Thursday 26th May 2011

Meet The Mid-Engined Danish Aston

V12-powered mid-engined one-off from Denmark in the works

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Everybody might be talking about Aston Martin's new V12 Zagato concept (and rightly so), but a Danish coachbuilder called HBH is working on its own take on a V12 Vantage-based coupe.

Concrete details about the new car are few and far between, but it seems that the brains behind it - Jesper Hermann, Christian Brandt, and Torben Hartvig - are considering an entirely bespoke chassis. Which is a brave move, especially given the fact that it's expected to be a mid-engined effort

Word is that the car - which could end up looking a little like this - will be a one-off, along the lines of Michael Stoschek's 'New Stratos'.

And the price? We think the word 'lots' is likely to be appropriate here...

[BigMacca]

I'm probably the only one here, but looks very Noble M600 to me?

[parki11]

looks much nicer than an M600 in my view. still, if i was in the market for such a car it'd be the Vantage Zagato for me thankyou! (But i'm not so dont worry)

[ewenm]

So moving the engine and changing the chassis - how is this "based on" the Aston? Is it not just a very expensive way to get hold of the V12?

Anyway, since Marmitegate, all things Danish are bad

[rivercar1981]

I highlighted this last week when the 12 Zagato was out.
Reminds me of this, though nicer.......less sqaushed looking then this rendered concept.

[GTRene]

looks are good from this point, indeed I also saw a bit Noble in it but was more thinking of a M12 without spoiler.

[George H]

rivercar1981 said:

I highlighted this last week when the 12 Zagato was out.
Reminds me of this, though nicer.......less sqaushed looking then this rendered concept.

That is awful.

Aston's shouldn't be mid engined imo.

[rivercar1981]

I agree it is a hideous design that concept rendering.

This concept looks nice, but again not quite right!

We will see. Its hard to design a nice looking mid-engined Aston, the grille shape doesnt lend itself well to it IMHO.

Having said all that, I would love to see a mid-engined Aston! If they could get the design right.

Wasnt the early DB7 planned to be mid-engined until they nicked the F-type concept off Jag instead??

[PaulUK1985]

Hermann og Brandt (Hermann and Brandt) as they are known in Denmark have done a few designs on a number of cars, anyone remember the Zenvo? 1,000bhp Danish supercar?? - http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

My opinion, leave Astons well alone! The Zenvo was not a success and now they are messing with Aston styling???

Putting the engine in the middle is a nice idea tho!

[wackojacko]

Interesting

[James Dean]

Jesper Hermann and Christian Brandt are the guys behind this.



Torben Hartvig is the director of Kleemann, the tuner of Mercedes.

[Billwood]

Not the first mid-engined AM (not that the first one was a beauty...)

[rivercar1981]

yeah the Bulldog was interesting, some amazing tech (for the time) like the Lagonda v8.

Twin turbo V8 too, 700BHP was rumoured!

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

I think this Danish car should be banned.

[shirt]

Billwood said:

Not the first mid-engined AM (not that the first one was a beauty...)

beauty? no. but the bulldog is awesome.

as for this. what's the point in owning a one off based on a bespoke chassis. bad crash = no more car eve. at least with the stratos you can just make more panels and buy another f430.

[Denorth]

as I read somewhere they praised Bulldog and claimed that they try to make an awesome car with AM heritage and with the link to Bulldog.
Also - the owner would get a half of intellectual rights on the car to guarantee that it is one-off.

[RJDM3]

James Dean said:

Jesper Hermann and Christian Brandt are the guys behind this.



Torben Hartvig is the director of Kleemann, the tuner of Mercedes.

Got to love the Zenvo

Beautifully made hypercar

[SWoll]

RJDM3 said:

James Dean said:

Jesper Hermann and Christian Brandt are the guys behind this.



Torben Hartvig is the director of Kleemann, the tuner of Mercedes.

Got to love the Zenvo

Beautifully made hypercar

Ugly as sin though, and $1,000,000 for a car with a Chevy LS7 engine (turboed and supercharged), steel chassis and manual gearbox?

No suprise they are only making 15....

Oh, and Kleemans cars are bloody dreadful as well...Masses of bling, awful wheels and gullwing doors

Edited by SWoll on Thursday 26th May 15:45

[ellisd82]

GTRene said:

looks are good from this point, indeed I also saw a bit Noble in it but was more thinking of a M12 without spoiler.

Noble was the first thing I thought when I saw the pic, then I read the headline and was intrigued to read further, knowing it was not a Noble but something different.

[ATTAK Z]

Not for me thanks

[neal1980]

James Dean said:

Jesper Hermann and Christian Brandt are the guys behind this.



Torben Hartvig is the director of Kleemann, the tuner of Mercedes.

This is one of the most beautiful cars I have ever seen didnt even know what it was. I think the styling on this is perfect! Much better than any rival