The Aston Martin V12 Vantage has arrived and yes, you want one. Evolving the styling and engineering exercise Aston unveiled in 2007 and set for a Geneva Motor Show debut, the blokes Gaydon claim the V12 Vantage is the most driver-focused sports car the automaker has ever produced.
Power is provided by a 6.0-liter V12 putting out 510 hp at 6,500 rpm and 420 lb.-ft. of torque at 5,750 rpm. The Vantage’s new-found grunt is sent through a carbon fiber driveshaft to a rear-mounted six-speed manual gearbox. The transmission benefits from an oil cooler and a new rear diffuser helps cool the standard limited slip differential. Aston claims a 0-60 time of 4.1 seconds and top speed of 190 mph…Â More Info…
Chris Bangle, who as head of design for BMW became one of the most famous — and reviled — auto designers in automotive history, has abruptly resigned after 16 years with the German automaker. Few will mourn his departure. Fewer still will deny his impact on auto design. The 52-year-old American was so widely… More Info…
FORMULA One teams BMW, Toyota, and Ferrari are all set for testing in Bahrain next week.
Both BMW and Toyota confirmed with the GDN last night that their Grand Prix drivers will be in the cockpit of their 2009 cars at the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC). Officials at world champions Ferrari could not be reached.
The tests at Sakhir will be held over eight days, divided into two sessions. The first will be between February 10 and 13, followed by the concluding session between the 16th and 19th. BMW stars Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld will be joined by reserve driver Christian Klien in Bahrain. More info…
The Canadian Rally Championship is set to start this weekend on the snowy roads of the Rallye Perce Neige Maniwaki, presented by Subaru and supported by Yokohama and takes place in Maniwaki, Que., north of Ottawa. The event has run for over 40 years and has been on the national calendar for close to 35 years.
Canadian Rally Champions Patrick Richard of Squamish, B.C. and co-driver Alan Ockwell from Toronto finished third at Rallye Perce Neige last year in the debut event for the Subaru Rally Team Canada.
“This year we have a developed car, a year of working as a team and…Â More infoÂ