Tag: Aston Martin

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Cars

Aston Maybach Martin

Mercedes Maybach is the second thing which entered our life after Google. I still remember the time when I first saw the Maybach concept in newspaper on 1997. At those times, Google was a concept inside their founders’ minds, basically they started from the same point. They became popular in year 2000, and Google increased its popularity more than Paris Hilton. However Maybach lost and lost and lost each year. Whatever Mercedes did to save Maybach did not work.
Daimler never published exact number of Maybachs sold but the sales were terrible. In UK, it was only two digits while the Rolls Royce achieved three digit sales at the same. There are lots of reasons for this failure. Maybach had lots of problems, it was based on a previous S Class and interior was a posh interpretation of the same old car. Maybach was packed with lots of technology even though the consumers were not aware of them. Customers did not buy these segment cars for their technology, they buy it for their prestige and Mercedes slightly missed this point! Meanwhile, Rolls Royce and Bentley increased their sales and rumours about Maybach emerged! Mercedes will stop producing Maybach! Actually it was very reasonable, sales were terrible and nearly pointless to introduce a new model.
However Mercedes did not give up and end up with a great idea. Make a deal with Aston Martin, this deal includes; Mercedes shares its engine technology with Aston Martin and Aston Martin designs the new Maybach. I think this is one of the best decision ever made for Maybach. Aston Martin is excellent on designing cars and it is proofed by the solid sales performance. So, Aston Martin based design for Maybach is a great idea but it would make the Maybach’s brand identity more complicated! This car is designed by Aston Martin and technology made by Mercedes. It sounds like Hugo Boss tie is painted by Paul Smith !
Pictures’ Copyrights
Aston Martin, Mercedes
Categories
Cars

Aston Martin iPhone Application

Today we finally have iPhone application for Aston Martin. Actually I was waiting for this application for long time. And my curiosity was getting higher and higher after each twitter post from Aston Martin about the application. Aston Martin was talking about the application and some preview pictures were posted but that was all. Basically, it made everyone more excited to wait for the release!
In overall, the application is great and offers everything about Aston Martin in a very cleaver design. After this application you may not visit the website that often. It has everything and updates through internet :) But I could not manage to use accelerometer properly. I did some movements but it wasn’t that successful to rev the engine. If I could manage to use it properly, I will write it here.

I don’t want talk too much about the application. Just enjoy the application :) And it is “free” :)

Aston Martin iPhone application in iTunes

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Cars

A detailed explanation for the problem of German Cars

For very long time I was trying understand what is wrong with German cars. I didn’t make mistake while writing, German cars. There is always something missing with them, I could not understand but German cars never have the same taste with Italian cars. Of course, I am not licking cars to identify their differences. I am pretty sure that all German cars would taste the same :)
And recently I found the problem with German cars. The huge problem which irritates me for very long and irritates many other people, I am using sales figures of Italian cars as a proof! German cars are offering everything; perfection, design (not all of them), efficient, luxury, perfect, gray, very gray, light gray, very dark gray and this goes forever. Germans cars are doing what you told them to do! Actually if a German car goes wrong, it terribly goes wrong. This happened in 2003-2004 with Mercedes E Class, electronic brake system and electronic control modules of C Class. Anyway, they don’t cause trouble anymore. The main thing is German cars are doing what they are supposed to do and they do not questionize. They just are doing it!
A German car always handles well, the automatic screen wipers always works with the same amount of rain, engine always makes the same sound, all the parts inside the car have the same millimetric distance within each other. This combination of perfection obsession is not matching with human being because we are not perfect and we want things different. I think the best explanation for German cars is they are like trains. They are doing what they are supposed to do, trains cannot change travel anywhere else than railway and they always follow a route.
The Italian cars are like pizza, each pizza is a unique dish. It is nearly impossible to have the same pizza, even if you manage to have the same one you cannot eat in the same way. All the mozzarella cheese will try to go somewhere else, you will try to make some weird moves to eat the slice and some vegetables will fell on your trousers while you are trying to clean your trousers, your elbow will hit to pizza. Basically each time you try to eat an Italian food, you will have a new adventure like in Italian cars. Each Italian car is totally unique, I don’t know how they manage to do it but they are excellent at producing each car unique. There is no identical twin of a Ferrari 458 or Alfa Romeo MiTo or Fiat 500. Even if the factory is robotized, their supplier may not be robotized and their production technique might be influence the employees emotional conditions.
Therefore each Italian car is like a sculpture, you cannot find the same one. And Italian cars do not react as you wished, try to control a Ferrari 599 GTO. Jeremy Clarkson tried to do it in “Italian Job” and he failed, try to control an Alfa MiTo diesel. The electronic systems will help you but the car will control you. You will do what the car is ordering you!
And lastly British cars; very basic definition, there is always something is missing. In order to proof this, just look at British taps! They have separate taps for hot and cold water. You cannot find this in other part of the world. British engineers never connect hot and cold water together, you either burn your hands or freeze your hand. There is no balance and you can face with this ugly truth even in the most prestigious hotels or in houses. Everything looks excellent, suddenly you want wash your hand, and you burn your hands!
You can find this in British cars also, everything is excellent. Design, materials, engines but you cannot have a door closing aid in a Bentley Azure. This is a very basic technology from Germans, when your door is not fully closed the hydraulic system closes for you. But you cannot have this in a Bentley Azure! This car costs more than a country and you have to close your door properly by yourself. But still I like British cars they are combination of Mr. Bean and Paul Smith shirt!
Pictures’ Copyrights
Mercedes, Pizza Express, Aston Martin, Deutsche Bahn, Maserati, Paul Smith

