• Aston Martin announces a comprehensive update to its online configurator
• Lustrous paint finishes and new environments provide the perfect showcase for Aston Martin’s ultra-luxury design
• New graphics and navigation bring Aston Martin’s product range to life

16 October 2025, Gaydon: Aston Martin launches the most comprehensive update of its online Configurator since it was originally launched four years ago. This essential component of modern car buying is a true gateway to the brand, and the refresh refines and elevates aspects of the user experience to create a truly premium digital presence.

At the heart of the new configurator is an enhanced user experience, richer image quality and a more immersive feel overall. These changes are based on extensive user research and testing that has been undertaken to guide the configurator towards its new iteration. From the moment the configurator is opened, it presents a cohesive overview of the Aston Martin product range. Users then select the image of the model they want to start the configuration process. Once selected, the accompanying vehicle statistics are now more prominent, located directly below the cars themselves.

The new configurator also uprates the graphical quality of the rendered images, with paint finishes appearing more lustrous and reflective, thanks to new animated previews that showcase colours responding to lighting finishes.  Paint thumbnail designs have also been enlarged, with a new graphic that emphasises the three-dimensional qualities of the paint as it moves across the surface of the bodywork.

In addition to the existing rendered backgrounds, a new Gaydon environment has been created to help showcase the customer’s finalised specification. The stunning atrium entrance hall of Aston Martin’s Warwickshire HQ has played host to Aston Martins of every generation, from road and race cars to concepts and classics.

On desktop systems, the navigation bar has also been moved from vertical to horizontal, allowing more space for the image of the vehicle. This sidebar can also be expanded or collapsed for a clearer view. As the customer makes their choices, key options are presented via a more accurate and relevant zoomed in view to highlight the difference between the various product selections.

The newly enhanced configurator streamlines an essential part of the customer journey, with a fresh design language and graphical depictions. It will provide a showcase for the marque’s newest models, including the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante, Aston Martin DBX S, and the forthcoming Aston Martin Valhalla. In addition, paint colours like Apex Grey and Podium Green, are rendered in vivid, crisp detail, as are material surfaces like carbon fibre and titanium.

‘Our Configurator is an integral part of the modern Aston Martin customer experience,’ says Alex Long, Aston Martin’s Global Marketing Director. Our digital team has worked closely with Aston Martin’s design studio to shape an experience that is vivid, responsive, and inspirational. It’s essential to us that the quality and richness of Aston Martin’s design, engineering and craftsmanship is faithfully rendered to potential customers.’

14 October 2025, Newport Pagnell, UK: A unique gathering of more than 100 classic Aston Martin and Lagonda models provided the centrepiece for 70^th anniversary celebrations at Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell recently.

The heritage home of the British marque and the place where many of its most famous models of the 20^th Century were manufactured is this year marking another exceptional milestone: the 70^th anniversary of the brand’s presence at its site in Buckinghamshire and on Saturday (11 October) owners of cars manufactured during the 50-plus years that Newport Pagnell housed the Aston Martin factory, as well as what was then known as its Service Division, were invited to the site to mark the occasion.

In what proved to be a remarkable day of celebrations scores exceptionally rare and valuable Aston Martin and Lagonda cars made their way along the world-famous Tickford Street to arrive at ‘Works’.  

Keynote speakers at the event included world-renowned DB7 and V12 Vanquish designer Ian Callum; motorsport and automotive engineering legend, and 1980s Nimrod privateer driver, Ray Mallock; and Iain Heggie, son of 1960s Aston Martin Managing Director Steve Heggie.

For many at the event, though, the stars of the show turned out to be as much the cars as the people. Examples of every major Aston Martin and Lagonda model built between 1955 and the early 2000s were present on the day.

The former global headquarters of Aston Martin Lagonda, a modest mock Tudor building on Tickford Street known affectionately as ‘Sunnyside’ was the focal point for many, with an exceptional selection of DB6s gathered together there. Meanwhile DB4 and DB5 owners were asked to position their cars in front of the Aston Martin Works showroom opposite Sunnyside with V12 Vanquish, V8 and Lagonda drivers forming their own equally impressive displays around the rest of the Works site. Add a smattering of DB 2/4 and DB Mk III’s, the odd V550 and V600, and you have every major model built on the site represented.

