Aston Martin is considering building a mid-engine sports car to rival offerings from Ferrari and even Audi. “Aston has to look at some of the things that are being done by our competitors, like the Audi R8 and the Japanese brands,” said David Richards, leader of the consortium that purchased Aston from Ford. “We believe we can expand quite considerably.”
Aston’s continued profitably and success will enable it to create mid-engine vehicles that were previously too costly to develop, according to AutoWeek. Previously, Aston CEO Ulrich Bez told the magazine his company had to scrap plans for a mid-engine V8 Vantage in favor of the front-engine layout, because at the time it was the only design that “made any sense financially.”
Mr. Richards said there is no plan for a mid-engine car before 2010, but anonymous company executives acknowledged there could eventually be “room above Rapide for a supercar like NPX.” The magazine’s source said engine placement is “still a subject to be discussed.”
While a range-topping supercar might not be the only mid-engine Aston planned, it would likely be the first, the magazine says. Expect a price tag somewhere above the $400,000 Rapide — likely in line with the Mercedes SLR.
Below are two illustrations by Motor Forecast of how a mid-engine Aston Martin NPX might look:
04/25, 1:47 PM
posted by:
gbb
Sweet car. homeboy, you need therapy. Nothing wrong with you a good shot of thorazine wouldnt fix.
04/25, 1:52 PM
posted by:
carrerajh
homeboy- you are going to compare a 60,000 Z06 to a 400,000 AM supercar???
that is a stretch. Any way you can make a point without talking about gay sex??
04/25, 1:54 PM
posted by:
gbb
See what I mean? I can see you drooling on yourself from your new meds now…………..LOL
04/25, 1:59 PM
posted by:
bolex
that thing is sweet. Astons always looked nice, but this one really sets is apart.
homeboy doesnt know what thorazine is. hey dip**** your intelligence is amazing.
check your mailbox, i just sent you my foot. so you can shove it up your ass for me. lemme know when you get it. thanks!!
04/25, 1:59 PM
posted by:
carrerajh
And you quote:
“…and are busy having a gay orgy.”
“…nothing that a shotgun fired up the ass…”
so the second one is not specifically gay, but you get the point!
04/25, 2:13 PM
posted by:
bolex
WUSSUP HOMEBOY!!! my friend..yeah im still here with your mum’s.
were you the one that taught her how to boody blow? she’s a champ! thanks again!
04/25, 2:37 PM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
damn that car is tight i really like the front end
04/25, 3:01 PM
posted by:
gbb
CTS, I like the front also. Aston’s style just flat works. I am guessing their new owners have a pretty fat bank roll so I expect some pretty grand things in the future….as if the Rapide wasnt enough…..LOL
04/25, 3:02 PM
posted by:
PrimeGTP
I’ll be keeping an eye on this, maybe Aston being freed from Ford will be the best thing to ever happen to it.
On a side note, interesting to see yet another homeboy post revolving around gay orgies and the like. One wonders if there are not some repressed issues at play there.
04/25, 3:20 PM
posted by:
Fromes
A mid-engine Aston would, to me anyways be one of the coolest cars on the planet…truly hope they bulid something like it
04/25, 3:29 PM
posted by:
RSPINAJR
That car is beautiful…Aston style really does work on any configuration. Great point gbb
04/25, 3:29 PM
posted by:
europerspective
It sounds like they (or the press) are getting a bit carried away. They’ve got to get the Rapide to production which will take a lot of resources. I can’t see them developing a completely new platform for years, which means any talk about it would be nothing but pure speculation at this time
04/25, 3:35 PM
posted by:
PrimeGTP
Well, Aston also JUST changed hands. So the fact that they are even contemplating such a shift in design is indictive that there are interesting years ahead for Aston Martin.
04/25, 3:56 PM
posted by:
jdepould
Ford will still be supplying them though, which is a good thing, because it will help keep their costs down. Prodrive performance + Callum styling = it’s very own two member axis of awesome.
04/25, 3:57 PM
posted by:
meanpants555
Foolish and not what Aston is all about. Aren’t SLRs not selling well? Didn’t Porsche cut the Carrera GTs life short? McLaren F1s didn’t sell like hot cakes. The Veyron? Come on those things aren’t selling either.
Only the Enzo sold out…
04/25, 3:58 PM
posted by:
meanpants555
Focus on reliability, customization and some sort of racing.
04/25, 4:01 PM
posted by:
r3velation
i thought this site was about enthusiasts gathering together to get the latest feed on car news, not bash on every article. homeboy, no disrespect, but there’s something called personal preference. anyway go ahead and start bashing on me, you’re obviously the adult here.
ps. this sounds like a great idea. i love the lines on aston martins, can’t wait to see what it looks like and that technical data.
04/25, 4:18 PM
posted by:
Cobradreamer427
of course most mid engine cars would beat a Z06! The Z06 is FRONT ENGINE moron!
04/25, 4:41 PM
posted by:
carrerajh
meanpants- Didn’t Porsche sell more CGT’s than Enzos, McLarens, SLR’s or Ford GT’s were sold? Maybe more strategy than necessity?
04/25, 4:48 PM
posted by:
carrerajh
THANK YOU r3velation
04/25, 5:05 PM
posted by:
Blakkarr
More Carrera GTs were sold because more were built. That is the whole big deal behind that statement. The other makers?
Ferrari Enzo = 400 units total (assuming you qualified for the chance to buy one at $750k each)
McLaren F1 = about 1000 – 2000 units total maybe
McLaren SLR = 600 units total
Ford GT (GT-40 Mk5) = 1500 units per year for three years = 4500 units.