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Cars

From Toyota iQ to Aston Martin Cygnet

When I read the press release for Aston Martin’ new car Cygnet (which is based on a Toyota iQ), and it relationship with Toyota an idea balloon appeared in my mind. As you might know, Cygnet will not available to people who do not own an Aston Martin. So this is a very basic way to proof that you own an Aston Martin! And you don’t have to drive your Aston Martin to everywhere. For people who love to show off, this is a very practical way.
Back to idea balloon, Cygnet is based on Toyota iQ! Everything is same, engine, transmission and other things. The only difference is exterior and interior design. As a matter of fact, this is an advantage for people who want to own an Aston Martin in a cheaper way. When the Cygnet is available, I am definitely sure that some people will offer detailed face-lift service for iQs. The face-lift service is going to be turning your Toyota iQ into Aston Martin Cygnet. I think the exterior would be a problem but I am sure that some companies can overcome this problem. Face-lift service will charge you a reasonable price to change the exterior and interior. Interior can also be changeable, but it needs lots of stitching and leather. But, still possible :) And you will have Toyota Aston Martin iQ. And many people will be in queue to turn their car into Aston Martin Cygnet.
Where did I get this idiotic idea? Just look at the automotive portals and check companies like Brabus, Alpine, Lorinser, Carlsson, Mansory. All these companies are tuning Mercedes, BMWs, Range Rovers and many other brands. They totally change the exterior and interior of the vehicles and most of the time, they make something looks much worse but there is a demand for this.
So, if one day you see an advert “Do you want to own an Aston Martin Cygnet? Just Call Us and We Will Help You to Turn Your Toyota iQ into an Aston Martin!”
This car will help Aston Martin to reduce its fleet emission average ;)

Pictures’ Copyrights
Aston Martin, Toyota
Categories
Cars

A new gladiator to arena: Lotus

British sports car manufacturer Lotus is trying to gain its position back. Proton owned (Lotus is owned by Proton, ugly truth!) revealed five (Esprit, Eterne, Elise, Elan and Elite) new models to compete with Italian and Germans and Aston Martin. After being away from the German vs. rest of the automotive companies gladiator games. Now with four new models Lotus is trying to enter the Colosseum.
What Lotus has done is a miracle, they revealed five different types of cars at the same time. We see this with Germans but Lotus is not that wealthy like Germans. Therefore I consider this as a great success. However sales may not be that successful! The CEO of Lotus declared that they are heading directly to Aston Martin, Ferrari, Porsche and Mercedes AMG territory. It is very easy to spell but extremely hard to achieve.
All these brands have their very royal and fanatic customers. People desire to have those brands and that’s a way to achieve their dreams. However Lotus is not a dream car anymore. I know for some people still a dream car like Pamela Anderson is a dream for people over 30 but new generation consider her as their mother! This is the same with Lotus. People don’t really know what really is Lotus.
I know that Lotus is excellent in handling and car engineering but trying to have a place in gladiator games is more than handling and engineering! Lotus has to create a dream but it won’t be very to achieve. I am sure some people will buy their new cars but Lotus should not have focused too many cars at the same time. Like Rolls-Royce, Lotus should have revealed news cars in a scheduled time frame.

