Aston Martin Previews New DBS with Project AM 310

[omoderncultureo]

In 2009, Aston Martin revealed their ultra-exclusive (and expensive) One-77 at the Villa d’Este Concours d’Elegance, an event usually reserved for pre-1970s cars. This year, they’ve done it again, by revealing yet another stunning new automobile at this year’s edition: the Project AM310.

This is a very unusual and very Aston Martin way of showing off a car, especially one which previews the future DBS, a car much less exclusive than the One-77. Design-wise, it’s a very clear evolution of the DBS’s styling, but to our eyes, while it is a handsome thing to behold, it still looks way too much like the old DBS, with sprinklings of One-77 here and there.

It’s business as usual under the bonnet as well, with Aston retaining the ancient 6-liter V12, now putting out in excess of 550hp. It is a refined and powerful unit, however, it cannot match any of its rivals for fuel efficiency, a negative point which may dent the DBS’s sales figures, in these Eco-minded times.

With the actual DBS set to be revealed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, due to take place this August, the AM310 gives us a taste of what’s to come. We really do, genuinely like it and we think it looks stunning, but after seeing what Aston can do (the One-77), we’re left wanting more in terms of design imagination.

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[1.8turboB5]

Mr. Martin, may i call you Aston?.....Build this

[Avus]

I guess the future Aston Martin design will kind of like Porsche 911.

[nickthaskater]

It's ugly in my eyes. It doesn't have the flow of other Astons, and it's far too gaudy. They're running out of ideas on how to keep utilizing the same general shape over and over.

Time for an all-new design, perhaps?

[surefooted]

Looks like Andy's Autosport got a hold of an Aston.

[Son]

Nice Kia Forte wheels.

[genjy]

**** fool, why do they all look the same?

[Inspector Detector]

What's with blacking everything out near the bottom of the car? I understand how they're trying to catch your attention with it, but it still makes me think, I'd rather see it in monotone.

[Fritz27]

The front bumper and wheels are horrid. It looks Pre-Mansory'd.

[ErikGTI]

Looks like Aston could use a lesson from Porsche on how to recycle the same style generation after generation and keep it looking good. That thing is nasty!

Erik

[InternetMeme]

I've said it 100 times and I'll say it again... the next Aston that had red tail lights will be in my garage. BUILD IT and I will buy

[RS4PD]

The front bumper and wheels are horrid. It looks Pre-Mansory'd.

Exactly. Wheels and front lip really take away from the elegance and leave it looking like a DBS from SEMA gone bad.

[VwG60Kid]

the pure elegance of aston is apparently in hibernation again as we go into another era of lagondas and volantes.... that looks terrible... especially the wheels... it doesn't look like one but the first thing that came to mind when i saw that was an accord coupe with cheap wheels on it.

[JuanManuelFangio]

Looks like Aston could use a lesson from Porsche on how to recycle the same style generation after generation and keep it looking good. That thing is nasty!

Erik

OR they could take a lesson from Ferrari and not rest on their laurels. They could let their classic designs fall into legend and continue to push the limits of design.

[sforsancho]

I don't mind the front bumper, provided it was painted body color. More to the problem is:

(1) Wheels make wheel gap look massive.
(2) Raked fastback/arched roofline makes the rear 1/2 look like an XK. Jaguar should be copying Aston, not the other way around.
(3) Fender vent leads to a raised strake that ends unresolved in the middle of the door.

Less quasimodo humped rear roofline, better wheels, remove the fender vent thing, paint the front bumper and I'd love it. One-77 tails work much better here.

[Electioneer]

Change the wheels, change the monstrosity of a front bumper and tone it back. Then we can talk.

[Dave_Car_Guy]

Yeah, those wheels are awful, front end is ugly. Instead of fixing a flawed too-bulky front end, they tried to make it look less tall with the off-color lower lip / splitter. Didn't work. All that black crap looks aftermarket. The DBS design several years ago was perfect in its combination of aggressiveness and elegance. Design leadership there is failing with this one, IMHO.

Compare this DBS to the simplicity of the 2007 Vantage…which still looks great today.

[Wilhelm0075]

Love everything but the wheels.

[forewheel]

It's not bad, but I think red is just not a very flattering color for this car, kinda like some Lamborghinis. And yeah, i'm not digging the wheels either.

[EK20]

Honestly, other then the wheels, it looks pretty good. If they did away with those weird vent things, I wouldn't be heartbroken though.

[seminole_kev]

Love everything but the wheels.

Yep