The Aston Martin Owners Club were present in force, of course, and kindly operated a ‘relaxed concours’ competition on the day, involving a team of scrutineers led by AMOC Chief Judge Michael Reed. Prize-giving at the conclusion of the day’s events saw a number of owners leave with trophies. Meanwhile all those present received a commemorative pin badge, and specially designed poster print, as mementoes of their day.

The Works team ensured every area of the business was open throughout, with visitors able to peek ‘behind the scenes’ in the Modern and Heritage Workshops, Panel, Trim and Paint Shops, witness ongoing restorations and even purchase parts, accessories and souvenirs from a specially-created stand adjacent to the on-site Parts department.

Those with an eye for detail will have seen body bucks and an English Wheel or two as well: all referencing the traditional techniques and artisan expertise that have been handed down at Newport Pagnell for generations.  

Reflecting on the success of the day Aston Martin Works President, Paul Spires, said: “We wanted the 70^th anniversary event to be a memorable occasion for all concerned, but I don’t think any of us envisaged it being quite such a special affair!

“The chats with our superb guest speakers, the enthusiasm and dedication of the Works staff, and the exceptional commitment of our guests, some of whom who had travelled hundreds of miles to be with us on Saturday, really does speak volumes about the affection for Newport Pagnell as a key part of the Aston Martin Lagonda story.

“A few of the cars that were present at the anniversary celebration had not been back to Newport Pagnell since the day they were built, many decades ago, while many others are, of course, ‘old friends’ of the Works business.

“I don’t think, even back in the ‘60s, there was ever a time when quite so many examples of the DB6 were parked outside Sunnyside and in this, the 60^th anniversary of the car’s launch, it was truly a sight to behold!”

Wednesday, 18 June, 2025, Nürburgring, Germany: Aston Martin continues its long and successful association with the fearsome Nürburgring Nordschleife this weekend as the Aston Martin Vantage GT3 goes for overall glory in the ADAC Ravenol 24H Nürburgring with partner teams Walkenhorst Motorsport, PROsport and Dörr Motorsport.

Just days after Vantage finished fourth with the Heart of Racing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans LMGT3 class, the legendary German venue hosts the second of three consecutive world-renowned ‘twice around the clock’ endurance races, with Aston Martin chasing a second-straight overall victory at the Crowdstrike 24 hours of Spa just a week later.

Nine Vantages, of GT3 and GT4 specifications, will carry the hopes of the British ultra-luxury sportscar manufacturer at the 15.8-mile circuit, known throughout motorsport as the ‘Green Hell’. Renowned for pushing machinery to its limit over its hundreds of bumps, crests and blind curves, the Nordschleife punishes even the smallest errors thanks to the track’s unique microclimate, narrow, tree-lined straights and huge entry of almost 150 cars.

Aston Martin has enjoyed a winning tradition at the Nürburgring for more than 60 years. Sir Stirling Moss recorded a hat-trick of 1000km victories with Aston Martin in the 1950s, including the 1959 edition that helped to secure the World Sports Car championship crown. That was in the same year that Aston Martin’s DBR1 claimed its famous overall victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Since returning to sportscar racing in the mid-2000s, Aston Martin has been an ever-present at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, whether through works-entered cars or with its most trusted partner teams. From 2006, through each iteration of Vantage, the Wings have claimed 10 class victories and more than 25 podium finishes.

Aston Martin has once again partnered with an ultra-successful team – Walkenhorst Motorsport – as it strives to become the first British manufacturer to win the race outright. The German outfit, which won the 2018 Spa 24 hours and the 2023 Asian Le Mans Series, will run three Vantage GT3s, which share the mechanical architecture of the ultra-luxury performance brand’s most focused sportscar, and which are built around Aston Martin’s proven bonded aluminium chassis and powered by its fearsome twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine, in the SP9 Pro, Pro-Am and Am classes.

The #34 SP9 Pro-class Vantage features an all-star line-up of Aston Martin works drivers, who boast seven overall or class wins from Europe’s three premier 24-hour races between them. Renowned Nordschleife specialist David Pittard (GBR) took victory in the Nürburgring 24 Hours in 2023 and is joined by another overall winner of the race; two-time FIA WEC GT champion Nicki Thiim (DEN), who triumphed in 2013. The Dane’s Spa 24 hours-winning team-mate from 2024, Mattia Drudi, (ITA) makes his event debut and is the only Aston Martin driver taking on the Le Mans-Nürburgring-Spa treble. Completing the line-up is 2018 Spa 24 hours winner Christian Krognes (NOR), the overall champion in the Nordschleife-based Nürburgring Langstrecken Series (NLS) in 2012 and lap record-holder on the track’s NLS layout.

