Inside Aston Martin

[Jaguar D-Type]

from autoweek.com 7-21-2004

Aston Martin will avoid electronic gadgets that insulate owners from the driving experience, says Henrik Fisker, chief designer for Aston Martin.

Electronics such as BMW's iDrive and an over-reliance on traction control systems have taken the joy out of driving, he told the Motor Press Guild here last month.

Fisker also blasted some automakers for using so much protective plastic and coatings on interior wood and leather "that you can't tell if it is real or fake."

Fisker said he is amazed people will pay top-dollar for high-end stainless steel fixtures in their kitchens but settle for cheap plastic knobs in their luxury cars.

"We don't want just injection-molded plastic with graphics and a chrome ring around it," Fisker said. "Anyone can do that for two dollars. Even Hyundai does it."

Instead, Aston Martin will use personal craftsmanship to assemble crucial interior elements, such as the seats. While that may mean more irregular stitching compared with a robot-assembled piece, Fisker compared it to a high-end handbag, for which people pay more for a handcrafted item.

As for the leather, Fisker wants to use more supple textures with less plastic protection. That means the seats will wear to the occupants' contours, like a good pair of shoes. But that also means, "If you spill ice cream on the seat, you can't wait two days to clean it off, because it will stain," Fisker said.

Similarly, Fisker said, "Our wood will age with the car, because real wood ages."

In examining the invasion of electronic gadgetry into luxury cars, Fisker said: "What do people expect from a car? We don't want to drive and send an e-mail at the same time. We need to focus on what enhances the driving experience. It should feel like an occasion. The car should drive perfectly without electronics."

Fisker added that Aston Martin would have electronic features where appropriate, such as backup warning sensors.

When asked why Aston Martins loaded with gadgetry are driven in James Bond movies, Fisker curtly replied, "We don't build cars for James Bond. He picks them and decides to put gadgets in them."

[Jaguar D-Type]

The following is from autoexpress.co.uk from last year

"There's been a shift in attitude at Aston Martin - the DB9 is to get an all-new manual gearbox. The move comes as a result of demand from traditionalist customers, who want this transmission instead of the sequential automatic with dash-mounted buttons.The conventional six-speed version will join the DB9 line-up towards the middle of next year, and is expected to cost around £3,000 less than the current model."

[Jaguar D-Type]

Read these three great articles about Aston Martin and Henrik Fisker. Fikser was Aston Martin's director of design from 2001 until December of last year. He styled the BMW Z8 while at BMW.

Aston Martin part one

Aston Martin part two

Aston Martin part three

[Jaguar D-Type]

Drawing on the experience and technology pioneered in the Vanquish, the DB9's frame is made entirely from aluminium. Die-cast, extruded and stamped aluminium components are bonded using immensely strong adhesives, supplemented by mechanical fixing using self-piercing rivets.

The frame is made in aluminium and the body panels are then fitted, again using adhesives, in the advanced body assembly area at Aston Martin's new Gaydon facility. This adhesive is applied by a robot - the only one at Aston Martin. Computer controlled hot-air curing ensures the highest standards of accuracy and repeatability.

- press release

Aston Martin got a new factory in 2003.

[Jaguar D-Type]

Dr. Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin's CEO (since July 2000), used to work for Porsche. Ulrich Bez directed the design, development and introduction of the classic 993.



check here for an interview with him.

Ulrich Bez

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Aston Martin announced in December 2003 that they would be returning to sports car racing and created a new division within Aston Martin known as Aston Martin Racing.

http://www.astonmartinracing.com/

[Jaguar D-Type]

Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda, said the automaker posted an operating profit in the first and second quarters. The profits are the first that Aston Martin has posted since the early 1960s, the company said.

Bez declined to give a figure here at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

[Jaguar D-Type]

"We have a simple rule when it comes to testing; if the customer could theoretically do it, then the car has to be capable of it. This criterion is met through laboratory analysis, and a mixture of road and track driving. In total, our cars now complete over one million kilometres of testing before they enter production.

Some of the laboratory-base rig tests could be described as sadistic. For example, the V12 engine fitted to the DB9 underwent four weeks of continuous running in a laboratory, during which time the engine speed fluctuated between maximum torque and maximum power. We spent £30,000 on fuel, but it proved to our satisfaction that the engine is durable.

"The prototype endurance testing is also a reflection of Aston Martin's rigorous quality standards. Cars destined for the Middle East must be capable of functioning in temperatures of up to 53° Celsius, but they must be capable of being started and driven away in temperatures as low as -30° C. That's why prototype versions of our cars can be found in such disparate places as Dubai and northern Finland.

"Often, because of the extreme conditions, the testing process is as much of a challenge for our drivers as it is for the cars."

- Dave King/DB9 Chief Programme Engineer

The Aston Martin Journal

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Aston Martin built just 43 cars in 1993.

[Jaguar D-Type]

Two Aston Martin DBRS9s for Speed World Challenge GT

Check these links

Aston Martin Racing

http://world-challenge.com/news/06press4.html

[dan carlson]

Dr. Ulrich Bez lead Aston Martins return to GT racing with the 600 hp DBR9 and the 550 hp DBRS9.