DBS and DB9 replacement presented in Italy next week-end?

[mikey k]

No likey

[DB9 Ian P]

I'm still looking forward to seeing the 310 next Thursday - but nowhere near as much as I was.

I think the front spoiler is way over the top, wheels (well what can you say) and the colour I just do not understand. Why red which really hides the detailing at the rear of the car. If I could see it in a different colour with less bling wheels and front spoiler then my views may be different. I wonder if there will be an option to customise the car to remove all the bling and leave the purity of design. Now that would be a first!

Not sure if this is the car I will see at Gaydon or if it will be in a different colour. Of those who have been can they answer that?

Edited by DB9 Ian P on Saturday 26th May 10:44

[GlynV8]

Here are all the pictures I can find of the Magma Red Project AM 310 car:










You get a glimpse of the interior in a couple - looks to befluenced by that of the One-77.

[yeti]

I wonder what the world thought when we went from the DB6 to the original DBS? Probably about the same, all that classy flowing beauty lost... Now however the DBS is considered a handsome car. I think this one, in a better colour, without bling show wheels will be a handsome car. However, the picture a couple of pages back of the DBS Vs the 310. The DBS is probably better looking, but it looks ... old, like the more beautiful DB7 looked when shown with the DB9. The 310 is new and it looks it. Familiarity is key here!

Edited by yeti on Saturday 26th May 12:01

[Armen]

Calling it Vanquish would be a great mistake from Aston...

[yeti]

AdamV8V said:

Wise words, Yeti-San.
Current DBS owners, rejoice. You have the Vanquish of the next decade, I feel

They invariably are...

I am beginning to agree however that a manual DBS is a future classic. The DBS is hardly common, but with 1/10th originally and probably FAR less recently being specced as manual (as most went to dealer stock), it's a rare beast. How common are manual Volantes... 1 in 100 or less?

Suddenly the Ultimate Edition DBS, with manual transmission, is looking even more like a good buy. And BR can get you all the power of the new car...

[RichB]

yeti said:

Words like disgusting, revolting and so on really have no place here ... <clip>

I used the word disgusting with regard to the big black scoop on the front. It is my opinion that it is disgusting and one might well say "That Aston looks disgusting with that big black snow plough on the front." So the word is, in my opinion, entirely in context.

[Ice27]

RichB said:

used the word disgusting with regard to the big black scoop on the front. It is my opinion that it is disgusting and one might well say "That Aston looks disgusting with that big black snow plough on the front." So the word is, in my opinion, entirely in context.

I agree.
Apart from the hideous front splitter and disgusting wheels though, I think it looks fantastic!!

[KarlFranz]

What I would do to "improve" this car:

1- Change the front "salvador Dali" carbon splitter. That flip up in the center looks awkward. It appears as if they applied a heatgun to it and folded it up once it got warm enough. With people concerned about the replacement cost for the carbon splitter on the V8VS/V12V when it gets damaged, I wonder how much this huge piece would cost.

2 - Change the wheels or at least get rid of the "reverse video" black effect. Whoever has been in charge of the design of AM's wheels as of late should be sent back to refinement school for lack of taste. I refer you to the wheels on the V12 Zagato, DBS Carbon Black Edition and this new tacky wheel paint scheme for evidence.

3 - Add a second pair of vents on the hood a la DBS. The most powerful variants of each class should have this to distinguish them as the top dog.

4 - Fill-in the flow through rear spoiler design. Don't know how much it helps with aerodynamics, but it looks more befitting of a Jaguar than an Aston.

5 - Connect the rear lights across the top a la One-77. Move the AM badge down.

6 - Make the taillights clear as in the current cars. There is rarely a paint color on the new AMs that doesn't look better with the clear taillights.

7 - Show us the car in another color without the contrasting bits on the roof, mirrors, front splitter, wheels, etc and I might actually like the design. Of course, by then, everyone will say that the car isn't really "new" enough and looks like all the previous models. Hmm. So maybe I might be a good candidate for a Final Edition DBS.

[Slarti]

George H said:

Wow, I'm amazed but it seems even worse now I've seen it from the rear.

That spoiler

Did Aston Martin get a fking graduate to design this? It's awful.

With all due respect Georgey, I think that's a bit dramatic.

[Jockman]

Slarti said:

With all due respect Georgey, I think that's a bit dramatic.

Georgeous is a designer himself Slarti (Ann Summers I think) so he can get rather passionate about these things.

I'm not a great spoiler admirer tbh, but then again you could critique side strakes in a similar vein

[Jockman]

AMDBSNick said:

..some fine Chateau D'Angludet will be waiting for you. I may even bring you a bottle on the 14th

BTW - thank you for your offer Nick - Margaux is certainly up there with the better ones !!

I shall of course reciprocate, as I shall be for le Yeti aussi

[jonby]

Here's a video of it at Villa D'este - there are certainly some angles from which it looks great. Those wheels, or more to the point the paint job on them, just don't belong on an Aston Martin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbfrlOyYX6Y

[George H]

Jockman said:

Slarti said:

With all due respect Georgey, I think that's a bit dramatic.

Georgeous is a designer himself Slarti (Ann Summers I think) so he can get rather passionate about these things.

I'm not a great spoiler admirer tbh, but then again you could critique side strakes in a similar vein

I do critique the side strakes in the same vein! They look wk with that crease running down the door. That front splitter... Well what can I say? Utter ste. Not as bad as the wheels though, they are truly the worst piece of car design I have seen in a long time. They should have called this 'middle-east edition'.

And I know you just want to see me wearing stuff from Ann Summers Phil, but it's just not going to happen

[tonyhall38]

a bit disappointed really....was hoping all you dbs boys would be charging about getting the new version , and that i could pick up one of yours at a steal....it seems i will have to wait a lot longer now....

[KarlFranz]

I guess I should be happy that my least favorite feature is the hideous wheels (followed by the splitter), since that is a very easy thing to fix.

I just wonder if there is anyone inside or outside of Aston that truly likes those wheels.

[Rex Racer]

Having slept on it, the car doesn't look as bad to me as it did initially. I agree with the consensus on the splitter and the wheels. If they could remedy those mistakes, it would improve the appearance of the car significantly.

[XXXAngelXXX]

The car i have seen (AM310) at the Nürburgring test centre looked way better than the pics you guys show here

[Rex Racer]

How so? What was different about the car you saw Angel?

[yeti]

jonby said:

Here's a video of it at Villa D'este - there are certainly some angles from which it looks great. Those wheels, or more to the point the paint job on them, just don't belong on an Aston Martin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbfrlOyYX6Y

Interesting video, a couple of notes; It parked in a row of 4 cars, all in drmatic shades of metallic red - a certain segment or requirement of the show? And all four cars in a row had similar horrible, oversized painted wheels that you wouldn't see on a normal road car offered for sale. I think this car is the VH310 but as a design exercise done specifically for this show - which seems to have backfired slightly.

However, when we get the full reveal of the car that only the 'sniggering and winking clique' have had access to, hopefully we'll be pleasantly surprised!