For the folks at Aston Martin, it’s apparently not enough to make some of the finest sports cars on the planet. With the recently unveiled Carbon Black Special Editions of the DBS and V12 Vantage models, Aston Martin can now claim to make some of the most exclusive cars on the road as well.

Although primarily a stylistic makeover, the Carbon Black treatment results in an understated but still absolutely stunning automobile. From the rich bespoke metallic black paint, which reportedly takes over 50 hours to apply, to the 10 spoke alloy wheels with diamond turned and gloss black finish, the stealthy look exudes power and sophistication.

We recently had the opportunity to spend a little time with a DBS Carbon Black that is touring the country and after seeing the car in person, we can honestly say that photos don’t fully capture the exquisite design and sheer beauty of this automobile. Take a closer look at the rich, deep paint and the gorgeous wheels, and you start to understand why someone would drop some serious coin to own one of these.

The interior builds on the Carbon Black theme, featuring Obsidian Black leather upholstery highlighted with a contrast silver coarse stitch and an Obsidian Black Alcantara headliner. Although maybe not the perfect vehicle for a hot summer day, the craftmanship is exceptional and the seats are even made from carbon fiber and kevlar, saving close to 40 lbs over the standard setup. Aston Martin has also made sure to cater to discerning ears by including the 1000 Watt Bang and Olufsen Beosound DBS audio system with retracting tweeters. The sound, suffice it to say, is as stunning as the rest of the car.

Any remaining doubt we had about the desire to own this car was quickly dispelled during a brief test drive through scenic Marin County. Despite remaining essentially unchanged since 2007, the DBS still offers one of the most rewarding driving experiences available today. From the glorious exhaust tone of the 510 hp V12, to the effortlessly precise handling, to the advanced adaptive dampers and carbon ceramic brake system, this is one of the few supercars that can be driven comfortably on a daily basis while also offering world class performance.

Although every Aston Martin features breathtaking style, blistering performance, and the exclusivity that comes with a six-figure price tag, there will always be a few customers who clamor for something even more refined, more exclusive, and more unique. For such individuals, the Carbon Black Special Edition cars, which will be available in very limited quantities, should provide the perfect automotive indulgence.

Editor’s note: The British sports-car maker confirmed on Friday that the V12 Vantage – packing 510 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque – will be sold in North and South America.

This is a reversal from a year ago, when Aston tantalizingly showed off the car and promptly said it wasn’t coming here. Now the company says that it has no choice but to respond to the huge demand from enthusiasts to bring the car to the Americas.

Despite 2008′s desperate measures to help auto manufacturers hold on to business as usual, 2009 brought only radical change leaving many old business practices and brands behind.

We have been spectators in this year of turmoil and watched the industry struggle to reinvent itself.  Two of The Big Three went bankrupt; one emerged with a global partner, the other became lean and focused.  Diesels are now faster than their gasoline counterparts. Nine out of ten EPA mpg champs are hybrids. VW bought Porsche while Porsche was buying VW.  Overall sales were millions of units short of expectations. Manufacturers now pin their hopes on the Chinese market, while Americans pray that the Volt is half as good as it needs to be. Somehow, during all of this turmoil Kia became cool.  What was once unthinkable has happened.

Amidst the mayhem consumer conservatism has redefined value to mean more than MSRP, monthly payments and residuals. Cars had better be good at what they do or people won’t buy them. The industry must meet the new expectation of great cars and real innovation. Tricky marketing and trend analysis will not build the product portfolios of the future.

While the industry was being shaken to its core, 2009 was a banner year for new technologies and remarkable products.  Read on to find out which cars persevered as CarReview’s best choices of 2009

Best Coupe: 2009 BMW 3-series, 2009 Audi A5

BMW 3 Series: consumer reviews | manufacturer’s link

If there is a constant in the automotive universe, it is the BMW 3 series sport coupe. Every year journalists struggle to find a different way to describe its perfect balance and this attempt surmises that the 3 is simply more than the sum of its parts. It is built to touch the driver in all of us.

Changes for 2009/2010 are largely cosmetic since so much continues to be right about the coupe, especially when powered by the 335′s turbocharged 3 liter inline six. The standard six speed manual is without peer in its class and its handling makes you question whether you will ever need a sports car.

