Aston Martin has released the first images of a new Vantage Roadster, in engineering prototype form, ahead of an expected launch in the coming months. The hardtop coupé variant of Aston’s Porsche 911 rival has been on sale in its current form since 2018, following its unveiling at the 2017 Los Angeles motor show, spearheading the firm’s design reinvention as part of CEO Andy Palmer’s Second Century Plan. The prototype retains the low, wide stance of the standard model, with styling changes limited to the addition of a canvas folding soft top. The Vantage’s slim rear light bar and ducktail-style spoiler are retained, as are the model’s prominent front splitter and rear diffuser. With the unveiling of the new Vantage Roadster, Aston will offer a convertible variant of every model in its current line-up, except the four-door Rapide, which is now only on sale in performance-focused AMR form. It remains unclear whether the AMR variant of the Vantage, which features the only six-speed manual gearbox in the maker’s range, will be offered as a drop-top. No technical details of the new model have been revealed yet, but it’s expected to retain the same 503bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 as the coupé, albeit with a fractional performance sacrifice due to the extra weight of the folding roof and the required structural bracing. The company has confirmed the model will be available globally in spring next year. As with the DB11 Volante, it can be expected to command an approximate eight percent premium over the standard model, suggesting a starting price of around £130,500. The launch will follow the high-profile revealing of the limited-run DBS GT Zagato, which joins the authentically recreated DB4 GT Zagato in Aston’s ultra exclusive DBZ Centenary
Origin: New Aston Martin Vantage Roadster: first images released
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Trailer for new season of ‘Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee’ released
Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Season 11: Freshly BrewedNetflix Jerry Seinfelds car-based TV show Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee returns to Netflix this summer with an impressive list of comedians and cars, and were also assuming coffee.The show has come a long way since it first started out on Crackle; it now resides on Netflix, and has a much better budget. Were glad to see that the format, the cars and the people have remained high-quality, while the actual show production has improved steadily.While all of the guests Jerry chooses for the show are special, this particular season includes a guest that may be more famous than Seinfeld himself, Eddie Murphy.Also jumping into the passenger seat to grab a brew with Jerry are Seth Rogen, Ricky Gervais, Matthew Broderick, Jamie Foxx, Sebastian Maniscalco, Martin Short, Mario Joyner, Melissa Villaseor, Bridget Everett and Barry Marder.When we first saw the roster for the next season, we tried our best to guess what cars Jerry would have picked for his guest based on the pictures provided, and we have to say, we did pretty well. The only one that stumped us was Martin Shorts ride, which we now know to be a green-on-green Mercedes W123 Wagon. Classy, but how that ties in to Shorts personality, we shall have to wait and see.Other vehicles include a Porsche Carrera GT, Porsche 356, Volkswagen Thing, Nissan Figaro and more.The show will return to Netflix for its 11th season on July
Origin: Trailer for new season of ‘Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee’ released
New Vauxhall Corsa: full engine range details released
A GM-based Corsa was all but finished by that point and it could have been launched, but the ‘toolbox’ of newly available PSA technology, including access to BEV hardware, plus licensing costs that would have been payable to GM, meant starting again was “a no brainer”, according to Adams. “We hand-picked our most experienced designers and engineers,” said Adams. “This is not a committee car.” He added that Opel’s design and engineering team had learnt new methods on the way but that the company couldn’t work within such a timeframe with every new model. “You’d kill people with the intensity of the work,” he said. PSA sees Vauxhall and Opel as a good fit with its French brands, noting that their respective British and German heritage means they’ll achieve sales volumes in their home markets that Peugeot, Citroën and DS won’t be able to match. PSA CEO Carlos Tavares has overseen a surprising turnaround of fortunes in an extremely short space of time. Opel-Vauxhall returned a £750m profit last year, its first in two decades. That has come from a mix of cost reduction, extra buying power and a reduction in discounting rather than a notable sales increase. Both Adams and new Vauxhall CEO Steve Norman say Opel-Vauxhall has much more autonomy within the PSA Group than under GM, where it made products that sold not only in Europe but also, with Chevrolet, Holden or Buick badging, in other regions. “You can’t micromanage success”, says Adams, who added he was pleased