative performance is the ultra-lightweight construction and high downforce aerodynamics package. The upper body surfaces of the teardrop-shaped cockpit and lower tub contours follow the envelope of space available between the huge full-length Venturi tunnels that run either side of the cockpit floor. Drawing huge quantities of air beneath the car to feed the rear diffuser, these tunnels are the key to generating Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider’s extraordinary levels of downforce, while keeping the upper body surfaces free from additional aerodynamic devices that would spoil the purity of the open-top styling.
There is only a marginal weight difference to the Coupe and a top speed of 330 km/h+ is claimed with the roof removed, and 350 km/h+ with the roof on). This makes it the fastest and most extreme open-top, road-legal Aston Martin ever built.
The same driver-focused cabin is provided, with F1-inspired low hip-to-heel height and near-central seat positioning, along with a 6-point safety harness to keep the occupants tightly in their seats at high cornering speeds. A centre rearview camera system along with front and rear parking sensors will aid the driver at both high and low speeds, with displays sitting just above the instrument panel.
The Valkyrie Spider, which can be ordered with lefthand or righthand drive, features a bespoke, removable lightweight roof comprising of a carbonfibre central panel, latching onto the tub at the rear and to the windscreen surround at the front, along with a pair of polycarbonate roof windows, hinged on either side. On opening the doors, the roof can simply be lifted off and stowed away.
Modifications to the carbonfibre tub have been made to support the removable roof panels and the open-top layout, as well as new doors. The now front-hinged dihedral doors, which are unique to Valkyrie Spider, have been redesigned to tilt forward.
“The Aston Martin Valkyrie is the product of incredible innovation and technology, but above all it has always been about emotion. With the Valkyrie Spider, we are taking that passion and emotion to the next level. The driving experience promises to be truly sensational. The sound of that 6.5-litre V12 engine revving to over 11,000 rpm with the roof removed is something I cannot wait to hear!” said Aston Martin CEO, Tobias Moers.
The Valhalla was just a concept car which Aston Martin presented 2 years ago, a possible new model after the Valkyrie which would also be mid-engined. While it may have remained a concept for a while more, the change in ownership and management last year has seen the hybrid supercar being given the green light for production.
Led by Aston Martin’s CEO, Tobias Moers, the Valhalla is the latest and most significant product of the brand’s Project Horizon strategy. It will broaden the model portfolio to reflect Aston Martin’s presence in Formula 1 and drive the transition from internal combustion to hybrid to full electric powertrains.
Technology expertise from F1 team
Built with chassis, aerodynamic and electronics expertise drawn from its F1 involvement via the Aston Martin Cognizant team, the Valhalla is expected to offer superlative performance, dynamics and also driving pleasure. It will be a rolling showcase of technology employed in the highest level of motorsport.
Propelling the Valhalla is its all-new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrain with a rear (mid)-mounted 4-litre twin-turbo bespoke V8 engine originating from Mercedes-AMG (a V6 had been considered before). This is said to be the most advanced, responsive and highest performing V8 engine ever installed in an Aston Martin, developing 750 ps to power the rear wheels.
Supplementing the V8 engine is a pair of EMotors, one mounted on the front axle and the other on the rear axle. The motors, which get energy from a 150kW/400V battery pack contribute a further 204 ps to give a total system output of 950 ps.
When driven in EV mode, power is directed exclusively to the front axle. In other driving modes the power is split between front and rear axles. The percentage sent to each axle constantly varies according to driving demands. In certain situations, 100% of electrical power can be sent to the rear axle, supplementing the full output of the V8 engine for maximum performance.
Bespoke 8-speed DCT
Completing the powertrain is an all-new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission from an Italian supplier. Exclusively engineered and built for Aston Martin, this new paddle-shift gearbox has been developed specifically for use with hybrid powertrains. It has ‘e-reverse’ which utilizes the electric motors and thereby saves weight by negating the need for a conventional reverse gear. The transmission also has an Electronic Limited-Slip Differential on the rear axle for maximum traction and handling agility.
Running in EV-only mode, the Valhalla is said to be capable of a maximum of 130 km/h and up to 15 kms with a fully charged battery pack. When the maximum output of 950 ps is used, the Valhalla is expected to reach a top speed of 330 km/h after going from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.5 seconds.