Another Vantage GT3 tackles the SP9 Pro-Am class with Oliver Söderström (SWE) partnered by Anders Buchardt (NOR), who scored a class podium at the recent Qualifying Races for the event, and Nico Hantke (DEU). Krognes is an additional named driver in the #35 Vantage, meaning he will be on double duty.

Walkenhorst’s #30 Vantage, which will contest the SP9 Am category, features four Nurburgring 24 Hours class winners behind the wheel. Team founder Henry Walkenhorst (DEU) and Jörg Breuer (DEU) – the latter scoring his first category victory in 1993 – share with Stefan Aust (DEU) and US-born Christian Bollrath (DEU). Walkenhorst will also field a Vantage GT4 in the SP10 category. The drivers will be Aris Balanian (BEL), Hermann Vortkamp (DEU), Jean-Christophe David (FRA) and Josh Hansen (USA).

PROSport Racing have entered three cars in three different classes for this weekend’s event, including a Vantage GT3 in SP9 Pro-Am car that is anchored by two-time GT World Challenge Europe Silver Cup Champion and two-time Nürburgring 24 Hours overall podium finisher Nico Bastian (DEU). Sharing the #37 entry with him are multiple class winner Marek Böckmann (DEU) and Steven Palette (FRA), a category victor on his only previous appearance in 2012.

The team’s Vantage #175 GT4, which has been a multiple podium-finisher in the NLS this year, will be driven in the SP10 class by Yannik Himmels (DEU) and Michel Albers (DEU), who were part of the line-up than won the category in both of the recent Qualifying Races, plus Nurburgring 24 Hours class winner Jörg Viebahn (DEU) and Benjamin Hites (CHL), the 2023 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Silver champion.

A third entry, the #140 Vantage GT4, will contest the SP8T category and will be raced by regular NLS podium finishers, the father-and-son duo Guido and Maxime Dumarey (BEL) – the latter finishing third in SP9 Pro-Am last year in a Vantage GT3 – plus Raphael Rennhofer (AUT) and Marcel Marchewicz (DEU).

Dörr Motorsport, who claimed the most recent class win for Vantage at the 2022 race, have added two Vantage GT4s in SP10. The #169 car features Peter Posavac (DEU) and Michael Funke (DEU) while Sven Schädler (DEU) and Frank Weishar (DEU) will be in #179. Further drivers for both cars will be announced before the event gets underway.

Adam Carter, Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport, said: “For fans of endurance racing, 2025 is a particularly special year as three of the world’s most prestigious 24-hour races, at Le Mans, the Nürburgring and Spa, are held on successive weekends. Aston Martin has a special connection with each of the three events, with the Vantage platform placing our partner teams as contenders in each. The Nürburgring 24 Hours has a unique atmosphere and the sheer challenge of its 15.7-mile track, bordered by its unforgiving barriers – not to mention the size of the entry list – are just two factors that make winning here such a huge challenge. Vantage has been ultra-competitive in both GT3 and GT4 series this year so naturally our target is to see our partner teams challenge for victory. Aston Martin is globally-renowned but proud of its roots, and to potentially become the first British manufacturer to win this race outright is an important landmark to chase. In Walkenhorst Motorsport, PROsport Racing and Dörr Motorsport we have three partner teams who know how to succeed on-track and we wait to see what they can achieve.”

Aston Martin made its Nürburgring 24 Hours debut in 2006, with an almost standard V8 Vantage that provided the springboard for the ultra-successful GT4 version. Since then, the marque has enjoyed notable class successes, including victory in the SP9T class in 2018, when Maxime Martin (BEL), Thiim, Darren Turner (GBR) and Marco Sørensen (DEN) finished fourth overall, having led into the final hours amid heavy rain in the last competitive outing for the V12 Vantage GT3. The result stands as the marque’s best finish in the race.

