Harrods of Knightsbridge and Aston Martin, the best of both in one window display.

Shoppers in London’s Knightsbridge are to be treated to the sight of a very special Aston Martin window display consisting of a DB11, V12 Vantage S and Vanquish S in iconic British store, Harrods.

The three stunning Aston Martin sports cars will take over the storefront of the world’s most famous luxury department store in a month-long celebration of the British Heritage of Aston Martin.

The DB11, the first product launched under the company’s ‘Second Century’ plan, is the bold new figurehead of the illustrious ‘DB’ bloodline and an authentic, dynamic sporting GT in the finest Aston Martin tradition.

Also on display, the Aston Martin V12 Vantage S, the aggressively styled V12 Vantage is an unprecedented engineering achievement. Combining a V12 engine with the luxury marques lightest sports-car in a package of pure aggression, creating Aston Martins most visceral driving experience.

The brand new Vanquish S, the ultimate Super GT completes the display. With sharper styling, greater potency and increased athleticism defining this latest evolution of the renowned Vanquish model line.

Finished in red, white and blue paint finishes from the exquisite Aston Martin paint pallet, celebrates the British theme with the sports cars incorporating the colours of the renowned Union Jack.

Aston Martin Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman said: “Harrods is one of the world’s most trusted luxury brands and we are delighted to join forces with them to create this unique display.”

Specialists from Aston Martin headquarters will be available throughout the exhibition, providing visitors with an opportunity to discover more about the Aston Martin product range. Both the window display and exhibition area will remain in place until 25^th March 2017.

GENEVA - Aston Martin will have three debuts at this years Geneva Extravaganza.

• Global motor show debut of Vanquish S
• European show debut of AM-RB 001 hypercar
• Q by Aston Martin personalisation service now available for DB11
• Q by Aston Martin now provides multi-tiered offering

Aston Martin marks the 87th Geneva international Motor Show with a significant trio of major debuts.

In addition to being the global motor show debut of the acclaimed new Vanquish S – the most powerful and dynamic iteration of Aston Martin's Super GT – the British luxury brand is  also proud to announce the European show debut of the AM-RB 001. 

This ongoing collaboration between Aston Martin and Red Bull Advanced Technologies, the AM-RB 001 is a thrilling demonstration of technological innovation and design sophistication, resulting in a truly contemporary hypercar.

Finally, Aston Martin will be showcasing the marque’s enhanced Q by Aston Martin bespoke service with the unveiling of ‘Q by Aston Martin – Collection’ at Geneva. Aston Martin is pleased to announce a new era of tailor-made sports cars with the expansion of its personalisation service. 

Q by Aston Martin has evolved into a multi-tiered offering, giving customers almost limitless opportunities to create their own unique Aston Martin through enhanced levels of design and customer interaction.

Q by Aston Martin has grown substantially since it was established in 2012. 'We set strong foundations for the service and we've had continued success,' says Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s Chief Creative Officer, 'now we have the opportunity to work with our customers and take personalisation to a different level.'

Q by Aston Martin - Collection

The Q by Aston Martin - Collection brings an array of distinctive design touches to your Aston Martin. This selection of exclusive trim and enhancements can be added to your Aston Martin at the point of specification and installed and hand-finished at the luxury marque’s Gaydon headquarters. 

Going above and beyond the standard options list, Collection includes exclusive paint and upholstery colours, material finishes and craft elements. These range from a unique leather quilt upholstery pattern to tinted wheel finishes that incorporate body-coloured blades to the diamond turned spokes, as well as the use of new wood and leather interior elements.

DB11 Q by Aston Martin

The range and breadth of the new Q by Aston Martin - Collection is demonstrated by the exclusive DB11 showcased at the upcoming 2017 Geneva Motor Show. DB11   Q by Aston Martin is finished with exclusive Zaffre Blue paint, paired with gloss, satin twill and forged carbon fibre details including - front splitter, side sills, rear diffuser side strakes, bonnet strakes and door mirrors. 

Inside, the upper and lower cabin environments are cloaked in swathes of Obsidian Black Semi-Aniline leather, with the Q by Aston Martin Logo embossed on the headrest. While carbon fibre wheel centres and engine cover add subtle touches. The colour matched four-piece luggage set is also available through Collection.

Q by Aston Martin - Commission

The second stage of Aston Martin's enhanced offering is ‘Q by Aston Martin – Commission’, a step into the world of the truly bespoke, individual sports car. Commission is exactly that, a process that starts with a conversation and ends with a car, a journey that involves a personal collaboration with Aston Martin's design team. 

'It's a commissioning process,' says Dr Matthew Bennett, General Manager for the Q by Aston Martin service 'the customer is working much more closely with us here at Gaydon. The only limit is your imagination – every new commission starts with a blank sheet of paper.' 

Aston Martin's global dealership network is also working closely with Commission to create ultra-limited run series with features and design elements that are distinct to their regions and customers. 

Q by Aston Martin - Commission can also go further. The ultimate commission is, of course, an entirely unique car. Aston Martin has a long and storied history of building individual cars, working alongside true enthusiasts who wish to see their vision translated into something never seen before. 