The Valhalla will have technologies drawn from Formula 1 via the Aston Martin Cognizant team which is competing in the championship.
Carbonfibre tub for low weight
Structurally, the Valhalla is built around a new a carbonfibre tub for maximum stiffness with minimum weight penalty. Featuring Formula 1-style pushrod front suspension complete with inboard mounted springs and dampers reducing unsprung mass gives a brilliant packaging solution. For the rear-end’s multilink design, there are Multimatic Variable Spring rate and Adaptive Spool Valve (ASV) Damper units providing adjustable ride frequency.
In addition to stiffer suspension, Track mode sees ride height significantly reduced in order to maximize downforce. At the other end of the speed scale, a front axle lift system raises the nose for improved approach angle on awkward inclines (and Malaysia speedbumps).
Considering the sort of speeds the Valhalla can travel at, stopping power also needs to be superior and high-performance Carbon Ceramic Matrix brakes (with brake-by-wire technology) are fitted. And to keep the car stuck to the road even in the most extreme cornering conditions are Michelin tyres (20 inches front, 21 inches rear) developed specifically for the Valhalla.
With a target dry weight of less than 1550 kgs, the Valhalla will have an unrivalled power-to-weight ratio compared to its class rivals. Weight of a different kind – that generated by aerodynamic downforce – also plays its part in Valhalla’s unmatched dynamic capabilities. Benefitting from a flow-down of the Valkyrie hypercar’s Formula 1-inspired aerodynamic philosophy, the Valhalla employs a combination of active aerodynamic surfaces – specifically the front surfaces and rear wing – and masterful management of underbody airflow through dramatic venturi tunnels.
LHD and RHD to be available
To maximize sales globally, Aston Martin will offer the supercar in lefthand and righthand drive layouts. It has more cockpit room that the Valkyrie with many Formula 1-inspired hallmarks. An innovative new Aston Martin HMI system features a central touchscreen display and incorporates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Adjustable pedals and steering column enable the seat bases to be fixed to the chassis structure.
“When we created the Valhalla concept, we were keen to emphasize the design legacy of the Aston Martin Valkyrie and that intent remains unchanged, but the execution has evolved considerably in order to reach production of this all-new car. Though the legacy of Valkyrie is clear, Valhalla is now a more mature, fully resolved piece of design. One which combines the pure aerodynamic function you would expect from a marque competing in Formula One, together with the beautiful form, striking proportions and exemplary detailing for which Aston Martin is renowned,” said the company’s Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman.
Aston Martin has not said how much or how many cars will be available although the number is likely to be more than limit of 150 units that the Valkyrie has. The sophistication of the supercar means production will be over a longer period and it is believed that first deliveries are likely to start in the fourth quarter of 2023.
First came the Aston Martin Valkyrie roadcar and now, two years later, the company presents an evolutionary model – the Valkyrie AMR Pro. Where the original concept was very much an exercise in squeezing as much performance from the road-legal Valkyrie platform, the Valkyrie AMR Pro is freed from race rule constraints, enabling it to have capabilities exceeding those of the machine designed to challenge for outright victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours.
‘Unprecedented potency and mind-blowing capabilities’
Continuing the technology partnership with Red Bull Advanced Technologies, the Valkyrie AMR Pro is a car said to be ‘of unprecedented potency and mind-blowing capabilities’. It uses a unique version of the Valkyrie chassis which is 380 mm longer in wheelbase and 96 mm wider in track at the front, 115 mm at the rear.
The Valkyrie AMR Pro also features an aggressive aerodynamic package which adds an additional 266 mm in length and, thanks to mastery of underbody and overwing airflow, generates extraordinary levels of downforce. Delivering significantly more downforce than the Valkyrie roadcar, the Valkyrie AMR Pro will achieve lateral acceleration of more than 3g.
V12 engine without hybrid set-up
The track-only Valkyrie AMR Pro gets a modified version of the Cosworth-built 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine. Revving to 11,000rpm, this engine is on-target to develop 1,000 bhp. Weight savings will come from deletion of the battery-electric hybrid system, plus a host of other weight saving measures, including ultra-lightweight carbonfibre bodywork, carbon suspension wishbones and Perspex windscreen and side windows.
