Friday 25 September 2009

ASTON MARTIN V12 VANTAGE OFF TO NORTH AMERICA



CarAndDriver reports that the Aston Martin V12 Vantage will be sold in the US in a limited edition of 1000 units over its one-year lifespan. Moreover the 4-door Rapide may also be headed for North America. Its biggest competitor is the Porsche Panamera and that is certainly going Stateside.

The V12 Vantage is powered by a 6.0-litre V12 engine worth 380kW (517hp) and 570Nm of torque. Its makers say it will run from 0 – 100km/h (0 – 62mph) in just 4.2 seconds and top off at 305km/h (190mph). Very quick indeed.

More news from Aston Martin is that the small Toyota IQ-based Cygnet will be launched in the first quarter of 2010. The small Cygnet (smaller even than a Mazda2 or a Toyota Yaris) is set to an interesting addition to the AM family since the brand has never been in that segment of the market before. Realistically speaking it won’t cost anything near its perceived rivals either.

Then the One-77, AM’s most exclusive car ever, has apparently already sold 50 units of its planned 77. Even before its launch.

I don’t know which of these Aston Martin cars is coming to Mzansi; I suspect the Cygnet more than the One-77.