Aston Martin V12 Vantage for sale! About time too. We were promised the V12 version of Aston’s Vantage what seems like ages ago, although not as long ago as we were promised the Rapide, which still isn’t here. Never mind, at least we’ve got the V12 Vantage to look forward to when it is officially launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

Although I’m a huge Aston fan (as you’ll know if you come here regularly) I just couldn’t quite fall in love with the original V8 Vantage. It certainly talked the talk, but when  push came to shove, it couldn’t quite walk the walk. It looked stunning, sounded wonderful and made me smile whenever I had one around, but it never set the heart racing when driving. It was more than competent, but I’d expected more.

Things improved with the ’09MY cars; a few tweaks and a power boost and the V8 Vantage seemed more alive. It was certainly a better drive, but still not exactly class leading in the performance stakes.

But now we’ve got the real deal – the V12 Vantage. And this should blow your socks off. Aston have taken the V8 Vantage and shoe-horned in their best engine – the V12. Producing 510bhp and offering a 0-60 time of 4.1 seconds, it certainly promises to be a show stopper. No pretensions here to be a run-around, this is a manual only performance car with near perfect weight distribution. A 6-speed manual box (at the back) driven through a carbon fibre shaft delivers the power to the back wheels. The weight penalty of the V12 has been mitigated by liberal use of carbon fibre to keep the weight increase to just 110lbs.

The suspension has been stiffened and lowered, the V12 Vantage gets big ceramic brakes and even bigger rubber, and the bonnet gets an array of vents to dissipate all the heat from the big V12. Inside the car is trimmed in Alcantara with moulded leather bucket seats. Lots of carbon fibre and, of course, a proper aluminium gear lever.

I really can’t wait to get hold of the V12 Vantage, It promises to be exceptional. I doubt it will be cheap (Aston aren’t saying at the moment), but best guess is £135-145k.

Let’s hope it’s worth the wait.

Lamborghini LP560-4 Spyder for sale! Yes, we can now say that. About time too.

The Lamborghini Gallardo has been Lamborghini’s most successful car ever, and rightly so. Since its launch in 2003, more than 8,500 Gallardos have found homes worldwide, an unthinkable number for any Lamborghini of old. But that’s down to parent company Audi – they know how to build a good car, and market it.

The coupe version of the LP560 first saw light at the beginning of 2008, with an official launch in the spring. And it was an immediate success. Power increases, good styling modifications and better handling all added to the already excellent Gallardo package. And these same improvements carry over to the new LP560 Spyder, making the car look better, drive better and handle better.

The engine in the new LP56o-4 Spyder has a 40bhp advantage over the outgoing model, making the 0-60 dash in under 4 seconds, and a top speed of over 200mph. Add to this an all new chassis, greatly improved gearbox (with 40% quicker shifts and smoother than before) and suspension mods, and you have a car that takes the fight to the F430 with a vengeance.

In these somewhat difficult times (!) a car like this might seem hard to justify. But no matter how hard the times are, there are people who can still afford, and still justify, buying a car like this. Look at the 1970s. They were about the toughest times we’ve had in recent years, what with power cuts and three day weeks. But look at the classic supercars that were built then by Lamborghini – Countach, Espada, Urraco and Jarama. More models than we have now!

So the LP560-4 will sell. Maybe not in the numbers it has in the past, at least for a while, but we should be pleased that cars like this exist, and hope that they continue to flourish.

The world would be a duller place without Lamborghini.

As anyone who has read anything I’ve written will know, I am a huge Aston Martin fan. There is not an Aston Martin made I wouldn’t love to own (even the Atari Lagonda!). But sometimes Aston don’t get it completely right. The DB7 was too small (well, it was if you’re 6’3″ with short legs and a long body) and the V8 Vantage was too slow. Yes, too slow. Aston trumpeted it as the ultimate 911 beater. Bad move. If they hadn’t done that then perhaps expectations wouldn’t have been so high. True, it is the most gorgeous looking car in its sector (but it is an Aston Martin, so that’s a given). But it wasn’t exciting enough. But we now know that’s all about to change.

Back in December Aston Martin showed us the wonderful Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS concept. Now it was pretty obvious that this was going to be a production car, but there is now no doubt, as the car has been caught testing at the Nurburgring (which is fast becoming Aston’s home turf). So what’s so special about the RS? Well, if you look at the likely output of 600bhp you have a car that has the same power as a 599, but weighs an astonishing 750lbs less. So in a drag race the RS will humiliate Ferrari’s most powerful production car (and remember, the 599 makes the Enzo look timid). Even if Aston decide to rein in the power a tad to around the 550bhp mark, you’re still going to see a car with 599 levels of performance. Now that is something to relish.

