Royaume-Uni
Aston Martin
Aston Martin is a British automaker founded in 1913 in London by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford, initially under the name Bamford & Martin. The brand's name combines Lionel Martin's surname with the Aston Hill hill climb, near Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire, where Martin regularly raced. The first car bearing the Aston Martin name appeared in 1915. The company experienced a turbulent financial history throughout the 20th century, passing through several hands, including that of industrialist David Brown starting in 1947, whose initials gave their name to the famous "DB" model line. It was during the David Brown era that legendary grand tourers were born, notably the DB5 immortalized by the James Bond films. Ford took a majority stake in the late 1980s and integrated the brand into its Premier Automotive Group, a period during which the VH platform—the basis for models such as the DB9 and the V8 Vantage—was developed. In 2007, a consortium of investors bought Aston Martin from Ford. The brand went public on the London Stock Exchange in 2018. In 2020, while the company was going through serious financial difficulties, a consortium led by Montreal-based, Quebec-born billionaire Lawrence Stroll took over the executive chairmanship and recapitalized the company. Under his leadership, Aston Martin returned its name to Formula 1 with the Aston Martin Aramco team, tightened its lineup, and bet on desirability and exclusivity rather than volume. The brand maintains a close technical partnership with Mercedes-Benz for powertrains and electronics. In North America, Aston Martin is distributed through a network of specialized dealers in the United States and Canada, with no local production facility, as all manufacturing remains concentrated in the United Kingdom.
ActiveLuxePerformanceÉlectrique / hybrideEuropéennes
History
History of Aston Martin
Aston Martin is a British automaker founded in 1913 in London by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford, initially under the name Bamford & Martin. The brand's name combines Lionel Martin's surname with the Aston Hill hill climb, near Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire, where Martin regularly raced. The first car bearing the Aston Martin name appeared in 1915. The company experienced a turbulent financial history throughout the 20th century, passing through several hands, including that of industrialist David Brown starting in 1947, whose initials gave their name to the famous "DB" model line. It was during the David Brown era that legendary grand tourers were born, notably the DB5 immortalized by the James Bond films. Ford took a majority stake in the late 1980s and integrated the brand into its Premier Automotive Group, a period during which the VH platform—the basis for models such as the DB9 and the V8 Vantage—was developed. In 2007, a consortium of investors bought Aston Martin from Ford. The brand went public on the London Stock Exchange in 2018. In 2020, while the company was going through serious financial difficulties, a consortium led by Montreal-based, Quebec-born billionaire Lawrence Stroll took over the executive chairmanship and recapitalized the company. Under his leadership, Aston Martin returned its name to Formula 1 with the Aston Martin Aramco team, tightened its lineup, and bet on desirability and exclusivity rather than volume. The brand maintains a close technical partnership with Mercedes-Benz for powertrains and electronics. In North America, Aston Martin is distributed through a network of specialized dealers in the United States and Canada, with no local production facility, as all manufacturing remains concentrated in the United Kingdom.
Public founding or origin of Aston Martin.
DB11: launch or first listed period.
DB5: launch or first listed period.
DBX: launch or first listed period.
Vantage: launch or first listed period.
Technologies
Technologies, innovations and platforms
Aston Martin develops its cars around aluminum structures that prioritize light weight and rigidity, such as the Second Century Platform shared by its front-engine models. The powertrains combine a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 sourced from Mercedes-AMG and a twin-turbo V12 developed in-house, paired with multi-speed automatic transmissions. The technical partnership with Mercedes-Benz also supplies part of the onboard electronics and infotainment systems, notably on the DBX SUV built on its own dedicated platform. Modern driver-assistance and safety systems (braking, stability control, assists) accompany these sporty chassis. The brand has announced a roadmap toward electrification, including hybrid powertrains and a first fully electric model planned for later in the decade. Aluminum platform prioritizing light weight. 4.0L twin-turbo V8 powertrain sourced from Mercedes-AMG (approximately 510 to 535 hp) and in-house 5.2L twin-turbo V12 (up to approximately 630 hp in AMR form), 8-speed automatic transmission, rear-wheel drive. Tubular chassis with aluminum Superleggera bodywork. 4.0L inline-six gasoline engine of approximately 282 hp, manual transmission (later with an automatic option), rear-wheel drive. Four-wheel disc brakes, cutting-edge technology for its era. Dedicated Aston Martin platform with all-wheel drive and a 9-speed automatic transmission. 4.0L twin-turbo V8 from Mercedes-AMG (M177), approximately 550 hp in standard form and up to approximately 707 hp on the DBX707. Electronics and infotainment derived from Mercedes-Benz. Aluminum platform shared with the DB11. 4.0L twin-turbo V8 sourced from Mercedes-AMG (approximately 510 to more than 650 hp depending on model year and version), 8-speed automatic transmission, rear-wheel drive, electronic differential.
Brand image
Identity, reputation, strengths and weaknesses
Positioning
A British manufacturer of high-luxury sports cars and grand tourers, focused on exclusivity, style, and heritage.
Reputation
Aston Martin enjoys a reputation for prestige built on exclusivity, artisanal craftsmanship, and a strong sporting and cinematic heritage. Reviews generally praise the character, style, and performance of its grand tourers, while noting refinement that sometimes lags behind certain German rivals. On the reliability front, recent models benefit from proven Mercedes-AMG components, but owners report electronic issues or costly model-specific parts. Resale value remains highly variable: limited editions and iconic models hold their value well thanks to the structurally low production volumes, while more common examples depreciate more heavily.
Strengths
Aston Martin stands out for its strong prestige value, timeless styling, and a unique sporting and cinematic heritage. Artisanal construction, lightweight aluminum chassis, and powerful powertrains (AMG V8, in-house V12) deliver an assertive character. The exclusivity of its production volumes supports the desirability and value of its iconic models.
Points to watch
Purchase and maintenance costs are high, and some model-specific parts remain expensive. Electronic reliability can disappoint, and finish refinement sometimes lags behind German rivals. Depreciation on common examples can be pronounced, the electrification of the lineup is still recent, and the service network is limited in Quebec.
Models
Aston Martin models
Current or active models by market
Notable past models
Production and compatibility
Plants, tires and wheels
Production
Aston Martin's production is entirely concentrated in the United Kingdom. The headquarters and main plant are located in Gaydon, Warwickshire, operational since 2003, where the brand's grand tourers and sports cars are assembled. A second plant, in St Athan in Wales, was inaugurated in 2019 on a converted former Royal Air Force base; it is dedicated to producing the DBX SUV, a model financially vital to the company. Aston Martin does not have a production facility in North America: all vehicles sold in the United States and Canada are imported there from the United Kingdom and distributed through a network of specialized dealers.
Tires and wheels
Aston Martins (DB11, Vantage, DBX) run low-profile performance tires on large wheels, generally of big diameters, often in staggered front/rear fitments. These sizes are typically specific and exclusive to the brand, which makes equivalents more limited than on a mainstream vehicle. In Quebec, purchasing dedicated winter tires is essential and legally required on these sports cars and SUVs, ideally mounted on a second set of wheels matched to the original bolt pattern. It is best to confirm the exact size, load index, and speed rating on the original sidewall before placing any order.