You've read about the Aston Martin mishaps and the Tom Ford tailoring; now Sony has released the trailer for Quantum of Solace, the new James Bond flick premiering this fall. Daniel Craig stylishly reprises his role as 007 in what looks to be an action-packed installment of the classic series, with Olga Kurylenko and Gemma Arterton doing the Bond Girl honors.

In the flick based on a 1959 Ian Fleming short story, Bond sets out to seek revenge for the death of Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) from Casino Royale. Craig has said filming Quantum was much more physically demanding that Casino, and he has suffered some injuries along the way. See the trailer here and check out the gallery for production pix.

The world is experiencing shortages of natural resources and the search for alternative fuels is going stronger than ever. Prince Charles is doing his part by supporting some creative efforts and fueling his 38yr old Aston Martin with of all things, wine.

Due to strict wine limits set by the EU excess wine cannot be sold on the regular market and instead ends up getting converted into environmental fuel. Besides his Aston Martin (which he only drives an average of 300 miles a year) Prince Charles has also converted several of his other cars to alternative fuel: his Jaguars, Audi, and Range Rovers all run on biodiesel made of cooking oil.

Tomorrow London auction house Bonhams will host its 9th annual Aston Martin auction in Newport Pagnell, England, at the Aston Martin Works Service. Since 2000 Bonhams have sold over $27 million worth of Aston Martins (James Bond's vehicle of choice) and related automobilia, breaking several records in the process and establishing themselves as the leading Aston auctioneer. The star of the auction dollar-wise is a 2006 DBR9 GT1 Sports-Racing Coupé which triumphed at that year's FIA GT Championship in Dubai. The car is estimated at $700,000 - $780,000.

Other highlights of the sale include the 1969 DB6 Volante pictured here, est. $230,000 - $290,000; a 1965 DB5 Saloon, est. $270,000 - $310,000; a 1986 V8 Vantage Zagato Coupé that belonged to actor Rowan Atkinson, est. $135,000 - $175,000; a 1961 DB4 Series IV Saloon, est. $215,000 - $250,000; and a 1989 V8 Vantage Volante, est. $175,000 - $215,000. On the heels of the Ferrari auction in Italy we told you about the other day, this is definitely a good month to go classic car shopping. See the gallery for more.

London auction house Bonhams is staging a Grandes Marques classic car auction in the principality of Monaco today featuring some of the world's most collectible automobiles. The star attraction - i.e. highest-priced lot - is an historic 1932 Bugatti Type 55 Super Sport that raced at Le Mans in 1934, which is estimated at about $4 - $5 million. However there are several very beautiful and more modern motorcars being sold for a fraction of that price.

For example, the gorgeous 1961 Aston Martin DB4 Competition Saloon pictured here, est. about $320,000 - $360,000, similar to the DB5 driven by James Bond (Sean Connery) in Goldfinger. Among our other favorites, as featured in the gallery below: A 1962 Bentley S3 Continental 'Flying Spur' Saloon, est. about $280,000 - $320,000; a 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300SL 'Gullwing' Coupé, est. about $690,000 - $760,000; a 1966 Maserati Mistral 4000 Spyder, est. about $420,000 - $500,000; a 1994 Bugatti EB110GT Coupé, one of only 154 built, est. about $340,000 - $420,000; and a 1971 Ferrari 365GTB/4 'Daytona' Berlinetta, est. about $400,000 - $480,000.

Cars in James Bond movies often suffer a rough fate, facing spectacular crashes and extraordinary leaps but one of Bond's beloved Aston Martin's took a dunk this week before it even reached the movie set. An Aston Martin DBS was being driven to the set of Quantum Of Solace, the latest James Bond movie in Italy when the technician driving it went off the road and plunged into Lake Garda. The £134,000 Aston Martin's roof was smashed in but the driver luckily had only minor injuries. The car was to be used in a scene in which Daniel Craig speeds away from a crash scene and a truck ends up in the water. The Daily Mail has a few grisly snaps of the destroyed vehicle.