There appear to be lots of little styling changes for the RS, none of them hugely significant. But be in no doubt, this is a performance car. Aston have even had to add a cooler to the diff to keep things working! But its not going to be cheap. Is the Aston Martin V12 Vantage RS for sale yet? No. But it will be soon. At around £180,000.

The most powerful Aston Martin ever. Oh, yes please!

To enquire about any car in this article, new or used, just click here

It’s been a busy old week or two – not enough time to do anything, not even keep up to date here. Strangely, we’ve had a real surge in enquiries lately (I say strangely, because the papers seem to be full of sales falls and credit crunches – but not here). And it’s not just been the more regular stuff either, oh no! We’ve had a spate of calls asking if we have a Zonda for sale of all things. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but we normally don’t get more than one serious enquiry for a Zonda a month. We’ve had 4 this month already. Maybe people have realised that this really is a future classic, and the current crop of 25 Zonda F are the last of the Zondas. There’s a new model in the planning, but it won’t be a Zonda.

One of my favourite cars has had its first real tweak in nearly 5 years. So if you’re looking for an Aston Martin DB9 for sale from now on you get something even better than before – if that’s possible.

First and foremost, you get more power – up by 20bhp to 470bhp – which means a new top speed of 190mph and a 0-60 time of just 4.6 seconds. What an elegant way to fly this is! The Volante gets a stiffer setup (which is needed) and the Coupe gets tweaked suspension to give a better quality ride (which was already impressive) with sportier handling (which, once you’ve driven a DB9 with the sports pack, you will appreciate it needs). There’s a new standard 19″, 10-spoke alloys, new door mirrors and new grill. Really minor stuff on the exterior and a few tweaks, including the ‘Crystal’ keys from the DBS and a new centre console, on the interior – but why mess with perfection.

The DB9 was the car that set Aston Martin alive, and these tweaks are enough to see it through another 5 years. The DB9 has now become the single most successful model in Aston’s history, and deservedly so.

Here’s to the next five years.

I adore Aston Martins. They are, even now, so quintessentially British. They have managed to keep the Gentleman’s Club interiors but still conspire to be totally contemporary. It’s not an easy trick, but the interior on the DB9 is one of, if not the best interiors on any car. Bar none. And they still feel like they have substance. They’re not flighty like a Ferrari or Lamborghini. It feels like you are moving something solid when you move the wheel. Just like it did in the old Vantage or DBS. And they are achingly beautiful. They always have been, but the DB9, Vantage and DBS are as much a work of art as a DB5 was.

Every time I see an email asking if we have an Aston Martin DB9 for sale I think the same. Yes we have, and I want it! I have wanted one from the day they came out (having wanted every Aston Martin ever built, at one time or another!). But I’ve never bought one. There’s always been a reason, financial or practical, usually a distinct lack of funds due to yet another house move, or the impracticality of what is really a 2 seater when you have three children. But one day I will, and as it’s been at least a year since I last went and played with a DB9, I thought it was about time I tormented myself again!

There have been a few tweaks since I last had the DB9, but nothing of any real significance. The seats have been made somewhat more comfortable (not that there was anything wrong with them before) and the graphics on the dials have been changed to make them more legible in sunlight (and that was needed). But otherwise, why mess with perfection!

Apart from its inert ‘Britishness’ and beauty, what has always appealed about the DB9 is the way it makes you feel special. And people like you. You get let out. People smile. It’s not like that in a Ferrari or Lamborghini very often, and never in a Porsche. People just love Astons.

The DB9 does flatter the driver. Its auto box does very cleverly what the manual-based flappy-paddle in the Vanquish never did. It works – very well. Nice ‘blips’ and crisp, sharp changes, up and down, make this a joy to use. Simple buttons on the dash for PRND, and the rest is down to you. Its handling is, as always, a delight. Yes, sharp bends can cause a bit of understeer, but you soon learn to tip it in to give the lead to the back. But long, swooping bends are a sheer delight, and it always rides well. Sub 5 second 0-60 is as much as you can reasonably use 99% of the time, and 186mph does for most occasions. And just over £100k. An absolute bargain!

And all the nicest people drive an Aston. I spent a very enjoyable few hours in the company of a lovely lady on Friday (and her partner, I hasten to add), and I was delighted to find out she was as daft about Aston Martins as I am. Obviously a woman of great taste and discernment!

So I’ll take 2 then. A DB9 for me, and a Vantage for the Lady!

