Aston Martin has released today the second part of their new promotional series of films featuring the Rapide sedan. The new video is called "True Power Should Be Shared" and its even more impressive than the first part, so enjoy!



After more than 3 years of speculation, the English coach builder Aston Martin unveiled the Rapide - their first four door sedan in the super car maker’s lineup.

The Rapide’s engine is the venerable 6.0 Liter V12 lifted directly from the Aston Martin DB9, and makes the exact same 470 HP and 443 lb-ft of torque as the coupe. The fat four door goes from 0 to 60 MPH in just 5.1 seconds and reaches a top speed of 188 MPH.

The Rapide’s power plant is mated to a six speed Touchtronic 2 automatic transmission, which offers the ease of a traditional automatic via the push buttons mounted on the dash or a much sportier manual transmission mode with the wheel mounted paddle shifters.

According to the automaker: "There is a real sense of proportion with this car, akin to a tailored suit; the new double grill gives more presence on the road while the iconic signature side strake has been lengthened through to the rear doors to enhance its lateral proportions in a subtle, yet elegant way. The car’s purity makes it look right from every angle."

With the Blanc de Blancs collection, the innovative German luxury automotive manufacture Graf Weckerle Imperialwagen celebrates the tradition and spirit of the grand French champagne houses. Working with the same awareness for prefect craftsmanship and highest quality standards, the designers of the luxury tuning brand Graf Weckerle Imperialwagen create a reference to this special champagne in the automotive world. The visual presence of the Graf Weckerle Imperialwagen Blanc de Blancs is as unique as the Blanc de Blancs champagne itself, being made only of Chardonnay grapes. The Graf Weckerle interpretation of the Blanc de Blancs recites the culture and lifestyle of the world of champagne in the colors white, green and gold.

























Both the grand houses in the Champagne and the engineers and designers of Graf Weckerle Imperialwagen constantly strive to achieve the perfect “assemblage”, the balanced assembly of all components in order to create a timeless masterpiece. Therefore, both products, the sparkling champagne and the masterfully refined sports cars always benefit from the passion and experience of their creators.

For the Graf Weckerle manufacture this means that only selected vehicles are allowed to undergo the sophisticated transformation from ordinary sports car to a Graf Weckerle Imperialwagen Blanc de Blancs. The current application program includes the Aston Martin Vantage and DB 9 / DB S models as well as the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano and from spring 2011, the Ferrari 458 Italia.

The following vehicle, an Aston Martin Vantage V8 Roadster shows the impressive fusion of high-class automotive refinement and champagne attitude, since the Graf Weckerle Imperialwagen Blanc de Blancs perfectly represents elegance, style and pure luxury.

From the flawless special metallic-white exterior paint reciting the white Chardonnay grapes to the shimmering green Graf Weckerle Coachline surrounded by precious gold-leafing, every exciting feature of the Blanc the Blancs breathes the European spirit of luxurious champagne. The unique design scheme is continued all over the vehicle, from the stylish interior made of bright white leather and Puroyale high-tech velvet and the massive (750) gold Graf Weckerle Imperialwagen emblems on the seats to the characteristic beauty of the Graf Weckerle Fleur-de-Lis ornamental wheel, each detail perfectly represents the culture and sophistication of the French champagne theme, the white color for the grapes, the green color for the glass of the bottle, and the Gold of the champagne itself – innovation and perfect execution made by Graf Weckerle Imperialwagen

The unique and simply beautiful Graf Weckerle Fleur-de-Lis ornamental wheel perfectly blends into the overall champagne design scheme – the characteristic Fleur-de-Lis symbol itself represents the great culture and tradition of the Grande Nation. Actually, the most famous monarch of the French House of Bourbon, the legendary Louis XIV, better known as the Roi Soleil, was one of the first connoisseurs of the noble taste of champagne, declaring it as his favorite beverage.

This, of course, creates a profound thematic tie between the luxurious Blanc de Blancs idea and the unchallenged elegance of the Graf Weckerle Imperialwagen Fleur-de-Lis ornamental wheel.

Manufactured and hand-assembled from over 180 individual parts, the Graf Weckerle Imperialwagen Fleur-de-Lis ornamental wheel is one true masterpiece of German engineering and design. Visually, the unique wheel-sculpture boasts with the elegant contrast of the ceramic-white Fleur-de-Lis elements and the surrounding jewelry-like edge. This new surface finish is achieved through a special polishing and refining process taken from the workbench of watchmakers and jewelers.