Together with an aerodynamic efficiency that exceeds Le Mans Hypercar regulations, the Valkyrie AMR Pro promises track performance approaching that of a Formula 1 car. Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team drivers are involved in developing the dynamic set-up of the car.
Only in lefthand drive
The Valkyrie AMR Pro will be available only in lefthand drive, with the production run limited to 40 cars (plus 2 prototypes). First deliveries are scheduled to commence during the fourth quarter of 2021.
“The entire Aston Martin Valkyrie programme has been an extraordinary adventure in engineering. As an expression of the passion and expertise that can be found within Aston Martin and its closest technical partners, Valkyrie AMR Pro is a project beyond compare, a true ‘no rules’ track-only version. The Valkyrie AMR Pro is testament to Aston Martin’s commitment to pure performance and this performance DNA will be evident in our future product portfolio. Nothing else looks like it, nothing else sounds like it, and I am absolutely certain nothing else will drive like it!” declared Aston Martin CEO, Tobias Moers.
The 40 customers will receive the opportunity to attend a bespoke track day experience, hosted by Aston Martin at a selection of International FIA Circuits around the world. The experience will include track and pit lane access, support from the Aston Martin Valkyrie Instructor team, as well as FIA exclusive racewear and a VIP hosted dinner.
Track days will be open to all Aston Martin Valkyrie customers, along with a selection of Art of Living experiences, driving some of the most challenging and dynamic roads across the UK and Europe, The Americas and beyond.
Since 1996, the Official Safety and Medical cars have been supplied by Mercedes-AMG for each round of the Formula 1 World Championship. This year, a new era starts with cars from Aston Martin taking on the important roles (for a certain number of races), coinciding with the return of the British marque to Formula 1.
Aston Martin will supply the FIA with a Vantage for the Safety Car which was the Mercedes-AMG GT R in recent years. The Vantage Safety Car is specially equipped for the critical role of intervening and controlling the pace of an event involving the fastest racing cars in the world. It also has chassis and aerodynamic improvements for high-speed driving as well as a few additional modifications to make it FIA-compliant, like all racing cars in international motorsport.
Mercedes-AMG has been supplying the Official F1 Safety Car and Medical Car since 1996 (above and below),
The Safety Car will still be driven by Bernd Maylander (DE) who has been doing the duty for over 20 years. Th Aston Martin will remain on standby in the pit lane throughout the race and when deployed by Race Control in the event of bad weather or an accident, the former race driver, accompanied by co-driver Richard Darker, will speed to the head of the field to safely control the pace of the pack, neutralizing the event and allowing any incident to be managed safely by the circuit’s officials.
In the event that the racing cars must follow the Safety Car for a period of time, the speeds cannot be low as tyre temperatures can drop when they are running at sub-optimal speeds. These fast lap times are essential and the Safety Car must have the performance to maintain this.
When necessary, the F1 Safety Car is deployed during the race to lead the racing cars in convoy but the speed has to be fast enough for the F1 car so that their tyres do not cool down too much.
To have this capability, the Vantage provided has had its power has increased by 25 ps to 535 ps, delivered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with 685 Nm of peak torque. Interestingly, this is the same ‘heart’ as the previous Safety Car as the M177 engine is supplied by Mercedes-AMG to Aston Martin for some of its models.
The torque curve has been adjusted to allow for longer sustained maximum output. With additional work on the transmission means the driver has a better sense of directness, precision, and control through upshifts and downshifts.
The Vaned grille coupled with a new front splitter creates 155.6 kgs of downforce at 200 km/h – more than 60 kgs than the production model produces at the same speed. Modifications to the suspension, steering and dampers have also been undertaken, with further detailed underbody bracing modifications to increase front structural stiffness.
Having already developed a cooling system that proved effective in extreme conditions and temperatures on the multiple championship-winning Vantage GT4 racing car, Aston Martin engineers transferred this technology into the Safety Car, along with the addition of extra vents in the bonnet to support further cooling.
It runs on standard Pirelli road tyres (but with a lower profile) and has the same carbon-ceramic brakes found on the production Vantage, with additional brake ducts hidden within the front grille to aid cooling.
