Aston Martin AM310: A preview of things to come?

By Stephen Edelstein May 29, 2012

James Bond’s car is about to be replaced, and for the first time we have an idea of what that replacement will look like. The Aston Martin DB9 starred in the two most recent Bond films, but its time is up. At last weekend’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, Aston unveiled Project AM310, a preview of the DBS’ replacement.

Aston Martins are some of the best looking cars around, so the company apparently decided not to fix what wasn’t broken. The AM310’s styling is an evolution of the DB9’s, and was heavily influenced by the One-77 hypercar.

Recommended Videos

The headlights and voluptuous fenders look like they were taken straight off the One-77. Since the AM310 will be less exotic (only 77 of the $1,000,000 hyper-Astons were made), those cues are toned down. For example, the AM310 lacks the One-77’s massive side vents and jowl-like front-side intakes, which would probably ingest pigeons on the way to the coffee shop.

The overall effect makes for a more streamlined, lithe coupe, like a DB9 that lost a few pounds. That is literally true, since the AM310 has a carbon fiber body (check out the unpainted roof), in addition to an aluminum chassis based on the current DB9’s VH architecture.

Aston did not talk about the powertrain, but the AM310 is expected to have the same 5.9-liter V12 as the DB9, albeit with more power.

The transition from AM310 to next-gen DBS takes place this summer; the production version will debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August, coinciding with Aston’s 100th anniversary. According to Aston, the AM310’s styling is slightly more provocative than the production car’s, so some changes will be made. A name change isn’t out of the question either.

The AM310, or whatever it ends up being called, is not a radical reinvention of the DB9, but does it have to be? The new car may look a lot like the old one, but it still looks good. Some people might quickly glance at it and say that it looks like last year’s model, but others will just see a gorgeous car that tugs at their purse strings. Aston may not be able to do this forever but, for now, it works.

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Is DC fast charging really that bad for your EV’s battery? We asked the experts

Charging a Chevy Blazer EV

It's commonplace to hear about best practices for ensuring that your EV's battery remains in top condition for the longest period of time. Chief among those is to only charge your electric vehicle to 80%. Also common, however, is the idea that DC fast charging your EV all the time degrades the battery in a way that can impact range.

That prospect is made even worse by the fact that range is already an issue when it comes to electric vehicles. Range anxiety is one of the biggest downsides of buying an electric vehicle, considering the fact that EVs take longer to refuel and there are far fewer charging stations than there are gas stations. And when you only charge your vehicle to 80%, you'll only get four-fifths of the range that the manufacturer advertised.

Cars

2025 Porsche Macan EV first drive: electrifying a bestseller

2025 Porsche Macan

Porsche is giving EVs a major vote of confidence. While the brand will continue to sell non-EVs for many years, including the emblematic 911, it developed the second generation of the Macan exclusively with electric power in mind. You won’t find a twin-turbocharged V6 or a plug-in hybrid system on the specifications sheet; it’s all electric, all the time. That’s a bold move -- we’re talking about one of Porsche’s bestselling models, not a niche car that has a greater effect on image than on sales. Was it the right move? Join us as we find out.
Subtly electric

There’s no mistaking the new Macan for its predecessor when you walk past it. It’s characterized by styling cues that align it with the Taycan sedan, which was the first series-produced electric Porsche. Up front, rectangular lights are accented by four individual LEDs; in back, there’s a light bar that makes the SUV appear wider than it actually is. Nothing about the design screams “I’m electric!” but there are relatively subtle hints if you know where to look. Here’s a cheat sheet: the front overhang is shorter than the original Macan’s and the wheelbase is nearly 4 inches longer. That’s because engineers had to package a massive battery pack rather than an engine.

Cars

Everything we know about the Tesla Cybercab

Tesla Cybercab at night

After years of rumors and hype, Tesla has finally unveiled its plans for the future of autonomous driving in the form of the new Tesla Cybercab. The Cybercab is the company's end goal for self-driving tech, essentially serving as a vehicle that's completely autonomous to the point that it doesn't even have a steering wheel. The car was finally shown off at Tesla's "We, Robot" event on October 10 and gives a look at what Tesla thinks is the future of transportation.

At the event, Tesla CEO Elon Musk gave us a ton of details about the vehicle itself and what Tesla hopes to achieve with it. There's still plenty we don't know about the Tesla Cybercab, but here's a look at everything that we do know.
Exterior design
The design of the vehicle is perhaps less surprising than you might assume. It looks kind of like a crossover between the Cybertruck and the Model 3, offering long light bars on the front and rear and a futuristic overall look, but in the shape of something that at least kind of resembles a typical car. Like the Model 3 and Model Y, it has a curved roofline along the top, but unlike those cars, it terminates in a flat rear similar to that of the cismCybertruck.