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Aston Martin DB AR1
Aston Martin DB7 Zagato and DB AR1 | |
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Aston Martin | |
aka | Aston Martin DB7 |
Production | 2003-2004 of 99 AR1 and 99 DB7 Zagato |
Class | Super-Luxury |
Body Style | Coupe/Convertible |
Length | |
Width | |
Height | |
Wheelbase | |
Weight | 1740 KG |
Transmission | 6-speed Manual |
Engine | 6.0 litre V12 |
Power | 435 BHP |
Similar | Aston Martin DB7 Ferrari 575M Superamerica Lamborghini Murcielago |
Designer | Andrea Zagato |
Super-Aston
By 2003, Aston Martin, as a company, were doing extremely well. After the dull days of the late 1980s and early 1990s, the buy out by Ford was beginning to pay off, with the company releasing some very accomplished sports cars - one of which was the DB7, dubbed 'the saviour of Aston Martin' by motoring press.
But by now the DB7 was becoming a bit long in the tooth. The company was itching to replace it, and had a number of new models waiting patiently under dust sheets. The date was set for the DB7's withdrawal, but Aston Martin decided to send the car off with a final flourish - a special model - and contracted Zagato to set to work on the project.
The Project
The design house of Zagato was chosen by A.M due to the strong links that the two companies shared - after all, Zagato had penned a special model for A.M back in the 1980s. Before initial work began on the cars, the concept was outlined to A.M's best customers - who were reeled in by the promise of a very limited production run of ninety-nine cabriolets and ninety-nine coupes. The order books were filled quickly, and the project was greenlighted.
The car used a DB7 Volante as a basis, but the chassis was chopped by 27 mm.