Porsche Carrera GT = over 6000 units (I keep thinking about 6700 units)
Porsche just made more of them. At $400K+ a car there were really a lot of deep pockets out there looking for something to buy.
The Corvette is a Front Mid engine car at it whups almost everything with three to five times it’s sticker price at the track and as a day car. Better Utility (you can carry luggage or your golf clubs in one with a passenger), better F/econ (go further have more fun), Typically better ride and handling about town and the track (steering feed back still needs help).
04/25, 5:15 PM
posted by:
carrerajh
For performance I agree that the Z06 is the best buy out there. Flat out. For the interior, they still need to do better. You can get a finer quality interior out of a $30,000 VW or Audi than in the top of the line Vette.
04/25, 5:16 PM
posted by:
bolex
homeboy, the more you talk (write) the dumber you make yourself out to be…think about it.
04/25, 5:22 PM
posted by:
r3velation
just a quick note, when did the z06 become part of this article? lol
04/25, 5:27 PM
posted by:
carrerajh
Look at the unfortunate first post for the mention of the Z06. The only time homey even mentions a car. The rest of the time it is just all about ****s and sucking ****s and maybe a few butthole references. I guess we know where his interests are.
04/25, 5:57 PM
posted by:
mosh03
guys, sometimes you just have to let it go, some people are just way more badass than others…. im talking of course, about homeboy…
04/25, 5:57 PM
posted by:
CTS DRIVER
Homegirl is listing his favorite foods, he isnt at all funny, now deantj makes me laugh, homegirl is just dumb.
even if this doesnt see the market its a great new direction for astin, they already make the best looking cars out there.
04/25, 6:05 PM
posted by:
Piablo
Homeboy talks so much **** about Ford and GM, meanwhile the ****head is posting pictures of his “mum’s” Volvo on websites. He doesn’t have a nice enough vehicle himself to post so he post’s his mummy’s and daddy’s cars. Or should I say, “Ian”?? Hey Ian, don’t you know Ford owns Volvo? Tard. In case the people of Bristol don’t know what a tard is, it’s short for retard. I’m sure you make your parents proud every day…
04/25, 8:26 PM
posted by:
Veda
“It’s one thing to verbally devastate someone when they deserve it, in a controlled, frigid, calculating manner”
From what I’ve seen in the past, it’s hardly controlled at all. What happened to the asshole deantj we all love and adore…
04/25, 10:02 PM
posted by:
Ian
lol i only have one account here… hope your not talking about me there april25.. lol
04/25, 11:04 PM
posted by:
meekin111
homeboy is such a prick
04/25, 11:36 PM
posted by:
gtv6
/\ I’d like to add nytimes and myspace to that list. Yeah, I’ve got exams coming up too.
04/25, 11:42 PM
posted by:
Hyperlite
christ are there any moderaters in this place?
04/25, 11:54 PM
posted by:
bolex
deantj, LOL very nice. good luck on exams bud-bolex XJ
04/26, 1:29 AM
posted by:
europerspective
(EDITED FOR CONTENT)
04/26, 2:04 AM
posted by:
fan
i first wanna see specs or pics of a mid-engine aston to come. anything else is pure speculation…
can we talk about cars again? all of you who feel the urge to discuss sexual matters on a car mag… its a free country, but theres better places to do so…
04/26, 7:35 AM
posted by:
meanpants555
McLarens F1 100
Carrera GT 1,270
SLR 3,500 total
Ford GT 4,038
Bugatti Veyron 300 total
These numbers according to Wiki. Considering the amount of effort it takes to enter this realm, I would think Aston could spend its money better.
04/26, 7:40 AM
posted by:
meanpants555
The most succesful cars are those that stay true to the maker’s value: Chrysler 300C, small Fiats, Volvo wagons, etc.
For years the American car makers tried to go after the Accord and Camry and faltered. But then they do the Dodge Challenger and whammo success.
04/26, 7:40 AM
posted by:
meanpants555
I sometimes ponder the true effects of a ‘halo’ product.
04/26, 8:58 AM
posted by:
fan
making this midengine car a halo-car wont increase the overall shine on Aston… it wont falter it, it wont increase it.
lets be honest, the reason for most people who get a Aston over a Jag or a Porsche, ferrari or anything along those lines is the thought of being james bond when they drive it…
thus,. the for sure dont need THIS as a halo… keep working out the 007-Lifestyle for their customers, and the cars will keep rolling out of their factory…
then again, if they take this car seriously, and make it, because people actually WANT it… well, go for it, AM, but be sure to actually have it race in some big series….
04/26, 9:01 AM
posted by:
Jazz
Now that’s what I’m talking about. Told you David Richards knew his stuff. Not liking the front end in the renderings but this is speculation so it doesn’t matter. With Richards on the case hopefully this mannufacturer, with a troubled history, may gain some solid growth.
04/26, 10:06 AM
posted by:
W16
The Rapide doesn´t look like a 400K car… AM should reconsider that price tag. But if so, it would mean that this new mid engine should be around the 600K+ … THIS means that we SHOULD expect figures between Enzo and Veyron- is AM ready for this?
04/26, 11:06 AM
posted by:
meanpants555
400K Rapide is a misprint. It’s a four door DB9.
04/26, 3:51 PM
posted by:
Truck Girl
Wow, sexy-ass car!
04/30, 7:59 PM
posted by:
deutschetouring1337
Just have Faith in Sir Richards….patience!