Besides the Martini and the tux, there’s another thing that James Bond is known for. And that is for the car that he drives—the Aston Martin. Some say that it’s a car that makes the man, and that is the case with Bond and the Aston Martin. Should Bond tell you what car he drives, he would tell you it’s “Martin, an Aston Martin.”
History:
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited: this is the official name of the marque. It’s name was from the founder, Lionel Martin and the Aston Hill known for its speed hillclimbing.
The company specializes in luxury sports cars and has not disappointed the public in that regard. If it’s good enough for a Bond car, then it should be good enough for the rest of us, right?
The company has undergone several changes and transfer of ownerships. Currently, Ford has $77 million stake at the company, but the company is already purchased by Investment Dar and John Sinders.
Models:
Aston Martin models have two general categories: the Vantage and the Volante. The main difference is that the Vantage is for performance while the Volante stands for convertibles.
Performance:
Though the company started with a four-cylinder engine, Aston Martin has further developed larger engines and more powerful output. There’s the Aston Martin V8 and and the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish. This is but expected from a company that makes its bread and butter from creating luxury sports cars.
Design:
It’s going to be hard to describe in words the impressive design aesthetics of the Aston Martin. You have to see one to appreciate the beautiful and sleek lines of an Aston Martin. Incorporating style, luxury and aerodynamic efficiency, Aston Martin is one of the most sought-after sports car in the world today.
Bond Car
Perhaps the most famous line of Aston Martin cars was the DB series. DB, named after its top excutive in the 1950s, David Brown. This established Aston Martin as a top brand amongst car enthusiasts and this was topped off by the featuring of the DB5, DB6 and the DBS V8. The DB5 is most known as the Bond Car that was featured in Goldfinger, Thunderball, Tomorrow Never Dies and Casino Royale.
Featuring an inline six-cylinder engine and a 282 bhp output and a top speed of 141 mph, it fits perfectly the sleek image and the thrilling ride that Bond Car is supposed to have.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aston_Martin
http://www.motorauthority.com/aston-martin-the-past-the-present-and-tomorrow.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aston_Martin_DB5