[via Autoblog]

Why fantasize about being James Bond when you can get a few steps closer to being 007? Aston Martin is offering a limited-edition Jaeger LeCoultre with the purchase of Bond's newest ride, the Aston Martin DBS.

At $332,000, one would think they would throw in the watch for free, but not so much. The watch is available only to purchasers of the DBS for a pretty $35,000, and is truly Bond-worthy at that -- not only does the watch look good, it also unlocks and starts the car. That will at least get you a second date, eh?

At the moment, buyers can choose between grade 5 titanium and rose-gold, but Jaeger's Jerome Lambert hints that a higher-end watch may be on its way.

[Source: Cleveland Leader]

You saw it first piloted by Daniel Craig in the new Bond flick, Casino Royale. The 2008 Aston Martin DBS falls smack dab in the middle of the lineup between the DB9 and the racer DBR9, also upscale from the Vanquish coupe and roadster models. The car, which starts at a hefty $250,000 U.S. (estimated), boasts a 6.0L V-12 engine spitting out a whopping 510 hp and 420 lb.-ft. of torque, launching it to 62 mph in 4.3 seconds and to a top speed of 191 mph.

Pricing will be confirmed in September around the time of the Frankfurt Motor show, with the first deliveries of the cars occuring in early 2008. Check for official specs from Aston Martin after the jump.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Ford Motor Company has begun shopping around its Premiere Automotive Group, consisting of Land Rover, Jaguar, Volvo and formerly Aston Martin. The news comes as no surprise as rumors floated about indicating Ford's interest in selling pretty much anything in its stable at the right price, though this time around, the rumors are accompanied by news that Ford has retained Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to find a buyer.

Ford reportedly broke off talks with Fiat recently regarding the group, though now it appears that potential suitors include Renault, David Richards (new Aston owner), and David James, who acquired the rights to manufacture a car based on smart roadster components and designs.Rumors also abound regarding BMW's interest in Volvo as it seeks to add a fourth brand to its lineup, supplementing BMW, MINI and Rolls Royce.

[Source: AutoIndustry.co.uk]

Luckily for those without a shred of common sense, Forbes outlines the hottest cars a guy could drive in order to attract the hottest girls. The big draws appear to be less than shocking -- exotic (read: Italian) styling and price tag are major factors, but also know that sze matters (cough): the bigger the engine, the better.

Topping out the list is the Aston Martin DB9, which has the added appeal that the Aston Martin brand has become synonymous with James Bond, the ultimate chick magnet. Next Forbes highlights the Bentley Continental GT, which is relatively affordable compared to its Maybach and Rolls Royce rivals and sports a 562 hp engine, all in a pretty package. Other babe magnets include the Lamborghini Gallardo, Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, Cadillac Escalade, Porsche 911 Turbo, and even the Toyota Prius for those men trying to attract an environmentally-conscious woman.

[Source: Forbes]

Another story from my current home away from home Boca Raton, Florida. The Boca News reports the latest car club, Collexium, based in Fort Lauderdale has been created by Boca Raton resident Blas Moros. Mora, a former Microsoft exec, founded the club after he was in the market for a luxury car and found himself besieged with options. Collexium, opened in December 2006, has ten cars including an Aston Martin V12 Vanquish, Bentley Continental Flying Spur, Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Gallardo and Lotus Elise available at the Fort Lauderdale clubhouse. The clubhouse includes a lounge and a business center and serves as a showroom and setting for events.

Not since Chris Bangle's 7-series revolutionized BMW has a brand refresh been so dynamic and perfect. The Aston Martin DB-ONE is the fastest looking car standing completely still, embodying what could be the next generation of the famous British sports car.

The only problem is this: Spanish designer Ruben Vela doesn't actually work for Aston Martin. The recent Polytechnic University graduate developed the Aston Martin DB-ONE as a study in "dynamism," a play on the lines and planes of the vehicle that make it feel kinetic even when it's static. The big fat grille and exaggerated front end play on Aston Martin's typical long nose, yet the angles indicate thought beyond today's standards.

Click through to visit Autoblog, where they've set up a gallery of high-resolution images that will make even the most stoic autophile salivate.