The F1 Safety Car has prominent FIA Safety Car livery and noticeable external equipment. There are bodyside mounted radio antennas, an LED rear number plate and a bespoke, roof-mounted LED light-bar, developed by Aston Martin.
The light-bar sits on a carbonfibre plinth, raised above the roofline. Bright orange lights on the outer edges of the light-bar illuminate when the Safety Car is in action. A centrally positioned amber flashing light then illuminates once it in position ahead of the race leader – indicating that no one should overtake.
Two centrally positioned green lights are illuminated once it is safe for the F1 cars to pass. The headlamps and taillamps also flash to aid the safe deployment of the car. The rear numberplate displays ‘SAFETY CAR’ illuminated by LEDs, making it clear to drivers in the cars behind in all weather conditions. A rear-facing camera is also fixed to the light-bar that feeds a live image into a second rearview mirror located inside the cabin, allowing the co-driver to monitor any activity at the rear.
In the cabin, the standard seats have been replaced by FIA-approved racing seats equipped with a 6-point safety harness, the same as those found in the F1 cars. Two screens are mounted on the dashboard, providing the driver and co-driver with a live television feed and a variety of customizable information displays, including live lap timing and the track positioning of all active racing cars.
The centre console has been modified significantly. The rotary dial has been moved back to where the cupholder was positioned and in its place sits a switch control system used to execute a number of actions, including activating the siren, radio communications and controlling the light-bar LEDs. The ‘Marshalling System’ is integrated into the instrument cluster and the dashboard, allowing both the driver and co-driver to see which colour flag is being shown on the track, by the illumination of the same coloured LED light. This is a similar system to that also used by regulation in all F1 team cars. TV cameras are also mounted on top of and inside the car, to provide live TV footage.
The Official F1 Medical Car is the Aston Martin DBX (above), the brand’s first SUV. The role of this vehicle is to speed to the scene of an accident to provide medical assistance as quickly as possible in the event of an emergency. This was demonstrated last year when Romain Grosjean had a horrifying crash and his car caught fire; the Medical Car arrived quickly and the crew was on the spot to provide immediate medical support before other medical personnel arrived.
Like the Safety Car, the Medical Car is finished with Lime Green accents as well as the prominent FIA medical car livery, along with the LED rear numberplate and roof-mounted LED light-bar which sits upon the roof rails. It also has the AMG-supplied V8 engine, also found in DB11 and Vantage, tuned to deliver 550 ps/700 Nm, clearly enough to allow the Medical Car to reach any spot on a track quickly.
There is a substantial amount of equipment including a large medical bag, a defibrillator, two fire extinguishers and a burn kit – all of which can fit into the 632 litres of boot space.
While the interior trim is similar to what customers get, the central rear seat has been removed, and the remaining four seats have been replaced with sport bucket seats, each equipped with a 6-point safety harness. These provide seating for the driver, Alan van der Merwe, and Dr. Ian Roberts – the FIA Formula 1 Medical Response Coordinator, as well as a Local Doctor, leaving one spare, in case an incident requires a racing driver to be driven back to the pit lane.
Much like the Safety Car, two screens have been mounted onto the dashboard to provide live race footage. An additional screen is used to read live biometric data delivered via technology in the drivers’ gloves, which in the event of an accident, provides critical information on their condition. The ‘Marshalling System’ and the rearview mirror camera display have also been installed into the Medical Car.
The Official F1 Safety and Medical Cars have similar colours as the Aston Martin AMR21 racing cars.
The development of the two cars was carried out by the engineering team at Aston Martin. There was endured significant testing, which included high-speed durability assessments and aggressive circuit driving at Aston Martin’s own facility, clocking almost 15,000 kms collectively. The cars have also been tested in a dyno climate chamber to ensure they will perform in all race conditions.
The two Aston Martins in action will be visible to the public for the first time during the 3-day pre-season test at Bahrain (March 12 – 14), and then again during the opening round of the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship at the same venue 2 weeks later. The Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2021 will be broadcast live on March 28 from 7 pm Bahrain time (midnight Malaysian time).
