Aston Martin DB5 celebrates 60th anniversary

Aston Martin DB5

It’s 60 years since the Aston Martin DB5 was unveiled – a model that went on to become an icon of British culture, design and innovation – firmly establishing Aston Martin as one of the world’s most desirable luxury brands.

Now, all these years later, the DB5 is still one of the most recognisable cars ever. Reflecting on the enduring appeal of the DB5 as it marks its 60th anniversary, Aston Martin’s Executive Chairman, Lawrence Stroll – himself a DB5 owner – said: “The David Brown era gave us so many great Aston Martin sports cars but none more recognisable, revered, and desired as the DB5, which laid the foundations of our identity as a British luxury brand synonymous with style, performance, and exclusivity.

“It is only right that, as it turns 60, we take a moment to look back and reflect on this car’s incredible role in our storied 110-year heritage.

“We’re incredibly proud that the DB lineage continues today with the critically acclaimed DB12, which like those came before it, is a celebration of all we love about British hand built sportscars, with a new injection of the latest technology and highest levels of performance.”

Aston Martin DB5

Making its official public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1963. The saloon and the later convertible were in production at the brand’s Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, factory and HQ for a little over two years but, in that time, set about forging a reputation and fame that, today, make them among the most desirable cars of all time.

In all, a mere 887 DB5 saloons, 123 convertibles and 12 bespoke coach-built shooting brakes were made originally.

The DB5 displayed in Germany featured a new 4.0-litre (3,995cc) much reworked version of the 3.7-litre, twin cam, straight six that powered the DB4, with the new engine developing what was, then, a distinctly potent 282 bhp in standard form.

That welcome extra power was part of a raft of detailed technical and equipment changes, such as the debut of electric windows and the optional availability of air conditioning, which had been painstakingly engineered to meet increasingly sophisticated and demanding customer expectations.

Aston Martin DB5

Performance, an Aston Martin trademark even 60 years ago, was commensurate with the car’s svelte styling – the product of Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera – and a top speed exceeding 150 mph prompted the Aston Martin brochure of the day to claim: “The DB5 is the fastest regular 4-seat GT car in the world.”

That hugely impressive statistic, even today, helped British car magazine The Autocar to conclude in their first road test of the new model: “this is a car which cries out to be driven, to be driven well, and to be driven far.”

This grandest of grand tourers laid the groundwork for the cars that followed, with today’s DB12 – the world’s first Super Tourer – once again asserting Aston Martin’s position as a leader in performance, dynamics, engineering and technology.

Of course, there’s no doubt that the decision by film-makers EON Productions to put the world’s most well-known secret agent behind the wheel of the new DB5 in a series of James Bond movies over the course of more than half a century has cemented its place in the automotive hall of fame. But 007 is far from the only ‘celebrity’ to have been seen behind the wheel of this now iconic Aston Martin.

The Swinging Sixties were about to take off as crowds jostled for a glimpse of the new DB5 in Frankfurt and, within only a few years, many of the most famous actors, pop stars and celebrities of the day would be counting themselves fortunate to be among the exclusive ranks of Aston Martin ownership.

Celebrated DB5 patrons in the 1960s include The Beatles’ Sir Paul McCartney and George Harrison and Rolling Stone Mick Jagger. Comic genius Peter Sellers also acquired the model, while a plethora of notable names in the years since – from Robert Plant and Jay Kay to Elle McPherson and Ralph Lauren – have ensured that saloon and convertible versions of the car alike have rarely left the limelight.

The DB5’s celebrity appeal proved to be a springboard for success and helped take Aston Martin from niche British sports car maker to global automotive superstar.

Mercedes-AMG One sets new Nurburgring lap record

Home / Auto Video / Mercedes-AMG One sets new Nurburgring lap record

Gareth Herincx

1 day ago
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The F1-inspired Mercedes-AMG One has become the fastest production car to lap the famous Nurburgring Nordschleife.

The new hypercar clocked 6:35.183 minutes, beating the previous record (set by a Porsche 911 GT2 RS) by a remarkable eight seconds.

Despite less-than-ideal track conditions, DTM racing driver Maro Engel waited until his final attempt to set his hottest lap of the 13-mile “Green Hell”.