What has changed after all these years is luxury. The 3 series leaves neither driver nor passenger wanting for creature comforts, though rear passengers might whisper a request for more legroom.  Infiniti and Audi have raised the bar for cabin quality and with its top drawer materials and exceptional build quality the 3 does not disappoint. Five years into its current design cycle, the 3 will soon need a redesign lest competitors get too close to the mark, but for now BMW can rest on its laurels. Its magic formula remains a secret.

Differentiating characteristics: silky engine with generous torque, sharp handling, that certain something Bavarian

Audi A5: consumer reviews | manufacturer’s link

The A5 is the latest addition to Audi’s line-up, having made its debut in 2008. Essentially a 2-door version of the A4 sedan, the A5 brings Audi’s style and performance to the luxury sports coupe segment. For 2010, buyers get a choice of engines: a smooth 3.2 L V6 carried over from last year, or a new 2.0 L turbocharged 4 cylinder engine that offers a robust 254 lb-ft torque. Both engines are available with Audi’s signature Quattro all-wheel drive to make sure that every ounce of thrust gets transferred to the road, and for speed freaks there is always the S5 and its 354 hp 4.2 L V8 engine. 2010 also sees the debut of the A5 and S5 cabriolet models, which feature a cloth top that fully retracts in just 15 seconds.

Differentiating characteristics: legendary quattro all-wheel drive handling and grip, smooth 5-cylinder engine, luxurious appointments, and the instantly recognizable LED daytime running lights.

Best Sedan: 2009 Infiniti G37, 2009 Honda Accord

Infiniti G37: consumer reviews | manufacturer’s link

In the crowded sport sedan segment the Infiniti G37 embraces what today’s value conscious consumers seek.  It is stylish, sporty, luxurious, well made and is offered at a price that makes the Germans and Lexus blush.  It does not have the poise of its BMW counterpart or the bank vault feel of Mercedes, but 2009′s upgraded 3.7 litre engine with 328 hp and 269 ft-lbs of torque will quickly pull you away from such nitpicking.  2010′s refreshed cabin design is a study in near-luxury nirvana and will leave you wondering what could possibly be missing. Let there be no doubt, the G37 is a good drive if slightly more relaxed than its German brethren. However, Infiniti’s blend of price, styling and features make it the standout of this class.

Differentiating Characteristics: muscular engine, expressive design and features, price point

Honda Accord: consumer reviews | manufacturer’s link

The Honda Accord has set the standard for mid-sized sedans for over 30 years and the 2009 edition does nothing to diminish this legacy. Completely redesigned in 2008, the current Accord effortlessly combines practicality, reliability, performance, and style. Seeking to please a wide range of buyers, Honda offers a choice of 4-cylinder or V6 engine, and manual or automatic transmission. In any configuration, the Accord provides both outstanding performance and class-leading fuel efficiency, and continues to prove that fine automobiles don’t need to cost a ton of money.

Differentiating Characteristics: practical, dependable, and a style that is no longer linked to”boring”

]]> http://reviews.carreview.com/carreviews-best-car-choices-of-2009/feed 3 http://reviews.carreview.com/former-tesla-exec-hired-by-aston-martin http://reviews.carreview.com/former-tesla-exec-hired-by-aston-martin#comments Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:08:43 +0000 aston martin tesla sales aston martin tesla sales aston martin tesla sales http://reviews.carreview.com/?p=11774

So Aston Martin, the car of choice for James Bond, has hired away a former Tesla executive to oversee global sales. Does that mean that Aston is in trouble, or that Tesla is finally becoming a serious player to be reckoned with in the automotive world? This is not to imply that Aston Martin IS in trouble, it’s just that in economic times like these, a car company like Aston Martin (or any other high end luxury brand) has to really watch its step. Either way, Aston has announced that Michael van der Sande has been appointed to the company’s newly created position of “Chief Commercial Officer”. Van der Sande, in addition to being on Aston Martin’s board of management will also report directly to CEO Dr Ulrich Bez.

The hiring move will, according to Bez, “will help us to further develop Aston Martin’s presence around the world.” Hmmm, then why hire a guy from Tesla, were there no other high profile automotive success stories out there?