[via Autoblog]

Classic Aston Martin vehicles and various finds in the parts bin went for astronomical amounts of money last Saturday at Bonhams' eighth annual Aston Martin sale in Buckinghamshire. Held at the Works Service facility in Newport Pagnell, the event brought in £2.3 million.

The top-grossing car on the block was a 1970 Aston Martin DB6 Mk2 Volante Convertible, which brought in £430,500, but one major point of interest was the shift knob fitted with an eject button for the James Bond movies 'Goldfinger' and 'Thunderball.' The piece went for over £40,000 -- quite a bit ahead of its estimated worth of £1,500 - £1,800.

Other impressive figures surrounded vehicles like the 2000 Aston Martin SWB Vantage Volante Special Edition, which went for £238,000 and was delivered to its new owner with less than 13,000 miles on it, as well as a 1965 Aston Martin DB5 Convertible, sold for £221,500.

[Source: CommanderBond.net]

Why would someone buy a Bentley Arnage instead of a Rolls Royce Phantom? How about a Chevrolet Corvette vs. a Ferrari F430? Or a Lexus LS 460 over a BMW 7-series? As we do with our clothes, hobbies and careers, we define ourselves through our vehicles in some way or another -- yes, even the Honda Accord owner -- and it never ceases to fascinate. That's why a recent article in Forbes outlining what our cars say about us caught our attention.

Forbes went out and interviewed loads of PR guys from various automakers, poured through studies about typical owners of a particular brand and model, and stirred in a little stereotyping to come up with gems like these:

-Bentley Arnage owners are likely self-made, more interested in rewarding themselves and staying anonymous, unlike owners of the Rolls Royce Phantom, who want to stand out in a crowd.

-Aston Martin owners are also self-made and discreet. According to a company spokesperson, Aston Martin owners are "the sort of people who would prefer to wear the designer brand on the inside rather than the outside."

-Unlike owners of other SUVs, Jeep Wrangler drivers actually go off-road.

-96 percent of Dodge Viper owners are men, they enjoy to drive, and they want to beat every other car out on the road.

Check out the link to see what your car says about you.

[Source: Forbes]

Luxury cars are special in every way, from the state-of-the-art technology powering them and rare materials appointing their interiors to the aerospace-grade compounds they're built with to keep their weight down. Unlike most of the cars the rest of us drive, luxury cars are the epitome of wealth in another way -- the amount of gas it takes to power them.

Forbes has come out with a list of the "Top 10 Gas Guzzlers of 2007," or as we like to call them, the "Top 10 Ways to Support the Petroleum Market Via Automobiles" for a more positive spin. Topping the list (after a long list of disclaimers including how the 2007 GM HUMMER SUV doesn't appear on the list because the EPA hasn't rated it yet and other qualifiers) is the Lamborghini Murciélago two-door, which costs $3,505 per year to operate. In a three-way tie for second, the Bentley Arnage sedan, Bentley Azure convertible and Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano coupe all come in at $3,213.

These and other cars on the list, such as the Aston Martin DB9 and the Ferrari F430, are unlikely to be daily drivers; however, other vehicles on the list, like the GMC Sierra, Nissan Armada and Jeep Grand Cherokee do a bit more traveling. The moral of the story for the environmentally aware? If you're not up for one of the newfangled electric supercars, you won't feel too bad taking your Maybach out on the weekends if your daily driver gets great mileage.

[Source: Forbes]

Looking to cut its losses after a year of record losses, Ford Motor Co. has sold luxury brand Aston Martin back to the UK via a group of investors led by auto-racing champion David Richards. The Aston Martin brand made up a small portion of Ford's luxury group, which includes Jaguar and Land Rover, as well. Although Ford said it expected Aston Martin to make up 1/3 of their luxury sales when they decided to promote the brand more heavily over five years ago (they have owned full interest since 1994), it hasn't come close. Sales of the luxe sports cars make up less than 1% of the automaker's global sales volume. The selling price was $848 million, as the total value of the unit is estimated to be $925 million and Ford is retaining a $77 million stake.