to find that PSA CEO Carlos Tavares was “extremely focused on brand values”. That approach has allowed Opel-Vauxhall to deviate from other PSA brands and inject its own DNA into the Corsa’s design. Deliveries of the new Corsa start at the end of this year in internal combustion form, with the Corsa-e electric variant arriving a few weeks later. The new Corsa-e can be ordered from this week and will cost £26,490 including the government grant. QA with Steve Norman, Vauxhall CEO Is the Corsa representative what of we should now expect from Vauxhall? “It’s what the brand has needed for some years now, and this will be the precursor for the new Mokka, which will be much more radical still in terms of design.” Is it correct that the small platform means a pure-electric option, while large platforms can have a plug-in hybrid powertrain? “For the moment, yes. What’s interesting in the Corsa-e is that there won’t be an option with less than 136bhp. One of the things that concerns people is that Vauxhalls have become a bit staid, and we need to inject something back into it. This will be quite a fast car.” Do you think there’s a shift in how the business runs day to day? “I wasn’t there in the GM days but the people who work for me were – they think the change is total. They are given freedom to act, that’s the big difference.” “When Carlos Tavares entered into this, he was convinced Opel was undersold in Germany and that Vauxhall was undersold in the UK, and on that I think he was right.” Lawrence Allan and Matt
Origin: New Vauxhall Corsa: full engine range details released
Aston Martin Rapide E released at Shanghai
Aston Martin Rapide E released at Shanghai The Rapide E is the first Aston Martin to feature an electric powertrain Aston Martin has unveiled its first all-electric model – the Rapide E – at the Shanghai Motor Show, with production of the four-door saloon limited to 155 units. Fitted with twin electric motors, producing a combined 450 kW (612 hp) and 950 Nm of torque, the new Rapide E is set to be built at Aston Martin’s new St Athans facility in Wales, and has been developed in partnership with Williams Advanced Engineering – one of the world leaders in electric powertrains. A 65 kWh battery powers the two electric motors, which drive the rear wheels, with the battery pack sitting in the space where an engine, transmission, and fuel tank normally would. The range is quoted at ‘over 200 miles’ according to Aston Martin’s press release, and it looks likely that it will only be a little over that milestone considering the specifications. That figure is based on the WLTP tests though, which we’ve found to be fairly accurate and a realistic target figure for drivers. Considering the likes of Jaguar’s I-Pace and Audi e-tron have 90 kWh and 95 kWh batteries respectively, and ranges of a little under 300 miles and around 240 miles, the quoted 200 mile range does seem optimistic. However, the Rapide E is around 400 kg lighter than the e-tron and a similar weight to the I-Pace, so a range of around 215 miles would represent a fair calculation based on comparisons, and match Aston Martin’s claims. What is confirmed are the charging specifications. An 800V system will allow drivers to charge at high speeds, with rapid charging at 100 kW able to recharge the Rapide E in around 35-40 minutes. Aston Martin quotes 310 miles per minute, and also quotes a fast charging time of ‘as little as three hours’, from which we can work out that a 22 kW on-board AC charger will be fitted. Performance figures are typically Aston Martin, with a sub-4.0 second 0-60mph time, and 50-70mph completed in just 1.5 seconds. The Gaydon-based firm promises that the performance will be repeatable and delivered consistently – a little dig at Tesla’s Ludicrous mode – with the ability to drive a full lap of the Nurburgring with no reduced performance from the battery or motors. Aerodynamics for the ageing Rapide saloon have been tweaked and reduced drag by around 8%, with active flaps behind the grille, a smooth under floor, and new wheels helping achieve those claims. Speaking ahead of Rapide E’s Shanghai debut, Dr Andy Palmer, President and Group CEO, Aston Martin Lagonda, said: “Unveiling the Rapide E will be a huge moment for Aston Martin. As our first all-electric production car, it is a truly historic step. One that signals Aston Martin is prepared for the huge challenge of an environmentally responsible and sustainable future. “As a car company we cannot afford to passively allow that future to come to us; we have to actively chase it. Only by doing this can we learn and prepare, but also preserve those things we love as drivers and car enthusiasts. That’s why it was so important to me that in embracing EV technology we should not let go of those unique qualities that define an Aston Martin. I believe Rapide E embodies that desire and paves the way for a hugely exciting future.” Pricing is available on application, and order books for the Rapide E are open now.
Origin: Aston Martin Rapide E released at Shanghai
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