PebbleBeach2009

Luxist Drives the Aston Martin DBS Volante, and it Gives Convertibles a Very, Very Good Name

When you love the performance of a particular coupe, it's not often that you get to hop in the convertible version and say to yourself, "So... you mean I can have the same thing with the top down?" But in between the tight and relentless esses of Monterey's Carmel Valley Road, that's what we found ourselves debating. What we settled on was this: While the handling envelope of the DBS coupe is excellent, the envelope of the DBS Volante is, well, excellent.

Tags: aston martin, aston martin dbs, aston martin dbs volante, AstonMartin, AstonMartinDbs, AstonMartinDbsVolante, monterey 2009, Monterey2009, pebble beach 2009, PebbleBeach2009, wheels

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The Aston Martin One-77 has Overdosed on Low and Mean

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

While traipsing around Carmel during Pebble Beach weekend, we found the Aston Martin One-77 tucked between hospitality tables like a manta ray brooding within a coral reef -- as if it were grudgingly consenting to being looked at. With a roofline that sits about four inches lower than a DBS, the minimal height, exceptional girth, and slew of edged features combine to create one angry car.

Yet it does possess its moments of soft beauty: the engine bay is a case of stupendous craftsmanship; we'd use the mirror-finish twin-spoke wheels to do our shaving every morning; the carbon fiber rear suspension weaving its way through leather-trimmed panels is nothing short of delicious. Inside, the car is minutely detailed, with black leather and white cross-stitching slathering nearly every deeply arced surface -- at least, all those that aren't carbon fiber and aluminum. Everything other than the white-backed center console gauges elicits a slightly intoxicated "Yes" from our hearts. That's the velvet glove side of the One-77.

Its iron fist is much bigger, and it wears brass knuckles in the form of a 7.3-liter V12. Best of all, Even better: there's still time to get one. You can place a call to Aston Martin for an order, after which they'll ask you to wire $1.8 million. Or you can simply enjoy the beast in the gallery below.

Tags: aston martin, aston martin one-77, AstonMartin, AstonMartinOne-77, monterey 2009, Monterey2009, one-77, pebble beach 2009, PebbleBeach2009, wheels

Bentley Introduces the all-new 2011 Mulsanne

by Sam Abuelsamid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

2011 Bentley Mulsanne -- Click above for a high-res image gallery

It's not often that Bentley introduces an all-new model, especially for its flagship line. Today the Pebble Beach Concours de'Elegance, CEO Franz-Josef Paefgen unveiled the all-new Mulsanne. Named for the legendary straightaway at Le Mans, It's a fitting appellation for the top of the line Bentley. Bentleys won the 24 hour endurance classic four times in a row between 1927 and 1930 ensuring Bentley's reputation for high speed touring for the remainder of century into this century.

The Mulsanne is 11 inches longer than the Flying Spur sedan and gets an all new platform. So far Bentley is only saying that the Mulsanne will use a V8 engine, the same configuration as the outgoing Arnage. Aside from that other details will have to wait until the car is shown again next month at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The Mulsanne goes on sale about a year from now at a price yet to be revealed, although if you have to ask...

Gallery: 2010 Bentley Mulsanne