It turns out that before Van der Sande was at Tesla Motors, he was well known for his twelve years with Harley Davidson, where he held a variety of senior roles. While at Harley, Van der Sande working in marketing, dealer development, product development and commercial operations. All of which could come in handy for Aston Martin. And Van der Sande also knows the Euro market, his last roll for Harley was as the chief of the motorcycle company in Europe.

At Aston Martin, Van der Sande’s new role will be that of Chief Commercial Officer, where he will be responsible for all commercial areas to further develop and strengthen these key areas of the business. The 44-year-old Dutchman holds a racing license, and the hope is that his love of racing transfers into both the production and motorsport sides of Aston Martin’s operations.

Van der Sande steps into his new seat at Aston during a crucial time for the British automaker. The next couple of years will be very important for Aston Martin as they continue their ambitious new model roll-out during one of the worst economic periods in the entire history of the automotive industry. Aston Martin will be debuting three all-new models, even though the global economic recession has made a dent in the company’s sales.

Source: Motor Authority

Not content with simply having some of the finest luxury sports cars on the planet, Aston Martin has upped the ante in open-air motoring with its new DBS Volante convertible. Like the DBS Coupe (featured in the recent James Bond movie, “Quantum of Solace”) on which it is based, the DBS Volante is a statement in automotive design, combining supercar performance, sculpted elegance, and unbridled luxury.

We were fortunate enough to be invited to test the DBS Volante on a nice late-summer day, perfect for some top-down driving. Although we could only spend a short amount of time behind the wheel, a brief spin in the hills outside of Los Gatos, CA, confirmed that this is truly one of the finest automobiles on the road today.

Under the hood of each DBS Coupe and Volante is a handbuilt 6.0-liter V12 engine that produces 510 hp and a simply gorgeous exhaust tone. Nail the throttle and the engine sings all the way to 7,000 rpm, pausing only briefly to let the 2nd generation Touchtronic 6-speed automatic transmission work its way through the gears. Acceleration is so authoritative and effortless it becomes addicting, especially once you get up to speeds that are well past any posted speed limit. It’s almost tragic that drivers in this country will only be able to taste the 191 mph claimed top speed on a track or deserted air strip.

But this is no mere drag race pony car. The DBS Volante is that rare automobile that offers track worthy performance and handling while still being easy to drive around town. Steering feel is pleasantly light, but also wickedly precise, which combined with wide and grippy tires makes for surprisingly nimble handling for a car of this size. The suspension features an Adaptive Damping System with a sport mode that noticeably firms and tightens things up, while still retaining a decent amount of comfort. Also helping keep everything under control is a carbon ceramic brake system that both saves weight and eliminates brake fade.

To retain the same world-class performance as the DBS Coupe, Aston Martin engineers utilized aluminum and carbon fiber to bolster the chassis, and designed a lightweight fabric top to keep weight gain to a minimum. The end result is one of the few convertibles that gains all the benefits of open-air driving and loses almost nothing when it comes to on-road performance and handling. With the roof closed, the car is impressively quiet for a soft top. Should you have the need to feel the wind in your hair, a simple push of a button and the top fully retracts in just 14 seconds, at speeds up to 30 mph. With such a glorious engine to listen to, we’d keep the top down whenever possible.

All this talk of handling and performance almost misses the main point of owning an exotic luxury automobile: elegance and style. Fortunately, the DBS Volante has both of these in spades. From the beautiful full grain Chancellor red leather interior, to the tasteful use of carbon fiber in the interior and exterior trim, to the 1,000 Watt Bang and Olufsen Beosound audio system with retracting tweeters, the DBS Volante will never be confused with your run of the mill German or Japanese luxury car. Although not as instantly recognizable as a Ferrari or other Italian exotic, the exterior design is exquisite in its own right, featuring a suitably sleek silhouette and Aston Martin’s signature front grill.

“Mr. Bond, your convertible is ready.”

With the exclusivity of being Aston-Martin’s top-of the-line convertible and an “If you have to ask…” price tag, the DBS Volante is tailor made for the most discerning car buyers, those who will spare no expense to own an automobile with no compromises. Sure, there are flashier supercars with more power and performance, and luxury saloons that provide even more pampering, but it is the rare car that combines these elements as perfectly as the Aston Martin DBS Volante.

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