Awesome shot Perez! Got any of my db9? Excellent photos!

 

Don't forget the pics of my M3, Rob!

 

These are the shots of the Astons that I've found so far bro - I'll hit you with anything else I dig up when I finish my uploads.

-Rizzle

 

Still sifting thru my stash bud - will hook you up fosho

 

Gosh, those are beautiful cars.

 

That's awesome that you got pics of the two Aston's together.

 

The thing for Astons with me is that they all look so much the same!!!

I know mfg.ers typically go thru cycles of styling themes across thiermodels, Ferrari is doing it now - on their front ends anyway, except CA lites are pretty much same shape incl. new F12, the front fascias share some similarities, of course you see it across most Porsche models esp. in front... they all do it to some extent.

But Aston Martins for seems like past 15 years all look principally just like every other one. Like really the same same same. Ok there may be different grille mesh here or there, DBS has some carbon tid bits thrown around here and there, new V12 Vantage has a lots of vents in hood and stance is def. a bit more aggressive..... but Sunir's car is prob. like what a '07-'08 and next to a basically brand new "all new" 5-years-down-the-road 4 door model it looks pretty much like the exact same car.

I do really like the brand in total, esp. the V12 Vantage (I have a great story about driving/playing around testing one of the first reg. V8 Vantages brought to U.S. around mid-Ohio sharing seat with a pro driver and us both really digging the totally exceptional interior and high-flake carbon-black paint that looked like someone threw buckets of glitter on top of it but both being totally aghast at how dreadfully slow it was (Sunir I know your scotch breathing V12 doesn't have that problem LOL)), and I know they don't want to diverge too far from their trade mark open-mouth grille etc. but they really need to shake up thier design dept. a little bit IMO.

 

The Jeep Wrangler/CJ has been essentially the same design for over 60 years and it still sells well...

 

^^ Its also a vehicle rooted in military design and functionality intended to slog thru mud and get perpetually beat to sh-t LOL. Analogy = failing grade

 

I agree that they do look very similar. AND I agree that it's a little disappointing. BUT I feel like most companies are going the route of evolution rather than revolution. People have been making fun of porsche for it, but the profits also look the same...so it's hard to argue.

 

^^ And I'm talking across models. Wranglers don't look a whole lot like SRT8 Grand Cherokees.

 

As for the profit part.... go look at Aston sales numbers. Look on NADA data or something. I think you will be surprised by how few cars they actually sell, in US anyway which has to be at least somewhat representative of global sales.

Prob. why it was dumped (ok prob mismanaged too) by big name mfg.ers and is a stand alone essentially owned by sovereign wealth fund(s) of oil-rich arab/UAE countries (Pro-Drive, the racing concern widely touted in the press as "buying Aston" actually owns very little of the co.). And also prob. why Penske dumped all his dealerships en masse at once incl. the one in Tysons (I think he may still one one of what was like 6 or so nationwide). The new incarnation down the street in Tysons - just like the whole co. - is pretty much just rich people playing around. Not that there is anything wrong with that LOL.

 

Aston does sell very few cars per year, they don't build many cars at all to begin with. Also AM is a micro-manufacturer compared to the numbers churned out by mid size and larger auto makers.

The cars look the same true but what is due to the VH platform Aston uses., each model can be extended or shortened or made taller/shorter using essentially a horizontal/vertical chassis jig. Next time I am in the UK I am going to tour the Gaydon factory in Worwickshire just outside of London.

In addition there are certain design cues that remain Aston thru the years, these are design elements that make the cars look similar if you look carefully, and also increase awareness and strengthen brand identity. Things like the Aston Martin front Grille, the shape of the quarter window, and the fender vent accent, to name a few. All of these design elements are traditional Aston. The brand is steeped in history, has very good lineage, and has been associated with classy styling, design, racing history, elegance, and presence since it's inception. I think it does very well with how it is namely because there are not too many models or units produced and shared charecteristics build brand familiarity, hence staying very similar seems to work for Aston Martin.

 

Even if they can and do adjust the chassis / frame dimensions by just moving a jig around (even though I think it's a bit more computerized and automated than that might lead one to believe) they still have to design and make all sheet metal dies and plastic molds for all the stuff they hang off of it model - by - model and they're stuck in a rut! LOL. Its like going to your favorite restaurant and always ordering your same favorite dish, you know its going to be good.... but its the same thing over and over again!! Same with Astons, they all look good.... real good.... they're just all the same damn thing.

When the Vantage came out I thought "oh ok, they made it look just like its big brothers so people think they're really getting something", but then when I saw Rapide first time I'm like "It's the same f-ing car!". LOL.

But yeah Sunir.... when I first saw your car I almost mistook it for a Lagonda given those similar classic Aston design trademarks LOL, built as recently as late 80s i believe.... where is ur trademark gape-mouth grille there?

Or how about a real V8 Vantage (Mustang)?? Now that's a car!!

These cars were built contemporaneously.... do they look like clones??

When you go on your factory tour tell them to spice it up a little!

 

LOL yeah the ole Lagonda triple square headlamps sets out front! What an over th top car. Don't know that the 70's and 80's were kind to Aston Martin

The VH chassis construction started in the new Gaydon Factory in the mid 2000's ... which has led to the cars having a similar look, they are all VH platform cars, but yes some styling in the fenders and so forth could be incorporated.

I dunno I think the cars look good as they are, yeah they do look the same but I gues they subscribe to the school of thought "if it ain't broke don't fix it"