Palm Beach Daily News from Palm Beach, Florida • 18

B3 Advertising Supplement to the Palm Beach Daily News, Thursday, February 20, 2003 2003 Aston Martin V12 III a. -i Is Yokohama 25540 ZR 19 front and 28540 ZR 19 rear tyres, which have been designed exclusively for the VI 2 Vanquish and carry the AML initials, are mounted on 19" diameter wheels with 228 mm width rims at the front and 254 mm width rims at the rear. Indi- vidual tyre pressures and temperatures are monitored through an automatic elec- tronic sensing system. Interior Customers of the new Aston Martin VI 2 Vanquish are invited to Newport Pag- nell in advance of produc- tion to select the body colour and hide upholstery scheme and either the two two plus two seat configura- tion. A deep centre console unit separates the driver and front passenger seats and incorporates a red engine starter button, the sound sys-; tern and the climate control system.

The white faced major instruments and mes- sage centre which can relay information in eleven differ- ent languages have been designed in conjunction withVisteon. They are grouped in a binnacle directly in front of the driver with the gear change paddles I mounted on the steering col-'. umn. The overall interior design is a subtle blend of tradition-; al, classic and modern mate- rials with top quality grade hide upholstery matched to contemporary metal interior fittings and finishes. Both the windscreen wipers and lighting system can be pro- grammed to operate auto- matically.

Satellite naviga- tion is also available together with many other features which can be installed to satisfy individual requirements of customers. Electronics The Visteon electronic control system which is integrated into the design of the new VI 2 Vanquish is the most sophisticated yet to be installed in any model from Aston Martin and has the capacity to process 2.0 mil- -lion commands per second. It facilitates continuous dia- logue between the engine, the transmission and the braking system and communicates information in just 8 milliseconds. It monitors and records the mechanical performance of the entire vehicle and provides a high security anti-theft system, "This will be the most dynamic, technically advanced and sophisticated new model ever to be intro- duced by Aston Martin," said Ulrich Bez Chief Executive of Aston Martin. "It will provide exhilarating per- formance with impeccable -handling and is a true driv- -er's car.

We believe the new V12 Vanquish will have the -ability to continually exceed -owner expectations." Palm Beach Motor Cars 915 S. Dixie Highway West Palm Beach 561-659-6206 tronics matched to hydraulics to facilitate instantaneous gear changes. Sophis-ticatedelectronics also permit the manual transmission to operate automatically with the additional facility of a programme for winter driving conditions which automatically reduces the power and torque of the engine. Brakes, Suspension and Steering Anti-lock ventilated and drilled 355mm (front) and 330mm (rear) diameter Brembo disc brakes are fitted to the aluminium alloy road wheels together with variable ratio power steering and independent front and rear suspension systems which incorporate forged aluminium wishbones and cast aluminium front suspension uprights. The rear axle is equipped with a limited slip differential in tandem with electronic traction control which senses potential wheel slippage and automatically reduces engine power and if necessary applies the rear brake system.

The which have become the hallmarks of a modern Aston Martin are flanked by the equally bold and distinctive auxiliary driving lamps and front direction turn indicators. Both the front wings and bonnet panels incorporate a series of finely detailed compound curves which sweep back to the steeply raked windscreen pillars and low curving roof line. Deeply sculptured sill and door panels accentuate this classic design for this most modern of Aston Martins while the prominent rear wheel arches with the short tail section and rear spoiler incorporated in the boot lid complement the classic overall proportions of the VI 2 Vanquish. All the exterior body panels are constructed from aluminium with each individual panel hand tailored to the central structure to ensure a perfect panel fit. The V12 Vanquish is available as either a two or two plus two seat coupe with each and every model hand-built, finished and equipped to the exact and individual requirements of its customer.

The new VI 2 Vanquish benefits from the most comprehensive and exhaustive test programme ever to be undertaken by Aston Martin with 50 prototypes covering more than 1.6 million kilometres 1 .0 million miles). Components and systems were subjected to a series of exhaustive trials on test rigs in Ford Research and Development Centres in Britain, mainland Europe and the United States. In order to assess the integrity and durability of the bonded body structure an environmental wind tunnel was employed to subject a Vanquish body to extremes of temperature ranging from minus to plus81C. In addition to high speed endurance and accelerated durability trials for vehicles and components completed at Ford and component manufacturers proving grounds in Australia, the USA, Canada and Europe, Lotus Engineering were contracted to assist with the development of this totally new car from Aston Martin. At the concept stage the new VI 2 Vanquish was previewed at a series of international motor shows in North America and Europe during the first half of 1998.

Such was the response to Project Vantage that immediately following its public unveiling at the North American International Auto Show in January 1998 the decision was taken to proceed with production. "The wealth and abundance of expertise and technology which is now available to Aston Martin is reflected throughout this new model," said Dr Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive of Aston Martin. "However it is technology which is appropriate to an Aston Martin and complementary to the unique individual skills and expertise of our craftsmen. It is all technology which is targetted and tailored to provide positive benefits to all our customers. "We will continue to build each car individually so that we can continue to satisfy the most exacting requirements of each customer.