In recent years the Vantage GT4 has flourished. The previous generation won the SP8T class in 2019 with Jamie Chadwick (GBR), Alex Brundle (GBR) and Peter Cate (GBR). In 2020, Garage 59 finished third in the same class with an upgraded GT8R driven by works driver Jonny Adam (GBR), Alexander West (SWE), Chris Goodwin (GBR) and Turner.

The most recent class win for the brand came in 2022, when Dörr Motorsport clinched a one-two victory in SP8T on its Aston Martin debut with a Vantage GT4. The team also finished third in SP10 behind the second-placed PROsport Vantage GT4, the best result yet for the Nürburgring-based team.

First qualifying for the ADAC Ravenol 24H Nürburgring begins on Thursday, 19 June at 1300 local time (1200 BST) with the race beginning at 1600 (1500) on Saturday. Follow details of the event via the official series websites and Apps.

2 June, 2025, Detroit, USA: The spectacular new Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar equalled its best race finish and continued its unbroken points finishing streak with a strong performance in the Detroit Sports Car Classic, Round 5 of the IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship (IMSA), on Saturday.

Having finished in the top ten in each of the IMSA events in which it has started in 2025 – amassing the first points finishes for any car built to hypercar regulations in the history of North America’s premier endurance competition – the British ultra-luxury high performance brand’s all-new Valkyrie stayed on trend, finishing eighth after a competitive showing on the tight confines of the 1.7-mile downtown Detroit street circuit.

Aston Martin THOR Team and its drivers Ross Gunn (GBR) and 2022 IMSA GTD champion Roman De Angelis (CDN) – who were GTD class winners in 2021 on the event’s old Belle Isle course – also equalled Valkyrie’s best qualifying performance with 11th.

The duo were just two tenths of a second shy of the top 10, on what was only Valkyrie’s tenth start in all competitions, and its fourth in IMSA’s GTP division. But a faultless and strategically sound run through the 100-minute race – the shortest format on the IMSA calendar – was rewarded with an eighth-place finish on the second of the series’ two visits to street circuits in 2025. The result equalled De Angelis and Gunn’s run at Long Beach (the other street track) in April.

The first ‘Le Mans Hypercar’ (LMH) to be produced by Aston Martin, Valkyrie is the only car in IMSA’s premier GTP category derived from a road-legal hypercar. The British contender is also the first LMH car of any kind to compete in IMSA, and the only one contesting both IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) simultaneously, having made its debut in the Qatar 1812km in February.

Developed from the Valkyrie production car by Aston Martin and THOR, the competition version blends a race-optimised carbon fibre chassis with a modified 6.5-litre V12 powerplant that revs to 11,000rpm and produces over 1000bhp in standard form, but adheres to a strict 500kw (680bhp) power limit as per hypercar regulations.

Ross Gunn, driver #23 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “Finishing eighth on another tricky circuit like Detroit is another big tick in the box for us and Valkyrie. The team worked very hard to unlock the car’s potential through the weekend and I felt like eighth place was a good reward for us, and a solid result to build on at Watkins Glen later in the month. This was a good way to keep the confidence high as Roman and I travel back to Europe to join the WEC team for Valkyrie’s 24 Hours of Le Mans debut.”

Roman De Angelis, driver #23 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “This was a difficult track for us in some ways. It’s nothing like anything we’ve ever driven on with Valkyrie and so we knew it wasn’t going to be an easy weekend. That said, we made the most of it. Another eighth-place finish, having started 11^th, is good progress. We stayed clean, on this track that’s not easy to do, and the team just executed to the maximum all weekend long. Really looking forward to Watkins Glen and Road America, which are next on the schedule.”

Ian James, Team Principal, Aston Martin THOR Team: “This was another strong performance by the team and the Aston Martin Valkyrie. Ross and Roman drove with deft precision and the car ran faultlessly. We tried to play a few strategies to take advantage of any Full Course Yellows, and Ross raced hard in the end, and the combination of these two factors gave us another real positive to bring with us into the 24 Hours of Le Mans; the next big focus for Aston Martin THOR Team in June.”

Adam Carter, Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport: “Detroit’s downtown circuit is very different to anything else we compete on with Valkyrie, and therefore it provided interesting challenges in terms of gathering and harnessing data. It also gave the team an opportunity to fine-tune and improve systems and processes in another temporary racing environment. Aston Martin THOR Team managed this well and achieved an equal best result for the programme so far. We are satisfied with the progress we are making with each new race.”