Aston Martin returns to Formula 1 this year with its own team and racing car – the AMR21. The new contender will be the first works Formula 1 car to carry the famous wings since Maurice Trintignant’s DBR5 crossed the finish line at Silverstone in 1960.
Officially known as the Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team, the team’s two drivers will be 4-time F1 World Champion, Sebastian Vettel, and rising star Lance Stroll (who happens to be the son of Aston Martin’s Executive Chairman).
Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll will drive for the team in 2021.
Not a fresh new team
The team also boasts a strong bloodline, building on the foundations of Team Silverstone which, in its various guises has won 5 GPs, and is coming off the back of a race-winning campaign as the Racing Point Formula One Team, having been revitalized under the leadership of Lawrence Stroll and Team Principal and CEO Otmar Szafnauer.
“I’ve dreamed about this day for a very long time. I’ve always been a car guy and I’ve always loved racing, too. My first dream was to own a Formula One team. My second dream was to acquire a significant shareholding in Aston Martin Lagonda. Today is about the merging of those two dreams. So, as I say, today is all about dreams, and it shows that dreams really can come true, in the shape of our new AMR21,” Aston Martin’s Executive Chairman said.
Mercedes-AMG engine
The new AMR21, powered by a turbocharged Mercedes-AMG F1 M12 E Performance engine with hybrid energy recovery, ran for the first time at Silverstone in England during a promotional event today. Next week, the team will begin a full test programme at Bahrain, where the opening round will also be held on March 28.
The AMR21 carries a striking Aston Martin Racing Green livery in recognition of Aston Martin’s traditional racing colours and glorious sporting legacy. It is also bedecked by a host of global partners, led by American IT giant Cognizant, while the chassis features a magenta stripe down the side in reference to the team’s longstanding partner BWT.
Showcase for the brand
The spotlight is also on an energizing shift within Aston Martin as the team is set to become the global showcase for the brand’s engineering and performance capabilities. A new 200,000 square-foot facility will complement the existing Aston Martin F1 factory at Silverstone when completed in the second half of 2022, and the team is well positioned to become an innovation lab to drive forward the brand’s future road car technologies. These will include the suite of mid-engined sportscars, inspired by the Aston Martin Valkyrie, which will become central to the product portfolio through the next decade.
“Today is a truly historic moment for Aston Martin, as we return to the pinnacle of motorsport for the first time in more than 60 years. The Aston Martin Cognizant Formula One Team will have far-reaching positive effects on the Aston Martin brand, our culture, and the design and technology of Aston Martin road cars. Our return to Formula One will positively and profoundly affect every employee and foremost our customer journey all over the world; and will help us bring a focused, agile Formula One way of thinking to the whole Aston Martin business,” said the CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda, Tobias Moers.
Apart from its greater involvement in Formula 1 this year with a team bearing its name, Aston Martin will also be no less active in international GT racing season. In fact, 2021 marks a new chapter in the history of Aston Martin Racing (AMR) as it engages the full weight of its world championship-winning experience and pedigree on its Vantage GT customer programmes.
Aston Martin aims to build on the 26 titles the car delivered in 2020, with an extensive and wide-ranging race programme that spans the full spectrum of the GT racing ecosystem. An ever-expanding number of partner Vantage GT3 and GT4 teams are poised to contest more than 20 major international series globally this season, and they do so with access to an unprecedented level of support from the factory.
A significant number of engineers and technicians responsible for winning the 2019/20 GT FIA World Endurance Manufacturers’ and Drivers’ championship titles have been deployed to assist key partners, including those participating in the Asian Le Mans Series in Dubai.
Strategic and engineering support hub
Moreover, in a time when the Covid-19 pandemic has necessarily restricted international travel, AMR has moved to minimise this disruption for its teams by creating a strategic and engineering support hub, operated in real-time out ofAston Martin Racing’s headquarters in England.
“We are still able to fully support our customers, wherever they are racing in the world,” said AMR Head of Performance, Gustavo Beteli, “as was the case in Daytona recently. In many of these cases, we are using the remote-support hub, where we are able to collect live data from the cars, timing and keep a direct link with the teams to be able to provide the best service and guidance possible.”