Q by Aston Martin is perfectly placed to realise these dreams. 'You're talking about the fundamentals of how a car comes together,' Dr Bennett says, 'there is as much reward in the interaction with Aston Martin as there is in the final car. It is a journey.'

Marek Reichman describes Commission as 'fulfilling a creative need – we're experts providing a consultation, like a Savile Row tailor or a yacht builder.' The collaboration with Q by Aston Martin can begin at the company’s headquarters, your dealership or at Aston Martin's dedicated brand centre, No. 8 Dover Street, where the Q by Aston Martin options will be on display. 'In terms of material choices we now have so much,' says Reichman, 'we now have materials that show patina as customers want that sense of age and history. For us, that's beautiful.'

Examples of previous commissions by Q by Aston Martin include the CC-100 Speedster Concept created for the company’s centenary in 2013 and the Vantage GT12 Roadster, a one-off open-top version of the extreme 600PS race-bred Vantage GT12 Coupe. Only Q by Aston Martin - Commission has the experience, expertise and skill to translate such innovative forms into beautiful reality.

'The Vantage GT12 Roadster was a hugely exciting project,' says Aston Martin's President and CEO Dr Andy Palmer, 'it was a vivid demonstration of Q by Aston Martin’s capabilities. We have a truly formidable creative team, from engineering to design. With Commission our customers have the potential to create some of the most iconic and legendary Aston Martins of the future.'

An Aston Martin should be a reflection of the things you hold closest to your heart. Customisation and innovation come together through Q by Aston Martin, providing the opportunity to create a truly tailor-made automobile.

The 2nd Generation Aston Martin Vanquish S, just gets better and better, and is now the ultimate in sporting beauty.

• Power of naturally-aspirated 6.0 litre V12 engine increased to 600PS  
• Suspension set-up honed to deliver greater poise and precision
• Exterior features new exposed carbon fibre splitter and diffuser, plus striking new quad exhaust outlets

Aston Martin has turned up the heat on it’s ultimate Super GT to create the new Vanquish S. Sharper styling, greater potency and increased athleticism define this latest evolution of an illustrious model line. 

One that originated from Aston Martin’s legendary Works in Newport Pagnell and has proudly served as standard bearer for the marque’s sporting and stylistic values since 2001.

In this, the second generation Vanquish’s evolution to S specification, careful attention has been paid to the engine, chassis and aerodynamics to create a machine honed to deliver more intense thrills and even more scintillating performance.

Central to this is the naturally-aspirated 6.0 litre V12 engine, which now produces up to 600PS (up from 573PS) and enjoys sensational throttle response, thanks to a revised, freer-breathing intake system. These larger volume inlet manifolds allow a greater volume of air to flow into the engine at high revs, creating a relentless power delivery and a stronger feel all the way to the redline.

Building on this increased intensity, the calibration of the 8-speed Touchtronic III transmission has been revised to deliver faster gearshifts and greater refinement at low speeds for a greater sense of precision and immediacy.

Likewise, the suspension, damper internals, spring rates and anti-roll bar bushes have also been re-tuned to give the Vanquish S a keener edge in the more sporting suspension modes, without compromising its ability to deliver supple ride quality on demand.

Visually the Vanquish S can be readily distinguished by a new aerodynamic package. Fashioned from exposed carbon fibre, this revised front splitter and rear diffuser combine to deliver a meaningful reduction in frontal lift with a minimal penalty in additional drag. Combined with visually striking new quad exhaust outlets the Vanquish S has more aggressive appearance, entirely fitting for Aston Martin’s most overtly sporting GT production model.

This look can be further enhanced with a range of new options. These include carbon fibre bonnet louvres, new forged 5-spoke diamond turned wheels and a choice of striking painted graphics packs. A new Vanquish S badge sits proudly on the tailgate as the perfect piece of jewellery.

Inside, the Vanquish S can be further personalised with a choice of spectacular new ‘Filograph’ quilted leather and the use of new materials and finishes, such as the Satin Chopped Carbon Fibre fascia panel. Sumptuous Bridge of Weir Caithness leather offers an added touch of luxury and tactility, while Vanquish S embroidery on the headrests provides a crafted finishing detail.

Dr. Andy Palmer, Aston Martin President & CEO said: “From the moment the original Vanquish was launched it became a modern icon. It propelled Aston Martin from an era of hand-built cars to one where craftsmanship and technology combined to create a new kind of great British GT.

“In its second generation the Vanquish maintained that momentum with huge engineering advances such as its all-carbon fibre bodywork and compelling, contemporary styling. Now, the Vanquish S takes things a step further, confidently asserting itself within the Aston Martin range and distinguishing itself from the new DB11. A spectacular machine in every sense, the Vanquish S is a magnificent addition to our range.”   

Vanquish S is available in both Coupe and Volante and recommended retail price starts from £199,950 in the UK, €262,950 in Germany and $294,950 in the US. Deliveries will commence in December 2016.

