No show at Geneva but then Geneva was a no-show as well
by Wallace Wyss –
Geneva was supposed to be the big show for Aston Martin this year with a flamboyant SUV and a V12 Speedster developed by the company’s Q bespoke division in charge of special projects, the “Q” of course lifted from the name Ian Fleming used in his James Bond books for the chief gadgeteer.
But then the virus hit, and there was no Geneva show. But word leaked out and here it is a peek at what we missed strutting across the stage.
The car took a year to develop, based on elements from the DBS Superleggera and Vantage.
The styling inputs go waaaaay back to such oldies but goodies as the 1953 DB3S and 1959 DBR1. More modern influences are the more recent 2013 CC100 Speedster concept.
It’s a limited edition. Only 88 will be hand-built to order, and while no price has been released, rumors are it will be at least £750,000.
Now warning before you break your piggy bank–The V12 Speedster has no soft top or folding hardtop roof, none at all, similar to some other Aston limited editions. But it goes beyond Bentley Mulliner Bacalar topless two seater in that the Aston also lacks a windshield, such as the McLaren Elva. The wheels are forged 21-inch centerlocks with 410-mm front and 360-mm rear carbon-ceramic brakes providing the stopping power.
DESIGN CRITIQUE
FRONT Traditional Aston Grille. Interesting “blacking out” around the headlamps which makes them look black when not turned on. The raised portion of the hood looks like the front deck lid is coming loose.
SIDE Not too much new, even Corvette-ish or Camaro inspired as far as side concavity. But there is one exciting part, the way the rear fender flares sweep up to join the “blister” behind the bucket sears (too bad there’s a seam there). Can’t explain why some pictures show see-through doors. Don’t know if it’s glass or you are supposed to drive with open door areas like Jeep Gladiator? Sure thrilling until you hit a puddle and get a lapfull of water.
REAR Exciting rear spoiler carried into main body but add a roll bar which could be rear anchorage for cloth top. Dividing the cockpit a la ’50s D Jag is exciting, I think marginally better for safety.
IN SUM… Showing models that have no roof is making them less justifiable a purchase already but showing them with no roof and no windscreen renders them flat illegal in some places. Ferrari had two recent ones like this and then later said “Oh, if you want a windscreen we can do that.” So it’s a bit of a bait-and switch. Any two seater looks sexy without a windscreen…
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
THE AUTHOR: Wallace Wyss has written 18 books on classic cars. He is co-host of Autotalk, a radio show broadcast once a week from KUCR-FM Riverside.
Images compliments of Aston Martin.
Tell them to go back to the AH 3000 for Roasters and the Aston Martin DB 5 for the Coupe/ Sedan. This is no contest.
Correction, “Roadster”
IF YOUR GOING TO TALK ABOUT THIS CAR, WHY NOT MENTION THE SPECS ON THE TRANSMISSION AND WHAT SPEED /TIME, AT SPECIFIC RPMs???