Tag Archives: Aston Martin

Aston Martin and Glenfiddich Toast to a New Era of Luxury

At Monterey Car Week—where the air is thick with the scent of octane, leather, and old money—Aston Martin announced a partnership that extends beyond horsepower and into heritage. The marque has officially joined forces with Glenfiddich, the world’s most awarded single malt Scotch whisky, in what both brands are calling a “shared pursuit of excellence.”

For Aston Martin, partnerships are nothing new. Formula One fans will recognize the Glenfiddich name already adorning its F1 team’s paddock. But this new collaboration takes things further: Glenfiddich is now the official whisky partner of Aston Martin, and the tie-up will manifest in exclusive events, sensory experiences, and limited-edition releases designed to blur the line between performance engineering and liquid craftsmanship.

“We are united by a deep respect for heritage and a commitment to craftsmanship,” said Stefano Saporetti, Aston Martin’s Director of Brand Diversification. “This partnership allows us to bring our shared story to life through immersive, sensory, and emotional experiences that resonate with our customers.”

To commemorate the occasion, Glenfiddich unveiled a jewel from its archives: a rare 1976 Single Malt, matured for 48 years and finished in a European oak sherry cask hand-selected by Malt Master Brian Kinsman. Only 50 bottles exist worldwide. On the nose, it offers red berries, butter pastry, and subtle sherbet; the palate reveals oak tannin and stewed fruit, finishing with sweet oak spice.

The year 1976 wasn’t chosen at random. It was a defining moment for both brands: Glenfiddich modernized its still house and introduced the stag emblem that still graces its bottles, while Aston Martin was busy shaping design language and performance innovations that continue to influence its lineup today.

Claudia Falcone, Glenfiddich’s Global Brand Director, highlighted how the collaboration extends beyond F1 and into Aston Martin’s road cars. At The House of Aston Martin in Monterey, guests are experiencing curated whisky tastings alongside the public debut of Valhalla, Aston Martin’s first plug-in hybrid supercar. With its twin-turbo V8 hybrid powertrain and 937 horsepower, the Valhalla is as forward-thinking as Glenfiddich’s 1976 Vintage is nostalgic—yet both embody precision, rarity, and ambition.

The Glenfiddich 1976 Vintage (ABV 48.8%) will be available exclusively through The Distillers Library and at Glenfiddich’s Speyside distillery. With just 50 bottles available, its scarcity is rivaled only by Aston Martin’s limited-run hypercars.

Both brands emphasized a responsible approach: toast the craftsmanship, but never drink and drive.

At Monterey, where champagne is often the celebratory pour, it feels fitting that two British icons instead raised a dram of nearly half-century-old whisky to salute their shared future.

Source: Aston Martin

Aston Martin Marks 75 Years in the Americas with Monterey Takeover and Thrillseeker Collection

Aston Martin is heading to Monterey Car Week 2025 with a celebration befitting its 75th anniversary in the Americas. The British marque has promised one of the most commanding presences on the peninsula this August, anchored by the global debut of the Thrillseeker Collection—a trio of bespoke open-top sports cars—and the long-awaited production reveal of the Valhalla, Aston’s first mid-engined series-production supercar.

The Thrillseeker Collection: Dawn to Dusk in Metal

The star attraction at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering will be the Thrillseeker Collection, a limited run of just nine bespoke convertibles from Q by Aston Martin, the brand’s personalization division. Each car in the trio is finished in a hue inspired by the shifting light over California’s Carmel Bay.

  • Vantage Roadster in Mako Blue mirrors the cool tones of dawn skies and fog rolling off the Pacific.
  • DB12 Volante in Seychelles Blue channels the bright energy of midday sun.
  • Vanquish Volante in Ultramarine Black embodies the mystery and drama of twilight.

Bronze accents unify the trio—wheels, side strakes, and a center dial all echoing the amber hues of the coastal sun—paired with a bespoke luggage set to underline the GT ethos. Each Thrillseeker has already been spoken for, with deliveries set to begin in Q4 2025.

Valhalla: From Concept to Carbon Reality

While the Thrillseekers will be eye candy for collectors, the headline reveal is the Valhalla. First teased as a concept in 2019, the production version makes its U.S. debut at both The Quail and the Pebble Beach Concept Car Lawn.

The Valhalla is not just another Aston: it’s the company’s first series-production mid-engined supercar, first plug-in hybrid, and the first to offer dedicated EV range capability. Its development has been heavily informed by Aston Martin Performance Technologies and the brand’s Formula 1 program, meaning lightweight construction, aerodynamics born from motorsport, and powertrain sophistication that signals a new era for Gaydon.

The House of Aston Martin

Beyond the show lawn, Aston Martin is building a full Monterey ecosystem. At The House of Aston Martin, a private villa adjacent to Pebble Beach’s Spyglass Hill Golf Course, invited guests will engage in specification sessions for upcoming models, sip Glenfiddich as part of a new brand partnership, and mingle with Aston executives. The villa will host displays of the Thrillseeker Collection, the Valhalla, and the refreshed DBX S and Vantage S, marking the revival of the “S” performance badge.