Aston wins big is Switzerland, as Auto Illustrierte readers vote for Aston Martin in ‘Best Cars of 2015'

• Auto Illustrierte readers vote for Aston Martin in ‘Best Cars of 2015’
• RapideS wins magazine’s Luxury Class for the sixth time in a row
• Podium places for both Vanquish and Vanquish Volante

Aston Martin has once again confirmed its position as the most popular luxury car brand in Switzerland.

The British sports car maker is celebrating a key class win, as well as podium places, for a number of its models in the influential “Best Cars of 2015” awards run by respected automotive magazine Auto Illustrierte.

In the 2015 awards, presented on Thursday evening in Zurich and decided entirely via magazine readers’ votes, the Aston Martin Rapide S was recognised for the sixth year running as the clear winner in the Luxury Class category.

Meanwhile the Vanquish super GT continues its series of international award successes with a strong second spot in the Sports Car class. Similarly, the convertible Vanquish Volante, launched in the autumn of 2013, took a creditable second spot in the Convertibles category.

Dr Andy Palmer, CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda, said: “The fact that the Rapide S has been on the top of the podium every year since its introduction clearly shows how popular, and desirable, our stunning four-door, four-seat, sports car is.”

Aston Martin is represented in Switzerland by five dealerships in Cadenazzo, Geneva, Safenwil, St. Gallen and Zurich.

The Auto Illustrierte awards were held for the 21^st time in 2015, and saw readers pick their favourite cars from a selection of 386 models in 11 categories.

US demand makes NISMO branded Nissans hit sales targets

Sales of the JUKE NISMO topped 3,700 units in Europe, Japan and the U.S. between launch in January and the end of July. Based on Nissan’s innovative crossover, the JUKE NISMO is a global model and was the first of a new sporty line up of cars aimed at bringing excitement to customers.

Following in the footsteps of the JUKE NISMO, the Z NISMO was newly introduced into European market. It had earlier been marketed as the Fairlady Z Version NISMO in Japan and 370Z NISMO in the U.S. The Z NISMO is now accounting for 15 to 30 percent of Nissan Z model sales depending on market.

The March NISMO is the third model in the NISMO lineup. Announced in June, the first vehicle deliveries are scheduled for December. Many orders have already been received from customers.

"We are delighted to see that our NISMO models are well perceived by the markets," said show Shoichi Miyatani, NISMO Business Office head of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd and President of Nissan Motorsports International Co., Ltd. "We are encouraged to introduce further models into the markets, which will surely provide additional thrills and excitement to customer’s lives."

Nissan is promising a rapid pace of introduction of even more NISMO models, at least one model every year during the Nissan Power88 period, encompassing the breadth of the Nissan road car range. This will include the flagship of Nissan's performance and technology, the GT-R. Development of the GT-R NISMO is on track in Japan with the car expected to go on sale in 2014.

"The Nissan GT-R NISMO is the GT-R with which we pursue pure performance," says Hiroshi Tamura, Nissan GT-R and NISMO Chief Product Specialist. "It is for people who search for true performance with pure motorsports flavor. Its development is on schedule, and I can’t wait to see the model introduced into the markets."

NISMO: Our hearts are racing

NISMO is expanding its activities to become a major road-going production vehicle brand bringing innovation and excitement to the Nissan range, but its origins and passion lie in motorsports, and particularly the highly competitive disciplines of endurance and touring-car racing.

NISMO competes at the highest levels of GT and sports car racing including the World Endurance Championship. In Japan NISMO is this season chasing an unprecedented third successive SUPER GT championship.
NISMO is also dominant in engine manufacturing. At Le Mans in 2013, a staggering 15 out of 22 LM P2 cars were powered by the NISMO-tuned Nissan VK45DE V8 engine, including the top five finishers. At next year’s Le Mans, NISMO will race the NISMO ZEOD RC (Zero Emission On Demand Race Car) out of the famous Garage 56.

Nissan and NISMO innovate not only in racing cars, but also racing drivers. Through GT Academy Nissan has turned virtual-reality-gamers into real-life-racers.

Recent major NISMO racing accomplishments:

• In 2012, NISMO developed the Nissan GT-R racecars that won the driver’s and team titles in SUPER GT
• Nissan engine-powered LMP2 cars dominated the Top 5 in its class at the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans
• Nissan GT-R NISMOGT3, competing in the 2013 Blancpain Endurance Series Pro-Am Championship, scored an overall win at Silverstone and a well-earned 3rd-place finish with all gamer lineup from the famous Nissan GT Academy at Spa-Francorchamps.

About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.InfinitiUSA.com, or visit the Americas media sites NissanNews.com and InfinitiNews.com.

About Nissan
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 236,000 employees globally, Nissan sold more than 4.9 million vehicles and generated revenue of 9.6 trillion yen (USD 116.16 billion) in fiscal 2012. Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of over 60 models under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. In 2010, Nissan introduced the Nissan LEAF, and continues to lead in zero-emission mobility. The LEAF, the first mass-market, pure-electric vehicle launched globally, is now the best-selling EV in history.