Pictures’ Copyrights
Lotus
Categories
Cars

Wrong message from Audi!

Audi and Quattro; they are like Pamela Anderson and her boobs. Like we cannot think about Pamela without her boobs, we cannot consider Audi without Quattro. Quattro is the sophisticated four wheel drive technology of Audi. When you buy Quattro model of any Audi model, you will have four wheel powered by engine. And also this means, you have more money than people who bought a normal Audi. Silicone free Audi.
Honestly, I like four wheel drive because the place where I live, it snows and I don’t like to drive a front wheel or rear wheel drive car on snow. If you have an Audi Quattro, you will go around without any problem on adverse conditions. This means; snow, rain and similar things.

But if you are living in Cyprus, Malta, South of France or anywhere without snow you will not need a four wheel drive car. There is no point to have a four wheel drive! Especially with Audi Quattro! As the normal or cheap Audis are front wheel drive and this means, your car will under steer. Under steer is short form of you could not afford to buy a Mercedes or BMW or Ferrari or Maserati. Front wheel cars tend to slide straight while fast cornering or under heavy acceleration during the corner and this is called under steer. You approach to a corner a bit faster with front wheel car and you end up with the tree from front. If you have a rear wheel drive car, in same condition when all other variable are constant you will again hit to tree from the back side of the car. The rear wheel drive slides its back and this is very enjoying. Reference Top Gear video! If you buy a Mercedes, BMW, Ferrari, Maserati or anything rear wheel drive; you can slide the back of the car with pure enjoyment.

With Quattro? As the Quattro is four wheel drive system, you might think nothing will happen, it will neutral. As I mentioned, Audi loves its cheap soul, Quattro cars under steer! They slide from front like a front wheel drive car and you won’t have any enjoyment. Why? Because, you don’t enjoy when your VW Golf is under steering! Very basic. Therefore, I am not a fan of Audi Quattros! But I would prefer a Quattro Audi, if I have to buy an Audi.
So, Audi interpreted and analysed this problem and they came up with a great idea. Sport Rear Differential. From the Audi TV video, many of you will not understand anything about Sport Rear Differential. Actually this optional extra costs about extra € 1500, turns the boring Quattro into a hard core Quattro. With this mechanical toy, your Quattro will slide like a rear wheel car, like a Mercedes. You can burn you rear tyres while cornering or when full throttle on corner, it will slides its end :) After this optional toys, I started to like Audi Quattros :)
I think Audi should mentioned this more simple on their footage. The cost of enjoyment in an Audi? Just around €1500 !

Pictures Copyrights;
Audi, Mercedes, Pamela Anderson Website


Categories
Fashion

The best driving shoes on worst carpets !?!

Shoes, one of the biggest business on earth after iPhone! Both for men and women, it is important for completing your dress and change the way you look. Therefore, every brand is offering many different types of shoes and changing them every season. Except the Prada sneakers for men, they are the same for last two thousand years! And everyone knows that, if it was sold by a company cold Mrada, nobody would ever buy it. Let’s back to shoes.
Recently my favourite magaine GQ UK, announced top nine (I don’t know why nine not ten) driving shoes which you can buy on their website. For men only! Why? If they try to find driving shoes for ladies the list will be like this; ankle boots, ballet flats, boots, clog sandals, closed-toe slip-ons, combat boots, flip flops, high-heeled boots, high-heeled sandals, high-top sneakers, laced shoes, mules, platform pumps, platform sandals, pumps with open toe, sandals, shoe boots, slingbacks, slip-on sneakers, sneakers, wedges, beach sandals, espadrilles, round toe, point toe, peep toe (List is from Yoox.com and Net-A-Porter.com). As you could see the list is more confusing than a working schema of a hydrogen car! Even the hundreds of fashion magazines cannot solve this problem on their every issue it is a good idea to decide which women shoes are best for driving.
As expected GQ UK focused men driving shoes which is more easier to pick. Actually six months ago they selected best driving shoes from Kurt Geiger with pink colour, this is a totally different issue :) This time nine different shoes are selected placed on nine different car carpets. However there was a small problem. The carpet and the shoes did not match.
If you have lots of money, if you will change your car and then change your shoes !?! I don’t know but for now, I consider it like this. The first shoes is from UK brand Bill Amberg and this is the first I heard this brand. I guess they thought, if you buy a blue Mini Cooper this shoes will match the colour of your car. And from the carpet we can see that clearly. And if you will not buy a blue Mini Cooper, don’t buy these.
The next one is from Kurt Geiger with ridiculous colour on Mercedes AMG carpet. So the GQ suggested that; if you buy a enormously powered Mercedes AMG like SL65 AMG, you have to buy these shoes! Try to buy something else.
Our next shoes is from Giorgio Armani on unknown carpet. My recommendation for these shoes is Lamborghini. As the Armani brand is always highlighted its logo on their every product and it becomes impossible to ignore it by everyone, so you have to be driving something which cannot be ignored by everyone. Buy a Lamborghini :)
Red Hugo Boss shoes on Chevrolet plastic carpet. Oh come on! Where did you find this carpet from the Hummer (Hummer was a brand of Chevrolet) which you rented for your birthday! This is the most combination GQ ever made on man history. From this pictures, I can only recommend one car. Red coloured Mercedes C Class Estate, not a sedan model a proper estate model.
Finally GQ matched the shoes with the car. Tod’s from Italy and carpet from German Porsche, great combination. Porsche 911 Turbo, nothing to say more.
Car Shoe from Italy but with Land Rover !?! From the colour the shoes, they should have tried Range Rover instead. At least it looks more sophisticated, any with this colour nothing looks sophisticated :)
Salvatore Ferragamo, the brand which I adore the most! I cannot even pronounce the brand properly, unless you are Italian you cannot pronounce it properly. And GQ put on Lexus carpet. Great creativity. There is one car for this brand Maserati. It can be Quattroporte or GranTurismo, no problem. But not a Lexus which is advertising its faulty recalls on websites.
Gucci and Jaguar, great coupling. White Gucci shoes with Jaguar. I think there is no problem with this combination until the time white Guccis turn into white gray black Gucci.
And lastly and the worst combination. Paul Smith and Chevrolet !?! Come on, again the Hummer carpet. How did you emerge this emotional relationship with the Hummer !?! Paul Smith is a great brand with excellent and clever creativity on their products, okay this time it is not that good looking with this colour. But it still deserve to be coupled with an Aston Martin, instead of Chevrolet something!
Pictures Copyrights;
GQ Magazine, Aston Martin, Mini, Land Rover, Jaguar, Maserati, Mercedes, Lamborghini and Net-A-Porter

 
 
 
Categories
Cars

Rapid(e) end of sexy Aston Martin ?

If you find this blog from Google (most probably), there is nothing going with Aston Martin! However, everything is not going very well either. Why? Recently I was reading about Ferrari’s new model 458 and 599 GTO. And I noticed, like many other people Ferrari is offering something totally different with every new model. Actually even the new variation of current models have something in different. Or more improved is the better word for that.
However, I cannot say the same with Aston Martin. Since Vanquish, I did not realize a serious technological in Aston Martin models. Sure; they are offering better quality, better design and more technology but not that much. DB9 and DBS; they are too much similar! Their interior, their gadgets, buttons and many other things. I was expecting to see double clutch auto or 8 speed auto gearbox. The main differentiating point of DB9 and DBS is their price! Yes, DBS is a replacement of Vanquish but it looks too much similar to DB9.
And I am checking Aston Martin website often to see something new about their cars and I was disappointed for a long time, until the Rapide! The four door Aston Martin is the best Aston Martin. Sorry Clarkson! It has two extra doors and may not reflect the Aston Martin heritage like DB9 but it is a harmony of contemporary technology with sophisticated heritage. And that’s what Aston Martin should do! Combination of past and future. The Rapide is the flash forward of Aston Martin and telling what the future models can offer! But please, try to engage the double clutch gearbox, even the VW Polo is offering that!
But whatever happens to Aston Martin, it will always be the most sexy car on earth! Not charming, totally sexy!
 