Guests will also be treated to drive experiences out of Carmel Valley’s Bernardus Lodge, with the brand’s current portfolio—from the DBX707 super-SUV to the DB12 Super Tourer and flagship Vanquish V12—available to sample on California’s most engaging canyon and coastal roads.

Culmination at Pebble Beach

The celebrations culminate on the Sunday stage of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where Aston Martin will host VIPs from the crack-of-dawn “Dawn Patrol” through Best in Show. The brand positions this as a once-in-a-lifetime vantage point at the world’s most revered Concours.

A Word from Gaydon

“Monterey Car Week is the perfect backdrop to celebrate Aston Martin’s 75th anniversary in the Americas,” said Jolyon Nash, Chief Commercial Officer. “From bespoke creations such as the stunning Thrillseeker Collection, to the array of new sports cars and derivatives on display, alongside the much-anticipated Valhalla, this week exemplifies our commitment to craftsmanship, performance, and prestige.”

With nine sold-out convertibles, a first-of-its-kind supercar, and a fortified presence across the peninsula, Aston Martin isn’t just celebrating its past in Monterey—it’s signaling its future.

Source: Aston Martin

2026 Aston Martin Vantage S: A Sharper Blade for the Driver’s Arsenal

Aston Martin’s relentless pursuit of dynamic excellence takes a bold new stride with the introduction of the 2025 Vantage S—a sharpened evolution of the marque’s acclaimed front-engine sports car. Building on the foundations of the current-generation Vantage, the new S variant is engineered with one clear goal in mind: to be the most focused and exhilarating driver’s car in the Vantage lineup.

Positioned as the performance pinnacle of Aston Martin’s sports car family, the Vantage S follows hot on the heels of the DBX707-based DBX S, reviving a long-standing tradition of ‘S’ suffix models that began with the Vanquish S back in 2004. It’s more than just a nameplate—it’s a statement of intent.

Power Meets Precision

At the heart of the Vantage S lies an uprated version of Aston’s ferocious 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. Now churning out 680 PS and 800 Nm, it delivers relentless power from 3,000 to 6,000 rpm—making throttle response and mid-range acceleration more immediate than ever. Thanks to an optimised Launch Control system, 0–60 mph is dispatched in just 3.3 seconds, with 0–124 mph taking a mere 10.1 seconds. Top speed remains a heady 202 mph, but the real story here is in the details.

Engineers have meticulously refined the drive-by-wire throttle map, pedal weight, and response to heighten driver involvement across all drive modes. Every input now feels more connected, more tactile—an ethos that runs deep throughout the car.

Chassis Artistry

The transformation continues under the skin. Recalibrated Bilstein DTX adaptive dampers, revised suspension geometry, and a host of mechanical tweaks combine to enhance agility without compromising ride quality. Aston’s engineers have stiffened the front end for sharper turn-in while easing rear spring aid stiffness to preserve low-speed compliance. A 10% reduction in transmission mount stiffness helps quell unwanted vibrations, improving refinement.

Notably, the rear subframe is now bolted directly to the chassis, eliminating rubber bushings to significantly sharpen steering response and feedback. Aerodynamic refinements—including a new front airdam and rear decklid spoiler—deliver an impressive 111kg of total downforce at Vmax, with front-biased balance for exceptional cornering grip.

Design That Performs

The Vantage S wears its intent proudly. Gloss black or exposed carbon bonnet blades not only intensify visual drama but also channel hot air away from the engine’s “hot-V” configuration. Discreet ‘S’ badging—crafted from brass and finished in red glass enamel—adds a jewel-like touch, while the new rear spoiler makes a bold aesthetic and aerodynamic statement, generating 44kg of rear downforce alone.

An optional 21-inch Y-spoke wheel in satin black, accented with red graphics and paired with bronze brake calipers, continues the car’s racy motif, tying into the red signature detailing of the S branding.

A Cockpit That Speaks in Stitches

Inside, the Vantage S blends artisanal craftsmanship with track-inspired sensibility. A standard Alcantara and leather ‘Accelerate’ interior sets the tone, adorned with satin carbon fibre trim. Each seat bears a painstakingly stitched red ‘S’ insignia—comprising over 2,500 individual stitches—while the Aston Martin wings are optionally sculpted into the leather via a patented embossing and debossing technique applying over 1.5 tonnes of pressure.

Further personalization comes via anodised drive mode rotary knobs in red or silver, colour-matched to seatbelts, contrast stitching, and headrest embroidery, adding cohesion to the cabin’s dynamic flair. For those seeking heightened luxury, the Inspire Sport interior package offers semi-aniline leather and bespoke quilting designed to evoke motion, even at a standstill.

Dynamic Debut at Goodwood

The Vantage S will make its public dynamic debut this weekend at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, a fitting stage for a car so deeply rooted in driver engagement and British performance heritage. Expect it to draw crowds and cameras as it tears up the famous hillclimb—its debut acting as both a declaration and a demonstration of Aston Martin’s engineering ambition.

Available Now

The 2025 Aston Martin Vantage S is available to order now in both Coupe and Roadster form, with first deliveries slated for Q4 2025. More powerful, more focused, and more intricately detailed than ever, it sets a thrilling new benchmark—not just for Aston Martin, but for the entire front-engined, ultra-luxury sports car segment.

Source: Aston Martin

Gallery: