The new Aston Martin’s DBS Volante keeps on the tradition of beautiful, elegant – and plain cool.
In a world of narcissistic supercars, Aston Martins remain as cool and elegant as they were back in the 1960s, when the James Bond connection brought the marque into sharp focus. Until then, it had been as widely known in the United States as German car company Borgward, which died in 1961. Even drivers who prefer origami Lamborghinis and classic Porsche ( PSEPF.PK – news – people ) 911s readily admit that Aston Martins are simply beautiful. In part that’s because they are traditional front-engine, rear-drive cars, which allows design director Marek Reichman to score two goals at once. The first is achieving “purity of line,” since cooling a front engine through a classic grille and ducting is more straightforward than forcing air through scoops and aero aids to an engine buried behind the passenger cabin. Then there’s “the message of power and where it’s delivered,” as Reichman puts it. Astons have swelling J. Lo sterns that accentuate the rear wheels and unmistakably thrust the smooth cabin structure and long hood forward, even when the car is standing still. – From Forbes