In order; Ferrari 458, Aston Martin DBS, Aston Martin Rapide
 
Pictures were taken from;
Aston Martin and Ferrari Websites
Categories
Cars

The art of Aston Martin

There is a long debate about marketing; whether it is science or art. I cannot definitely say marketing is art of science. In some cases, it is reflecting the characteristics of science and in some cases it is reflecting the edges of creativity.
As you know that, couple of months ago Aston Martin announced its pocket sized model Cygnet. It is based on Toyota iQ (with working throttle pedal). Aston Martin just changed its interior and exterior and offered as a new Aston Martin. Engine, transmission and other things did not change, they are the same with normal Toyota iQ. It can be defined as packaging!
Why Aston Martin did this? Last year, every car company realized and felt the reality of global economy and how it can ruin their business. Especially luxury market is serious affected from the crisis and they have to make money to sustain their business. They know the end of story, if they cannot manage their brand properly. So Aston Martin have to produce something relatively cheap and create demand.
It was not easy for Aston Martin as they don’t have any experience on small cars. Also how to sell this car? This is serious marketing issue; if they offer a cheap Aston Martin, everyone will buy one and their next competitor will be Hyundai for next year. Aston Martin will no longer be a James Bond cars. What they have done is something very clever to save the business for future. If you have already have an Aston Martin, you are eligible to buy Cygnet. By this way, the Cygnet which we will on street means that, this person has a decent Aston Martin and this is for daily driving.
This strategy is very clever way to increase sales and protect the brand reputation. They will be many complaints for its performance, handling and other issues but in terms of marketing, this is very a clever method. Except with one drawback; they will sell to people who already to have Aston Martin but how they know that, those people may sell this car for higher price in grey market! Especially emerging markets will be their main environment.
Next year, we will be able to buy a Cygnet in Turkey without having a decent Aston Martin. Aston Martin’s brand image will change in those markets. Many people will not know Cygnet for only Aston Martin owners, they will think “that’s a cheap Aston Martin”!
These kinds of risky marketing strategies have always weakness and Aston Martin knew this. In order to increase sales figures significantly in luxury segment, you have to take risky decisions. What Aston Martin did for Cygnet can be considered as an art of marketing. Ordinary rules for marketing may not help Aston Martin to achieve high sales with Cygnet and protect brand reputation.
Pictures are taken from;
Aston Martin and Toyota Website
Categories
Cars

New Emperor: Ferrari 599 GTO

Ferrari 599 is one of my favourite car. It has everything which you are looking for in a supercar. Technology from F1, V12 engine, enormous amount of power, comfort, luxury, heritage, offering sportiveness and comfort at the same time and many more things. For me it is quite hard to compare with any other car. Of course this uniqueness has a very huge price! And that’s one of the main obstacle between the car and people.
Hopefully a new 599 edition will be introduced, 599 GTO. It will have the DNAs from 1960s with stripes and exterior colours and unbelievable 700 horsepower engine! Yes, 700 horse power! Forget Aston Martin DBS, McLaren MP4 player, Mercedes SLS AMG or anything else. This will be the best GT on planet! It has both heritage, F1 technology and 700 horse power. Ferrari 599 GTO is ultimate car and best for its price. I know that it is really expensive but compare with others and compare what 599 GTO is offering :) I know that you can be between Aston Martin DBS and Ferrari 599. And it is really hard to resist Aston Martin’s designs. It is directly influencing the part in the brain which is avoiding anything else rather than design. When you see a DBS, you forget everything but this new 599 GTO will be a very strong memory in sub consciousness! And it will be serious competitor ;)
So, Ferrari 599 GTO is a great car which offers everything including iPod connectivity. I really wonder who cares about iPod in a Ferrari 599!
Pictures are from;
Ferrari and Worldcarfans Website