Works drivers available for teams
Partner teams will also be able to call on the use of an extensive and decorated list of works drivers to support their line-ups in 2021, if required. While the US endurance racing season may have already begun with the Rolex 24, the 2-round, 4-race Asian Le Mans Series provides another starting gun for the international calendar.
The opening double-header, at the Dubai Autodrome this weekend, features no less than 5 examples of the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 – a car which shares the same design principals and philosophy as the world championship-winning GTE and is in contention for its first Asian LMS title, thanks to several strong team and driver line-ups.
Aston Martin Racing has a long background of winning races and can offer its world championship-winning experience and pedigree to its Vantage GT customers.
David King, President of Aston Martin Racing, said: “The exceptionally strong Asian Le Mans Series entry is a clear message of intent from Aston Martin Racing and defines our objectives for 2021. This year is about our partners and their continued success, and through them we intend to demonstrate why Vantage is an excellent platform to build an international GT campaign on. From WEC and IMSA, through the full spectrum of international and domestic GT3 and GT4 series, we expect to see Aston Martins racing and winning. Our clear aim is to build on the excellent tally of 26 championships titles in 2020.”
To the younger generation, Aston Martin may seem like a newcomer to Formula 1, the brand was in the sport 60 years ago, entering the DBR4 and DBR5 in the 1959 and 1960 championship seasons. As it was not very successful, it focussed instead on sportscar racing which it was more successful in, with multiple class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
This year will see Aston Martin back in Formula 1 Grand Prix racing as its team will make its race debut on March 21 at the opening round in Melbourne, Australia. The racing cars will be revealed in February, but it is already known that the drivers will be 4-time Formula 1 World Champion, Sebastian Vettel and multiple Grand Prix podium finisher, Lance Stroll.
“Formula 1 is a hugely powerful platform that will play a key part in the overall Aston Martin strategy as we seek to take the company forward. It is a truly global sport with a huge audience that we believe can help reignite the brand and further increase its desirability all over the world. This is a brand that has already had huge success in top-level international motorsport such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans – and now we have an opportunity to write a new page in the history books. That’s a hugely exciting prospect for anyone who is a lover of the Aston Martin brand, for fans of Formula 1 and the sport itself,” said Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin Lagonda Executive Chairman and also the father of Lance.
Brand awareness
Aston Martin understands the power of Formula 1 when it comes to brand awareness. Much work has already been done and achieved via the company’s title sponsorship of Red Bull Racing in previous seasons, Now the brand will go up a notch as it joins the F1 elite as a manufacturer.
Though it has been 60 years since Aston Martin raced in F1, its Wings have been on Red Bull Racing’s cars in recent years as title sponsor.
Otmar Szafnauer, who is the CEO & Team Principal, said: “We’ve had almost a year of preparation to reach this point and we’re really looking forward to seeing the reaction when we finally unveil our new identity as the Aston Martin Formula One Team.”
“Representing such an iconic brand is a huge privilege for every member of the team. We’ve earned a well-deserved reputation for punching above our weight, so we’re confident we can do the Aston Martin name proud right from the get-go. It’s the start of a new journey and I can sense an extra energy in the team, with a determination to push performance further than ever before. Combined with some of the most creative minds in the business, a true racers’ mentality and the can-do spirit that has served us so well through the years, we have every reason to be excited about the future,” he said.
11 years separate the ages of the two drivers for the team – Sebastian Vettel (33) and Lance Stroll (22).
A team with a 29-year history
The Aston Martin Formula 1 Team may be a new name on the starting grid of the 2021 F1 World Championship but the team itself has a history that goes back to the days of the Jordan Racing team in 1991. The team went through various owners until the end of 2007, when Indian businessman Vijay Mallya bought it over. It was then renamed Force India, a name it would use in the championship for 10 years that followed, until 2018. However, during 2018, Mallya had financial problems which led to him having to let go of the team and it was acquired by Racing Point UK. This was a consortium led by Canadian businessman Lawrence Stroll and its ownership of the racing team gave it entry to F1.
In earlier years, before it was the Racing Point Team, it was known as Force India.The Aston Martin F1 Team is the new name for the BWT Racing Point Team which raced in the 2020 season, finishing fourth overall.
