Automotive

Aston Martin recycles old engines into new special edition supercars

Aston Martin recycles old engines into new special edition supercars
The special editions are powered by the standard Vanquish 6.0-liter V12
The special editions are powered by the standard Vanquish 6.0-liter V12
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The first of six Works 60th Anniversary models was revealed last week
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The first of six Works 60th Anniversary models was revealed last week
The special edition convertible has a black leather interior
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The special edition convertible has a black leather interior
Heavy weave carbon fiber and yellow contrast stitching
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Heavy weave carbon fiber and yellow contrast stitching
The dials in the center console are crafted from metal that used to be part of working Aston Martin engines
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The dials in the center console are crafted from metal that used to be part of working Aston Martin engines
The recycled metal is etched with anniversary wording
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The recycled metal is etched with anniversary wording
The recycled metal is etched with anniversary wording
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The recycled metal is etched with anniversary wording
The yellow stitching ties into the yellow accents on the exterior
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The yellow stitching ties into the yellow accents on the exterior
Aston Martin's team designed a special logo for Works' 60th anniversary
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Aston Martin's team designed a special logo for Works' 60th anniversary
Aston Martin's team designed a special logo for Works' 60th anniversary
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Aston Martin's team designed a special logo for Works' 60th anniversary
The wheels feature "Anniversary Yellow" coloring
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The wheels feature "Anniversary Yellow" coloring
The wheel spokes provide contrast between bare metal and bright yellow
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The wheel spokes provide contrast between bare metal and bright yellow
The Aston Martin design team created the anniversary cars with help from the Q personalization program
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The Aston Martin design team created the anniversary cars with help from the Q personalization program
The first 60th anniversary car is a Vanquish Volante painted in Stratus White
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The first 60th anniversary car is a Vanquish Volante painted in Stratus White
Aston Martin celebrates 60 years of Aston Martin Works
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Aston Martin celebrates 60 years of Aston Martin Works
The special editions are powered by the standard Vanquish 6.0-liter V12
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The special editions are powered by the standard Vanquish 6.0-liter V12
The Vanquish Volante sprints from 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds
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The Vanquish Volante sprints from 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds
Vanquish Volante Works 60th Anniversary close-up
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Vanquish Volante Works 60th Anniversary close-up
Vanquish Volante Works 60th Anniversary close-up
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Vanquish Volante Works 60th Anniversary close-up
The yellow side strakes are one of the identifying features of the new anniversary editions
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The yellow side strakes are one of the identifying features of the new anniversary editions
View gallery - 19 images

Like its competitors in the premium car segment, Aston Martin is always looking for ways to make its customers feel more special in their high-end performance cars. Pursuit of that goal leads to regular special editions like the Vantage N430 and DB9 Carbon Black revealed at this year's Geneva Motor Show. Its latest special edition release goes beyond the usual custom equipment, aesthetics and trim, with each of the six individual Works 60th Anniversary models featuring metal recycled from the engine of a heritage Aston Martin.

Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire served as Aston's base of production between 1955 and 2007, sending 15,000 hand-built cars out onto roads during its run. In 2007, Aston moved production to Gaydon, leaving Aston Martin Works to serve as the brand's global heritage service and restoration facility.

As we saw with its centennial last year, Aston Martin likes to celebrate birthdays, and it's not missing the opportunity to throw a bash for Works' 60th anniversary year of 2015. To kick off the planned year-long celebration, Aston Martin revealed the first of six Works Anniversary models at its customer Christmas party last Friday. Each car will be a bespoke creation brought to life by Aston Martin's design team and its Q personalization arm.

The recycled metal is etched with anniversary wording
The recycled metal is etched with anniversary wording

Extending beyond the usual custom paint and interior, obligatory elements in any custom sports car, Aston is equipping each of the new special edition vehicles with center-console dials made from special recycled metal. Each car's metal can be traced back to the piston of a rebuilt or reworked Aston Martin engine from a specific car built during one of the six decades of Aston Martin Works' production history.

Piston metal from the DB 2/4 Mk II, the first model built at the Aston Martin Works site, represents the 1955-1965 era, that from the DB5 stands in for 1965-1975, the V8 Coupe for 1975-1985, the V8 Vantage X-pack for 1985-1995, the V8 Vantage supercharged for 1995-2005, and the first-generation Vanquish for 2005-2015. The rotaries are laser etched with Works Anniversary wording.

The exterior look of the cars also ties into Works' history. "The colors of these six unique cars have been very carefully chosen to reflect and celebrate the progress of Aston Martin Works over those six decades," explains Dr. Matthew Bennett, general manager of VIP and Q by Aston Martin sales.

Each special edition is built on the current-generation Vanquish, either Coupe or Volante, and powered by the car's stock 568-bhp 6.0-liter V12 engine with Touchtronic III eight-speed automatic transmission. Like the regular Vanquish, the limited edition anniversary models promise speeds of over 200 mph (322 km/h) and acceleration as quick as 0-60 mph (96.5 km/h) in 3.6 seconds. Each car will enjoy its own exterior color and features like Anniversary Yellow wheel and side strake accenting, white and black Duotone seat panels, side sill plaques identifying the era the car relates to, and Works Anniversary badging.

Aston Martin's team designed a special logo for Works' 60th anniversary
Aston Martin's team designed a special logo for Works' 60th anniversary

The special edition revealed last week uses repurposed piston metal from the first-gen Vanquish (2005-2015 era) in its center stack. The Stratus White exterior paint of the Volante convertible offers a canvas on which the bright yellow wheels and strakes really pop. The interior is dressed in black leather with contrast yellow stitching and Aston Martin Works 60th anniversary logos.

Aston Martin declined to release pricing information, saying prices "for the six cars are available on application at Aston Martin Works." You can ask, but it seems extremely unlikely Santa will be parking one of these in your driveway this year.

Source: Aston Martin

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