The unique technical features of the Graf Weckerle Fleur-de-Lis ornamental wheel include a sophisticated and complex machining and milling process of the forged wheel disc. This ensures an optimum weight and allows the wheel design to be sculpted light and airy. The Graf Weckerle Imperialwagen Fleur de Lis wheel of course is TÜV-approved, and like all Graf Weckerle Imperialwagen components it is 100% made and developed in Germany, all production steps and processes are subject to strict quality controls in order to constantly ensure the legendary German quality. All components of the wheel are custom made of special heat-treated titanium and aluminum alloys by the Graf Weckerle manufacture, starting from the uniquely forged wheel disc with its spectacular three-dimensional shape, to the most complex and demanding machining and milling process in the automotive wheel industry so far. The special white color of the Fleur-de-Lis elements and the Graf Weckerle brand logo in the center of the wheel recites the white Chardonnay grapes. It is the result of an innovative ceramic surface treatment, ensuring remarkable gloss and longevity at the same time. The passion for details of the Graf Weckerle designers even does not stop when it comes to such small parts as the valve cap which is carefully hand-engraved and painted with the Graf Weckerle brand logo.

The interior of a Graf Weckerle Imperialwagen of the Blanc de Blancs Edition is one elegant dream made of white velvet and leather, subtly accented by the colors green and gold. Naturally, the Blanc de Blancs Edition also incorporates the classic Graf Weckerle Imperialwagen interior design scheme with the characteristic design partition in the seats and door panels. Surrounded by the stylish and elegant white leather carrying on the Chardonnay grape color, the inner partitions of the seats and door panels are covered with precious white Graf Weckerle Puroyale, a specially developed high-tech velvet material. The Graf Weckerle Puroyale of the Blanc de Blancs Edition is further refined by rich Graf Weckerle Millefleurs embroidery, also finished in noble white.
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This all-white interior is accented with green piping and green leather ribbons masterfully integrated into the seats and door panels, these are further enhanced by custom-embossed Graf Weckerle brand logos. The green leather details represent the shiny green glass of the champagne bottles. Another marvelous highlight of the interior is the massive gold Graf Weckerle Imperialwagen brand logo in the upper seat area. It is manufactured of pure 750 yellow gold and custom-finished with green enamel paint by hand, the gold of course represents the champagne itself.

The unique Blanc de Blancs interior design scheme with the colors white, green and gold finds its counterpart in the tasteful exterior paint. The basic color “Blanc de Blancs” is a custom-developed white metallic paint. It is magnificently accented by the typical Graf Weckerle Imperialwagen Coachline with the integrated Graf Weckerle Imperialwagen brand logo. The Graf Weckerle Coachline emphasizes the waistline of the automotive body, giving it more accentuation and elegance. For the Blanc de Blancs edition, the Coachline is finished in a special shimmering green color and lavishly surrounded by true 24-carat gold-leafing. All exterior detailing is extremely demanding and always executed by a masterful hand.

No Graf Weckerle Imperialwagen would be complete without the refinement of major technical areas like the chassis and drivetrain. In order to keep up with the visual presence of the Blanc de Blancs theme, the Graf Weckerle Imperialwagen manufacture also provides various power upgrades and suspension refinements. Depending on the make, model and engine type, the Graf Weckerle engineers offer up to 560 hp out of a Aston Martin DB S engine, the Graf Weckerle-tuned version of the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano 12-cylinder engine boasts with two compressors and incredible 835 hp of pure driving power.

This Aston Martin V8 Vantage has been equipped with an optimized ECU and a stainless steel sports exhaust system bringing it to impressive 470 hp. The chassis of the Vantage has been reworked with progressive lowering coil springs, Graf Weckerle Imperialwagen also offers complete coil-over suspension systems with new adjustable sports shock absorbers for most Aston Martin and Ferrari models.

[Source: Graf Weckerle Imperialwagen Press]

Aston Martin Racing has launched a new Aston Martin Vantage GT4 for 2011. The new V8 engined racing car takes design inspiration from Aston Martin V12 Vantage road car, giving it enhanced aerodynamics and increased downforce. It also has a remapped 4.7 litre engine offering increased levels of power and torque.

As with the current 4.7 litre Aston Martin Vantage GT4, which made its race debut in 2009, the 2011 car is closely based on the V8 Vantage road car with key attributes being carried over including the aluminium chassis, base engine and suspension design. In addition to the engine and aero upgrades, competitors can, for the first time, choose a race-developed Bosch ABS and traction control system. This system has been specifically optimised by Bosch Motorsport for the Aston Martin Vantage GT4 to provide race-enhanced performance in both wet and dry conditions.

The Aston Martin Vantage GT4's new splitter increases downforce at the front of the car, as well as channelling cooling air to the brakes and radiator. At the rear, the car gains the V12's larger boot 'flip'. This works together with a new carbon fibre diffuser and rear underfloor, which create an area of low pressure under the rear of the car, to increase downforce. The redesigned underfloor also channels more air through a new rear-mounted high capacity transmission oil cooler.

Aston Martin Racing has built and sold more than 80 Vantage GT4s to customers around the world in the last two years and it has become the most successful car in its class. In 2010, it won the European GT4 Cup as well as the GT4 class at the Dubai 24 Hours, the Nürburgring 24 Hours and the Spa 24 hours. The car also has its own one-make series, the Aston Martin GT4 Challenge of Great Britain, which was won in its inaugural year by Chris and Ant Scragg. The new Vantage GT4 will be eligible for this Challenge, as well as the European GT4 Cup and all other series with a GT4 class.