The team at first had SportPesa as a title sponsor in 2019 but then the East African company pulled out and in the following season, BWT (an Austrian company making water treatment systems) took over as title sponsor.
Stroll became Executive Chairman of Aston Martin Lagonda last year after leading a strong investment consortium to take a shareholding in the company. The consortium made a £182 million investment and gained a 16.7% stake. Stroll is a Canadian billionaire, is well known in the fashion industry, with shares in Tommy Hilfiger and Michael Kors. He is a car-lover with a collection of vintage Ferraris and has been involved in F1 via brand sponsorships for many years.
Aston Martin’s F1 racing years
The 1950s were an exciting time for Aston Martin. Company owner Sir David Brown, who had acquired the business in 1947 before adding the Lagonda brand later that same year, was steadily creating finely styled British sportscars of growing appeal.
Sir David recognised the importance of motorsport to the brand’s commercial success and, in 1955, made plans to develop and enter cars that would take on the best competition in both the World Sportscar Championship and the still relatively new Formula 1 World Championship.
The history books focus on the famous achievements of the Le Mans-winning DBR1, and the DB3S that preceded it, but the initial venture into single seaters, DP155, could be seen as a valuable learning exercise for the brand. As a precursor to the later 1950s Grand Prix cars and alongside this project, Sir David initiated work on a new engine, and a new road car design that would become the DB4.
From this was born the DBR4 and although testing began as early as 1957, it was not until 1959 that the car made its competition debut at the BRDC International Trophy event, run to Formula 1 rules, at Silverstone in May of that year.
Two cars competed and car No. 1, driven by 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Roy Salvadori, came in a creditable second behind Jack Brabham in a Cooper-Climax T51. Powered by a 2493cc, dry sump, 6-cylinder RB250 engine, from the same basic design as the DBR1 sportscar engine, the DBR4/250 was a 256 bhp spaceframe single-seater which weighed 575 kgs.
Despite being driven by some of the star names of the era, Salvadori and Carroll Shelby among them, the front-engined DBR4 was out of step with the new mid-engined competition and failed to mirror in Formula 1 what its DBR1 cousin famously achieved in the sportscar arena. After a disappointing debut for its successor, the DBR5, Aston Martin withdrew from single seater motorsport in 1960 and gave its full attention to sportscar racing.
R-Reforged, the 2-year old Swiss company, has created two models to celebrate Zagato’s centenary. They are referred to as the Aston Martin V12 Zagato Heritage TWINS by R-Reforged. Making their debut are the first pair of TWINS, which are prototypes specified by Andrea and Marella Zagato and reserved for the private Zagato collection.
Exclusively available as a pair in Coupe and Speedster form – each pair costing £1.75 million (about RM9.6 million) – just 19 customer sets will be built for sale. Each pair will be hand-assembled in the company’s factory in the UK. Each car takes a team of 12 craftspeople 16 weeks to assemble and will receive over 500 new components.
2011 Aston Martin Vantage Zagato Coupe
Styled at Zagato’s Milan headquarters, the iconic Italian design house has evolved the 2011 Aston Martin Vantage V12 Zagato Coupe form into a new, pure Speedster twin. Sharper, cleaner and highly collectible – thanks to their limited run and significance in Zagato’s history – both are now fully clothed in carbonfibre.
The design changes run from the nose, which incorporates a new splitter and front wings, through to the sleeker tail, now with active aero that transforms the cars’ balance but retains the defined Zagato lines.
The TWINS can be specified as matching or individual designs, and owners will be able to discuss with the car’s designers and engineers to personalise virtually every element.
“The essence of this project was to create a perfect ‘garage’, comprising two desirable and collectable cars; Coupe and Roadster,” said Andrea Zagato. “Limited to just 19 pairs, a significant number, recalling the year Zagato was formed, the Aston Martin V12 Zagato Heritage TWINS by R-Reforged mark a remarkable milestone for the Milanese atelier.”
“Despite having created over 450 models since our formation, we chose Aston Martin, which has surely been our most prestigious partner over the last 50 years, to mark this celebration. The cooperation with R-Reforged ensured that we could create an instant classic,” he added.
The partnership between Zagato and Aston Martin started in 1960 with the DB4 GT Zagato.