To enquire about any car in this article, new or used, just click here

I think it must be Aston Martin week this week. We’ve had a couple of very nice Astons out to customers this last week, and I did a piece on the V8 Vantage N400 Roadster a few days ago. So I thought, what the hell, we might as well have wall to wall Aston Martins – never a bad thing!

The Aston Martin DB9 LM, a limited edition created to celebrate the Le Mans DBR9 success, has been launched along with the N400 to emphasise the racing pedigree of Aston Martin. As with the N400 this is a very limited edition of just 124 but, unlike the N400, there are no plans for a convertible version.

The DB9 is without doubt the single most successful car Aston Martin have ever made. The press reviews have been unanimous in their praise, and the car has sold in record numbers. But there has been one small criticism from some quarters about its handling. “Too Soft” they say. “A Grand Tourer – Not a sports car”. And actually there is a little truth in that. The DB9 can be a bit too soft at times. It’s not as sharp as a Ferrari, but it was never intended to be. But there was a cure – the Sports Handling Pack – which Aston Martin have very sensibly included in the DB9 LM package.

So what do you get with the DB9 LM? Well, you get a very nice paint job in ‘Sarthe Silver’ (exclusive to the LM), front meshes and rear crossbar finished in ‘Magnum Silver’ and red brake calipers. Inside you get an exclusive Black Leather trim with perforated inserts and ‘Tertre Rouge’ facia trim. But most importantly you get the Sports Pack.

The Sports Pack gives 6mm shorter springs which are uprated by more than 60% front and rear. That gives the LM a much more aggressive stance, and changes its on-road feel massively. It’s no longer the grand tourer. Instead, it’s a sharp, responsive, and sometimes a little harsh, driving machine. It’s a hard-edged DB9, and if you like to drive hard this is a real delight. The engine hasn’t been uprated – but it doesn’t need it. It suits the LM to perfection, and even though it’s just a couple of Mondeo V6s bolted together, it’s become the best engine Aston Martin have ever had, and one of the best in the world.

I’m a huge Aston Martin fan and I’d love to get my hands on one. In reality I will, for a very short while, because we’ll actually have an Aston Martin DB9 LM for sale in February next year. We’ve not let our regular Aston customers know until today, so it’s not been snapped up yet, but it will be. How could you resist?!

Aston Martin move onwards and upwards with the release of the Aston Martin V8 Vantage N400 Roadster, joining its coupe brother to complete the V8 Vantage line-up. Built to celebrate Aston Martin’s participation in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring event, the N400s even have a little badge next to the Vantage badge with a map of the Nürburgring!

I’ve not been a huge fan of these stripped-out limited edition models (think Ferrari 430 Scuderia or Porsche GT2) but I am learning to respect them and, in small doses, really enjoy them. They offer real track responses and are an absolute hoot to drive. But they are too harsh for everyday use. But as I’ve said before, with the possible exception of the 911 (and maybe now the R8) these cars aren’t built for everyday use. They’re a toy. A weekend adrenalin shot.

The N400 Roadster gets an upgraded version of the V8 Vantage’s engine, giving 400bhp and 309lbs of torque. There’s a sports pack for better handling, but it has to do without the rear anti roll bar on the coupe. And it looks different too. It gets a new bodykit with clear rear lamp lenses and a new grill. It’s a cracking looking car. But aren’t all Aston Martins?

This really is a special edition – only 240 each of the coupe and roadster will be built. That will give them a real cachet. And they’re not horribly expensive either. The 2 pedal sportshift comes in at £97,000 and the Roadster at £105,000. Not cheap, but far from expensive for what they are.

I’ll take one of each – after all, there are two days in a weekend!

At last Aston Martin have got round to giving us the car they teased us with in the last James Bond film – the Aston Martin DBS.

The DBS is the new hard-edged DB9, and replaces the outgoing Vanquish S. And about time too! Huge Aston fans though we are at Innovation Cars, the Vanquish was our least favourite Aston of the current crop. Yes, it had plenty of power and, when it was working well, it was great fun. But too often it didn’t work at all well, and was redolent of the Astons of old – beautiful but flawed. Its newer sibling, the DB9, overshadowed it in almost every area, and its days were numbered. Well, here is its successor, and it looks great! It seems to combine the best of the old (and the Vanquish S did have some very good bits) with all the style and build quality of the new. We can’t wait to get our hands on it – but its not going to be easy! With delivery due to start early next year there is going to be quite a clamour for this new Aston. With performance up on the old Vanquish, and every reason to believe it will be as good a car as the DB9, we’re seriously looking forward to the DBS. Time to raid the piggy-bank?!!