Brit brands Bond in Germany

BRITISH supercar-maker Aston Martin has confirmed its naming policy will continue with the DB theme and its next sportscar will be the DB11.

With the DB10 shortly to make its cinematic premiere in the next James Bond film Spectre but unlikely to progress to production, the next new Aston model will be unveiled next year.

The first new product to come from the brand’s Second Century Plan has yet to have its technical details revealed but Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer confirmed the DB11 nameplate would sit on the next new car.

“Not only is it a sign of our intention to continue the long line of iconic sportscars that bear the ‘DB’ moniker – the very bloodline of our brand – but it also shows the world our ambitious plan in action,” he said.

“The coming years will see Aston Martin transform not only its entire range of models but also its scale and global presence, and the new DB11 will be central to that success,” he said.

Former stablemates Jaguar and Land Rover have unveiled contributions to the latest in the James Bond franchise, revealing the vehicles appearing in the new Bond adventure, Spectre.

The Jaguar C-X75, Range Rover Sport SVR and a beefier version of the Land Rover Defender, were used as stunt vehicles in the latest Bond film, which sees the Jaguar C-X75 – fettled by the company's Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) and Williams Advanced Engineering – was driven through Rome at night for one of the movie’s high-speed chases.

Modified Land Rover Defenders shod with 37-inch off-road tyres and the Range Rover Sport SVR (the fastest, most powerful Land Rover ever) are also used in action sequences shot in Austria.

Land Rover has also been busy upgrading its Discovery Sport by adding a model to its line-up as part of the Frankfurt motor show – the HSE Dynamic Lux.

Due in Australia in the first quarter of next year, it will feature black exterior details, body-coloured mouldings, door claddings and 20-inch gloss-black wheels as well as new interior colours that will signify the improved capabilities on and off road.

The model will also get All Terrain Progress Control (ATPC), effectively an off-road low-speed cruise control system that adapts the vehicle’s behaviour to the terrain and includes a launch feature for low-traction take-offs.

Also destined for the Disco Sport is Active Driveline, which switches between two- and four-wheel drive depending on the driving conditions.

The system uses two electronically-controlled clutches on the rear diff to distribute torque to the wheel with most grip the rear axle can also be locked maximum traction in very slippery conditions.

The new Land Rover model is also equipped exclusively with Adaptive Dynamics using MagneRide dampers – as previously seen in vehicles as diverse as Ferrari and HSV – which can quickly switch between ride comfort and handling modes.

The creation of a magnetic field changes the viscosity of special damping fluid containing magnetic particles, making the suspension stiffer or softer to maintain ride comfort or reduce body roll.

The addition of Adaptive Dynamics works within the existing Terrain Response system, but adding the Dynamic mode seen in the Range Rover Sport model it also changes the behaviour of the throttle, steering gearbox and differential response, as well as the suspension.