Full Press Release Here: http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/03/geneva-preview-aston-martin-v12-vantage-revealed/
As far as I'm concerned it's no different than what Porsche has done. They found a bodystyle that works, they're sticking to it, and it's fine by me.
Porsche created an icon. Aston Martin is banking on short-lived fashion. They are two completely different scenarios. Everyone always references Porsche during this argument, though... which is laughable.
Short lived fashion? I don't get this argument. A little more detail would be great. Not saying you are wrong, just that I am interested to hear more on your point of view. I thought, like most others, that AM has been an icon for the last 60 years much like Porsche.
I dunno - there's still a lot of heritage in the design. I personally see a lot of difference in the DB9 and the Vantage. The Vantage is squater and meaner - reminds me of a bulldog or something compared to the DB9's greyhound.
It's not a matter of who created an icon or not, it's a simple matter of an attractive body design that consumers don't require changes to when they go and empty their wallets. If Aston sales are steady, and they release a model that looks the same as the model before yet people continue to rave about it, why would they bother? Short-lived fashion? They are still using the exact grill shape/design, fender design etc. on these cars as they did in the 1960's... They've simply streamlined the old design, as far as I'm concerned it's sexy as hell!
I agree... A lot of companies have strong family resemblance. SEAT and late 80's, early 90's BMWs. The 3 series looked like the 5 series looked like the 7 series (especially the last two).
Well, we're talking about a new AM... not 80's BMWs... Dude, don't start the debate and then pull this childish crap.
All I'm saying that a lot of car companies have family resemblance. It helps create brand identity. It's one of the reasons some car companies (Hyundai for example, until recently) struggle - sometimes all their cars look like they're designed by someone else.
There is as big of a difference between "family resemblance" and what AM is doing as there is between Hyundai and Porsche.
Well - there's only so much you can do when your lineup consists of two front engine, RWD coupes. Most companies have more platform differentiation to work with. I mean - Ferrari does a good job of giving cars individuality, but Aston is a bit more conservative than that (save the DBS and this car). I think it's the British way - look at Jag. They're only now branching into something more extreme. Nowadays though - making a sleek coupe can be a bit generic. Maybe they're on to something - at least you can't mistake them for a Corvette or something. Could be part of Ford's ideology too - when these cars were designed, maybe they didn't want to intrude on the new Jag design language.
