Most cars are bland.  Some cars are interesting.  Then there are some that make your pulse race.  They make your hands a little sweaty. They make you want to do something really, really stupid.  This car is one of those special machines.  It’s the 2011 Aston Martin V12 Vantage Carbon Black Edition.

No mere mortal V12 Vantage, the Carbon Black Edition adds some goodies such as carbon fiber accents, redesigned grille, special wheels, special black paint, and some interior upgrades.  Granted, it does cost an extra $15000, but when you’re looking at a base price of $179,995, what’s an extra fifteen grand?

2011 V12 Vantage Specs

• 510 HP 6.0 liter V12
• 420 lb-ft of torque
• 6 speed manual transmission available
• 0-60 MPH in 4.2 seconds
• 190 MPH top speed

Stunning good looks, shocking performance, and extreme exclusivity combine to make the V12 Vantage an amazing machine.  The Carbon Black package makes it even more exclusive, and (somehow) even sexier. Yum.

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My, how sexy you are.  The Aston Martin Vantage RS looks so good I’ll forget that this one is powder blue.  The awful color doesn’t even matter when you’re talking about a car that is this drop-dead gorgeous.  Since this is the Vantage RS, it’s packing more than good looks.  Under the hood sits a 420 HP 4.3 liter V8 – good for 0-60 in about 4.5 seconds.  Aston also put this beast on a diet – a 330 lb diet to be exact.  An extra 40 HP ( vs the regular Vantage ) and 330 lbs less?  Sign me up for one – even if it’s powder blue.

Some Swedish photographer managed to capture these shots of the upcoming Aston Martin DBS Volante.  For those who aren’t down with British terminology, Volante simply means convertible.  In the case of the DBS Volante, no hardware changes are in store except for the new top.  Granted, there likely won’t be much room in the back, but who cares?  The best seat in an Aston Martin is the one with the loud pedal. 

Expect to pay about $300 grand if you want to add a DBS Volante to your collection.  Click the link below for the rest of the fantastic pics of the gorgeous car.

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If that doesn’t get you going, you might be dead.  If you’re loaded and need a 4 door, it doesn’t get any better looking than the Rapide.  Forget about the Panamera, Aston Martin is where it’s at.  This car is simply gorgeous.

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Aston Martin’s have really been growing on me lately, and the 2008 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster is no exception to that rule. In fact, this is one of the most beautiful cars on the road, period.

I’ve never been a real fan of British cars, mainly because of the history of electrical gremlins. However, this piece of automobile artistry makes me forget all about that. All I can think about is sitting behind the wheel, and pressing the Start button, and enjoying the roar of that magical 4.3 liter V8.

Of course, I would probably be tempted to mash on the loud pedal, just a little bit. Well, after hearing the sounds that are likely to be produced, I’d probably push down a little harder. Ahh it’s probably best that I don’t get any seat time in this puppy – I don’t need the speeding ticket.

2008 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster Specs

• 380 HP 4.3 liter V8, with 302 lb-ft of torque
• 6 speed manual transmission, with optional Sportshift
• Estimated 0-60 in 4.9 seconds
• Top speed 175 MPH
• MSRP : About $125 grand or so
• EPA Says : Who cares, you’re driving a frickin Aston Martin

2008 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster ReviewsThe Car Connection reviews the 2008 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster and writes – ‘If all this sounds a bit too much like a love note, it probably does come close, but we do have some modest complaints, most of them involving the interior. The cabin is, overall, quite tastefully outfitted, with plenty of leather and suede-like alcantara. So why does the center stack not quite live up to the overall look-and-feel? For one thing, it took quite some time to find the buttons controlling the navigation system, which relies on a screen that pops out from the top of the instrument panel. The driver’s gauges are, however, far more satisfying, both lavish and functional in design.’

Well, it’s official.  Aston Martin is sold to Louis Vuitton.  Yea, the French Louis Vuitton.  Yea, the same company that makes the purses. 

It’s hard to imagine Aston Martin, a very very British nameplate, belonging to the French, of all possible options.  Hell, if I had the money, I’d have bought Aston myself, just so the French didn’t get ahold of it. 

I still can’t believe it.. the French… French Aston Martin…

For what it’s worth, Ford is hanging on to 15% of Aston, but the French get the rest.

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Jalopnik reports that Aston Martin may be closer to a sale than any of us may have previously thought. There are just four contenders left in the bidding, down from about 30 or so in the beginning. Jacque Nasser ( formerly the head honcho at Ford ) is apparently in the running, as well as Simon Halabi, a Syrian billionaire. Now, I’m not a fan of the French people ( in fact, I pretty much don’t like them all together ) , but I’d much prefer Mr. Nasser to get ahold of Aston rather than some secretive bazillionaire from Syria. All in all, I’d like to see Ford hang on to Aston, and dump Jaguar. Anyone else agree?