“That was really an unforgettable experience,” said Maro, after completing the lap. “I didn’t expect that we would be able to set such a lap time with these track conditions.

“In some crucial areas of the track, it hadn’t dried completely yet and was therefore tricky. That was a special challenge.”

The Mercedes-AMG One is powered by a hybrid setup which combines one combustion engine with four electric motors, delivering 1,049bhp in the process. It has a claimed top speed of 218.7mph, active aerodynamics (including a DRS function) and all-wheel-drive.

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Gareth is a versatile journalist, copywriter and digital editor who’s worked across the media in newspapers, magazines, TV, teletext, radio and online. After long stints at the BBC, GMTV and ITV, he now specialises in motoring.

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Bruno Senna laps Miami GP circuit in all-new McLaren Artura

F1 legend Ayrton Senna’s nephew, Bruno, has become one of the first drivers to lap the brand-new Miami GP circuit at the wheel of the all-new McLaren Artura ‘High-Performance Hybrid’.

The drive comes 21 years on from Ayrton’s final US Grand Prix victory driving for McLaren at the Phoenix street circuit in Arizona.

The laps around the new 5.41km (3.36-mile) purpose-built Miami International Autodrome, with the iconic Hard Rock Stadium at its heart, marked the dynamic debut of the McLaren Artura in North America, which is set to become the largest market for the ‘HPH’ supercar when customer deliveries begin in July.

With its 19 corners and three straights including elevation changes over an exit ramp and under various flyovers, together with three DRS zones, the circuit provided Bruno with plenty of opportunities to fully exploit the handling and performance of the Artura which, as McLaren’s first ever series-production hybrid supercar, delivers both torque in-fill to maximise acceleration and full EV driving capability.

“It was truly amazing to be able to push the McLaren Artura around this dynamic and free-flowing new Grand Prix circuit in the heart of Miami,” said McLaren Ambassador and racing driver, Bruno.

“The Artura is a car that keeps on giving, especially on a track; it’s smooth and refined but with an aggressive edge that is just waiting to be discovered as you utilise the E-motor combined with the powerful V6 engine. It’s predictable and fun – the perfect ride for a Grand Prix weekend.”

Built on the all-new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture, which is uniquely optimised for HPH models and produced in-house at the McLaren Composites Technology Centre in the Sheffield region of the UK, the Artura features an all-new hybrid powertrain that comprises a twin-turbocharged 3.0 litre V6 engine, axial flux E-motor and energy-dense battery pack, which in combination with McLaren’s super-lightweight engineering philosophy delivers electrification without compromise.

With power and torque outputs of 680PS (671bhp) and 720Nm (531lb ft) respectively, the Artura can accelerate from 0-60mph in 3.0 seconds and has a maximum speed of 330km/h (205mph). An all-new lightweight eight-speed transmission combined with a new rear suspension design, uprated electro-hydraulic steering and Proactive Damping Control enhance the traditional agility, stability and dynamic performance for which McLaren road cars have become renowned.

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Morgan Motor Company has provided a unique insight into its iconic production facility, with the release of a First-Person View (FPV) drone video.

Showcasing the 108-year-old factory in Malvern, Worcestershire, the video takes viewers through each workshop, and follows the route taken by the Plus Four and Plus Six as the sports cars are built.

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Gareth is a versatile journalist, copywriter and digital editor who’s worked across the media in newspapers, magazines, TV, teletext, radio and online. After long stints at the BBC, GMTV and ITV, he now specialises in motoring.

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New BMW i7 undergoes extreme final testing

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BMW is conducting driving dynamics evaluation of its upcoming i7 – billed as the world’s first pure-electric luxury saloon.

The team is based at the BMW Group’s winter test centre in Arjeplog, Sweden.

Situated just a short distance from the Arctic Circle, the freezing environment and snow-covered roads present the perfect conditions for engineers to fine-tune the performance of all drive and suspension systems.

The intensive winter testing programme also focuses on the components of the all-electric drive system, including the motor, high-voltage battery, power electronics and charging technology.

The BMW i7 (pictured in heavy camouflage) is due to launch in 2022.

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Gareth is a versatile journalist, copywriter and digital editor who’s worked across the media in newspapers, magazines, TV, teletext, radio and online. After long stints at the BBC, GMTV and ITV, he now specialises in motoring.

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