Aston Martin DB7
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This car, premiered at the 1993 Geneva Motor Show and was destined to be
the "poor man's Aston" - which means this is a smaller model.
It is the first Aston Martin to be produeced in Bloxham, Oxfordshire. Y'know the Jag XJ220 production was there... Powered by an in-line 6-cylinder 3.2 litre supercharged 335 HP (250 kW) engine, the DB7 has a maximum speed in excess of 160 mph (260 kph). Dimensions: l/w/h: 4631/ 1820/ 1268 mm. Wheelbase: 2591 mm. Front/ rear track: 1524/ 1530 mm. Weight: 1650 kg. Torque: 490 Nm @ 3000 rpm. The factory claimed a 0-100 kph performance of 5.7 sec. Other details could be found in numerous articles... |
In 1996 the line-up was combined with a convertible version, mainly destined
for the US market:
Like the coupe, the DB7 Volante's styling is the work of TWR design chief
Ian Callum. He said although he knew about a plan about the open version, but
while he figured out the shape of the DB7 coupe he focused on the closed
version only.
It worked: the transition from fixed-head to droph-head looks straightforward.
Park the two cars side by side, however and the differences will be
noticeable: every panel aft of the B-pillar has been re-sculpted, the fuel
filler has moved from C-pillar to wing top and the bootlid is much longer and
flatter.
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To pass the tough US safety requirements the rear bumper had to be extended
by 78 mm.
The soft-top and retractable rear windows are making the two rear seats
useless. Otherwise the cabin looks the same.
Under the bonnet the Volante has the same supercharged, 3.2-litre straight six as the coupe with 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic gearbox. The Bridgestones tires have been specially designed to the DB7. |
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In June, 1997 Dunhill and Aston teamed up and built a very special DB7 with cigar-holders around. It currently travels around and will be available in a very limited number from next year.
Also at the 1993 Geneva Motorshow another new Aston appeared:
Aston Martin Lagonda Vignale
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Extracts from the press release, handed out at the introduction at
the Geneva Salon, 1993:
Following an interval of almost 40 years, Aston Martin Lagonda has
renewed its relationship with Ghia Design of Turin and commissioned
a design study for a concept vehicle to investigate and research
the materials and techniques which would justify the continued
production of the hand-made luxury saloon car beyond the year
2000...
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