In order to maintain and improve on the standards of quality and service which we The Aston Martin VI 2 Vanquish is the most sophisticated and technologically advanced new model ever to be designed, developed and built by the company. With a maximum speed in excess of 300 kmh( 190 mph) and a 6.0 litre VI 2 engine developing 460 horsepower the totally new Aston Martin VI 2 Vanquish is the company's top of the range, flagship model. Available as either a two or two plus two seat coupe the VI 2 Vanquish will accelerate to 60 mph in 4-5 seconds (0-100 kmh in under 5.0 seconds) and 160 kmh (100 mph) in under 10 seconds. Through the application of advanced design techniques and materials it is lighter, stiffer and stronger and offers superior performance to that of the V8 engined Vantage model which it replaced. In conjunction with the electronic drive-by-wire throttle system which is fitted to the second generation 460 horsepower 6.0 litre VI 2 Aston Martin engine, finger tip controlled Formula 1 style paddles enable almost imperceptible gear changes to be completed in under 250 milliseconds less than the blink of an eye.

Advanced electronics also permit the close ratio six speed manual transmission to be programmed to operate automatically with the added facility of a special programme tailored to winter driving conditions. With close co-operation and technical assistance from the Ford Research Vehicle Technology Group and Ford Research laboratories the new V12 Vanquish represents the largest ever investment by Aston Martin in advanced technology and it pioneers a series of world firsts in its design and construction. The main body structure utilises carbon fibre, extruded aluminium1 and composite materials bonded together to form a central monocoque safety cell with additional deform-able composite structure energy absorbent zones at both front and rear. It provides high standards of efficiency, structural integrity, torsional rigidity and occupant crash protection. The V12 Vanquish is being offered for sale throughout the world with more than 70 of the annual production of 500 cars scheduled for customers outside the UK.

A Design Classic International award winning designer Ian Callum's elegant, classic body design which reflects the pedigree, heritage and tradition of Aston Martin is both bold and dynamic with finely detailed features for the interior and the exterior. With the capacity to continue to turn heads the design of the VI 2 Vanquish is already established as a modern classic. Perfectly proportioned from every aspect, the design confirms the promise of outstanding "Supercar" performance and the impeccable pedigree of the VI 2 Vanquish as the new flagship of Aston Martin. Every carefully detailed feature provides graphic evidence of the painstaking craftsmanship and quality which is invested in its construction. The distinctive radiator grille and lower air intake Each body receives eight coats of paint with eight hides and 12m of Wilton carpet being used to complete the furnishing of the interior.

Engine Further development of Aston Martin's low emissions all alloy twin overhead camshaft 48 valve 6.0 litre VI 2 engine with new design inlet manifolds, camshafts, valve gear, crankshaft and exhaust system has generated a 10 increase in power. With the catalysts located immediately adjacent to the exhaust manifold they achieve optimum operating efficiency within 30 seconds to further reduce emissions. To ensure that heat from the engine and exhaust system is insulated from the body structure the entire exhaust system and the front bulkhead is clad in a heat resistant material first developed within the aerospace industry and a unique engine oil to water heat exchanger accelerates and assists operating efficiency. Transmission The six speed close ratio manual transmission which is installed in the new VI 2 Vanquish is linked to the electronic drive-by-wire throttle and controlled through twin paddles mounted on the steering column. Developed in conjunction with Magnetti-Marelli and Ford RVT the advanced paddle shift gear change incorporates elec '0 provide to our customers it will still require eight weeks to complete a VI 2 Vanquish." The Body Structure The main body structure of the new V12 Vanquish including the floor and the front and rear bulkheads is formed from extruded aluminium sections bonded and riveted around the central transmission tunnel which is constructed entirely from carbon fibre.

Single piece composite inner body side sections with carbon fibre windscreen pillars are also bonded to the central structure to create a high strength safety cell. The precise, computer controlled, manufacturing processes which have been developed in Cupertino with Ford Research Laboratories and Nottingham University for the construction of the composite sections and the carbon fibre windscreen pillars are unique to the production of this latest Aston Martin. Immediately ahead of the driver and passenger compartment a steel, aluminium and carbon fibre subframe carries the engine, transmission and front suspension and is bolted directly to the front bulkhead. There is a further deformable composite structure which employs the distinctive Aston Martin mesh air intake grille as a stressed member located ahead of the engine and front suspension to provide additional crash protection and accommodate the engine, transmission and air conditioning radiators and intercoolers. A completely flat surface has been developed for the underbody enabling air to be channelled into a Venturi section at the rear to assist high speed aerodynamics.

At the rear the composite floor, parcel shelf ana side rails of the luggage compartment are also designed to provide additional deformable crash protection together with the extruded aluminium side impact beams located in the doors. All of the exterior panels, including the roof, bonnet, boot lid, front and rear wings and doors are produced from "super-plastic-formed" and pressed aluminium. However each individual panel is tailored and bonded to the central structure by hand to ensure a perfect fit and finish. There is a limitless range of body colours and a limitless choice of hide upholstery for the air-conditioned interior. ys iH unites.