Tuesday 7th March 2017

Aston Martin - Geneva 2017

New track-inspired AMR models to rival GT Porsches and M cars; RB 001 also confirmed as the Valkyrie

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With rivals like Mercedes-AMG, Porsche, Ferrari and Lamborghini all making noise at Geneva, Aston Martin has made sure it's not about to get shouted down. Further details - and confirmation of the Valkyrie name - for the Adrian Newey developed hypercar came yesterday but the 'regular' range has some exciting news too.

GT3 and GT4 parts promised for Vantage...

Where Mercedes has AMG, BMW has M, Audi has RS and Porsche its GT range (including the new 911 GT3 also at the show) Aston Martin has confirmed a range of track-influenced models under the new AMR branding. That's as in Aston Martin Racing of course, AMR launching here at the show as sub-brand in its own right along with an additional range of AMR Line models - think BMW M Performance to full-blown M, albeit in an Aston Martin context.

Initially, the AMR and AMR Line treatment will be applied to the Vantage, Vanquish and Rapide. These are the three outgoing models that sit on the 'old' architecture, so numbers will be limited. After that, according to Aston, the sky's the limit. "The intention is to introduce AMR derivatives into every single line-up, where it makes sense", Simon Sproule, Director of Global Marketing and Communications, told PH. "We're now looking at if and how we would apply AMR badging to the DB11."

He says they haven't made any fast decision yet on that, but also intimates they would look at applying AMR to the forthcoming DBX crossover, which could be contentious. If too obvious to pass up, given Aston Martin's sporting credentials and the popularity of performance SUVs like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and Range Rover Sport SVR.

Like a Savile Row suit with trainers, apparently

Significantly, both AMR and AMR Line cars will have handling and power changes, as well as trim and design alterations; the difference will lie only in how extreme the changes are. AMR Line will be "a lighter touch" as opposed to the "full fat" version, according to Dave King, the man in charge of the Aston Martin Racing motorsport programme. That means small power uplifts and suspension packs but, King says, "We don't want it to be watered down to colour and trim and shiny wheels".

As for the full-fat version... Aston showed off the first example at Geneva, the Vantage AMR Pro. The car is a mixture of the wide-bodied design from the GT8 with the wider track, but with more developed aerodynamics and a new front end with a deep front grille. Under the skin it will be a mixture of GT4 and GT3 racing spec, including a spoiler directly from the WEC car, and only suitable for track. Aston has said however that it could be converted for road use, in a similar way to Lanzante with the P1 GTR. Seven AMR Pros are being made.

Although the show car is described as a concept, it will be pretty much the real deal for prospective customers. "We're working with Aston Martin Racing as well as the advanced operations team to develop the spec of the car", says King. "They'll build a special engine for it, so a 500hp V8 based on the production car. It'll have a stripped out but beautifully executed interior with carbon fibre and lightweight materials, and a leather trimmed roll cage - it won't look like a race car inside. A bit like a Vulcan but at a more affordable level. Something that you can see the value in.

Fortunately this remains in the Rapide

The AMR styling (never use that word in front of Marek Reichman, Aston's Chief Creative Officer - he's a very nice man, but he hates that word) reflects a lot of the race car details. "A big breathing mouth that is all wrapped up in a single graphic language, which is all about Stirling and lime green," he explains. This is the same colour scheme as the race cars' livery. Stirling Green? "The reason we chose Stirling green was, I originally thought, oh it's like a moss... Ah! Moss... but we can't say Moss Green, so I thought let's just call it Stirling Green."

That same colour scheme dominates the AMR Line cars too, of which the Rapide AMR Line will be the first. "Again, this has the same DNA", says Reichman. "It has the same gene string, it's got the extruded aluminium, but it's very elegant and so when you apply a direct racing aesthetic to something which is very elegant, it's always a little bit of a shock. It's always a little bit, 'That looks really cool'. It's like seeing an amazing Savile Row suit and someone wearing trainers with it; it's just not expected, and that's what our world is now. It's an exciting product."

Certainly distinctive!

Of course, Aston has sort of been here before - the Vantage was the original high-performance derivative, as an uprated engine fitted to various DBs, and there was a strong lobby 10 years ago not to call the Vantage the Vantage, for that very reason.

Still, it can do no harm for Aston to feed off its motorsport success with a little racing injection into the veins of the roadgoing cars. And vice versa - a portion of the profits from their AMR Line cars will be fed straight back into the race programme, to feed the machine that creates the brand image.

Aston Martin AMR video

[ZX10R NIN]

It's about time Aston needs this there's a market for a proper hardcore version of some of their line up, but they do have some catching up to do.

[MonteV]

I love Aston Martin but this deep grille treatment looks like they are trying out for the role of Mater in Cars. Goofy looking. The AMR racing paint scheme looks out of place on the four door Rapide. Neither working for me.

Edited by MonteV on Tuesday 7th March 16:36

[PhantomPH]

The Rapids in the shots looks stunning. I'd have one exactly like that in a heartbeat.

[langberg]

I don't want to nit-picking here, but the statement "Under the skin it will be a mixture of GT4 and GT3 racing spec but still road legal." for the Vantage seems at odds with the press release. There it says: "The Vantage AMR Pro is an extreme, track-only expression of performance and the ultimate iteration of the Vantage."

According to the "Vulcan-light" statement it sure seems to be non-road legal?

[Matt Bird]

langberg said:

I don't want to nit-picking here, but the statement "Under the skin it will be a mixture of GT4 and GT3 racing spec but still road legal." for the Vantage seems at odds with the press release. There it says: "The Vantage AMR Pro is an extreme, track-only expression of performance and the ultimate iteration of the Vantage."

According to the "Vulcan-light" statement it sure seems to be non-road legal?

Not nit-picking, that's correct! I think there were some differences between the pre-show info and then what's been released today. Will make some amendments.

Cheers!


Matt

[Jackspistonheadsaccount]

I don't get how the racing astons look so good but as soon as they make a race car inspired version they look a little childish, thinking GT8 and these pair. I'm all for quick lightweight astons, but please keep it to the vantage, don't go putting a rapide and anything to do with racing together. IMO aston are doing what they can to ruin their classy brand image