The 19 owners of this rare and special series, licenced by Aston Martin, will also experience the significant transformation to vehicle performance delivered through a series of meaningful engine and dynamic improvements.
The potent 5.9-litre V12 has been uprated to produce close to 600 bhp, which is 80 bhp more than standard. This is, in part, due to a performance aluminium air intake and titanium exhaust. The lean stance of the cars is enhanced by the 10 mm ride height reduction and 20 mm stretched track.
R-Reforged can also offer a full body ‘visual carbon’ finish as a further option. The 400-hour process requires extensive and careful preparation so as not to disturb the carbon weave. Then begins the application of a bespoke lacquer providing UV stability prior to tuning both the colour and density of the tint to any shade requested.
The superior quality of materials and attention to detail are evident in every facet of the car’s build with R-Reforged’s team ensuring that the cars truly worthy of marking Zagato’s centenary. Inside are sensory-rich materials with an almost infinite range of colours, bespoke patterns and textures.
A close look inside will reveal colour matching the horn button on the steering wheel, the first time in the Vantage’s history that has been done. Other examples include a sleeker, longer windscreen for the Speedster and retooling the entire carpet boot moulding, which required a significant investment, purely because the original material and form did not meet R-Reforged’s stringent standards.
Underlining that ownership is about more than just buying the cars: owners will also receive a series of special tailored gifts that starts with a TWINS carbonfibre presentation case, cataloguing specification details using scale models and samples. They will then continue to receive a stream of themed gifts, invitations and experiences throughout their ownership.
Aston Martin’s DBX, the first SUV from the British marque, has established a presence in many markets around the world, including Malaysia. While owning an Aston Martin is already something exclusive as the numbers sold are small, there may be some customers who want their Aston Martin to be more exclusive.
For those who require this extra degree of exclusvity, Aston Martin KL offers the Intrepid Aura. This adds a sportier flavour to the SUV with a highly liquid, reflective Yellow Tang body finish, or if your prefer, Ceramic Blue, Stratus White or Lime Essence.
The side window surround is finished in Gloss Black, the dark theme complemented by mirror caps in the same colour with smoked rear lights and black 22-inch sport satin alloy wheels. The Aston Martin Wings and wordmark also have a black chrome finish.
Handcrafted interior with Dark Satin Chrome
The luxurious yet functional cabin comes with a Dark Satin Chrome interior jewellery pack and Metallic Black Caithness Leather upholstery with embroidered Aston Martin Wings logos. The colour of the seat stitching is coordinated with the exterior colour – Electron Yellow, Blue, Chancellor Red or Lime Green.
Overhead is Black Alcantara headlining while Piano Black wood veneers are installed around the cabin, with the Obsidian Black Carpet in the footwells.
Abundance of technology
There is an abundance of technology for driver assistance as well as entertainment. A 10.25-inch TFT screen sits flush in the centre console while a huge 12.3-inch TFT screen provides a wealth of information to the driver while on the move. Apple CarPlay comes as standard, as does a 360-degree camera system and ambient lighting that offers 64 different colours in two zones.
Muscular powertrain
Power for the DBX comes from a muscular 4-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 engine, the same unit found in the DB11 and Vantage. This muscular engine delivers its 550 ps/700 Nm through a 9-speed automatic transmission. It is claimed to be able to reach a top speed of up to 291 km/h after sprinting past 100 km/h in a claimed 4.5 seconds.
As would be expected, the drivetrain is an all-wheel drive system, and it is not just for off-road use but also enhances performance on the road. It has active differentials at the centre and rear, the latter being an electronically limited slip differential. This allows the torque to be sent in the precise amount need fore and aft of the vehicle and also across the rear axle.
The SUV comes with adaptive triple volume air suspension, combined with the latest 48V electric anti-roll control system and electronic adaptive dampers. At the touch of a button, the ride height can go up by 45 mm or down by 50 mm, so the DBX can be adapted to a wide range of terrain. The system can be further programmed to aid with ingress, egress and loading requirements on a practical level.
The base price of an officially imported DBX is RM818,000.00 (excluding duties), while the Intrepid Aura version is available from RM958,000.00.