Vantage GT3 achieves podiums at Monza 24 Hours of Spa looms

• Aston Martin takes Pro Class podium with Comtoyou Racing at Monza
• Drudi, Sørensen and Thiim third in GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup points standings
• Verstappen.com Racing second in Gold Cup class again in Italy

The latest iteration of Aston Martin’s most successful racing car – the Vantage GT3 – continued its strong start to the GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS Endurance Cup season with a double-class podium in Round 2 at Monza, Italy.

The best overall Vantage finisher (five Aston Martins started the race) was the Pro-class entry from Comtoyou Racing, featuring Aston Martin works drivers Marco Sørensen (DEN), Nicki Thiim (DEN) and Mattia Drudi (ITA). The #007 finished third in the three-hour race having been in the hunt for victory throughout an eventful encounter peppered with no less than eight periods behind the safety car.

The podium, the crew’s first since last year’s victory in the 24 Hours of Spa, builds on a competitive run to fifth place in the Paul Ricard opener in April, and means they are third in the Pro Class points standings as they head into the famous Belgian race later in the month.

“A good start was a foundation to a good race, with good strategy calls from the team on Full Course Yellows which helped us jump some cars as well,” said Thiim. “On-track we were definitely not the ones that had the ultimate pace, but we maximised really well across the board and that earned us some very good points for the championship. It’s nice to stand on the podium at Monza, and it’s been a good start to the season. Now we head for the highlight of the year, which is the Spa 24 Hours, and we go back to try and repeat the victory from last year.”

Walkenhorst Motorsport’s line-up of works drivers, David Pittard (GBR), Henrique Chaves (POR) and Norwegian Christian Krognes enjoyed an outstanding race having charged up the field from 27^th on the grid to finish seventh on the road. Unfortunately, the trio incurred a penalty which dropped them to 12^th in the overall standings.

The 2Seas Motorsport-run Verstappen.com Racing Vantage enjoyed another impressive weekend in the Gold Cup category. Drivers Harry King (GBR), Thierry Vermeulen (NED) and Chris Lulham (GBR) have yet to finish lower than second in class, after their spectacular debut at Paul Ricard, and their run to 15^th overall a Gold Cup runners-up now puts them second in the standings, two points off the lead.

Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport Adam Carter said: “With the Spa 24 Hours being only weeks away now, these results are very encouraging for Vantage and show that our partners Comtoyou Racing, Walkenhorst Motorsport and Verstappen.com Racing are all in a highly competitive place ahead of the upcoming twice round the clock GT-led races on the international calendar. Last year’s victory in Spa was incredibly important for Aston Martin, and it’s encouraging to see that Vantage has been a contender in multiple classes in both rounds of the GT World Europe Endurance Cup so far this season.”

The CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa takes place between the 25-29 June and forms the final part of a massive triple-header for Aston Martin Racing that includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

Friday 23 May 2025, Monaco, France: Aston Martin Valhalla made its global public dynamic debut ahead of the Monaco Formula One^® Grand Prix weekend yesterday. Driven by Aston Martin Aramco Formula One^® team driver and two-time Formula One World Champion, Fernando Alonso, Valhalla took to the iconic Monaco street circuit ahead of F1^® practice, having recently completed final validation testing both on road and on track.

Valhalla has already captured the world’s attention with its fusion of Formula 1^® performance-driven technologies. Close collaboration with Aston Martin Performance Technologies (AMPT) – the consulting arm of the Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1^® Team – on dynamics, aerodynamics and materials have brought an extra dimension to the design and development of Valhalla. Having only appeared in public on static display until now, this was the supercar’s first dynamic public performance, highlighting its cutting-edge hybrid powertrain, superior handling, and unparalleled driving dynamics – not to mention its scintillating design.

A monumental moment in Aston Martin’s rich 112-year history, Valhalla is seen taking to the infamous street circuit through Monte Carlo in a AMR25 race car inspired Podium Green with a Lime Green livery with the supercar’s principal development driver Fernando Alonso at the wheel, pushing the car to its limits around Casino Square and through the Tunnel.

Aston Martin Aramco Formula One^® team driver, Fernando Alonso, said, “Having followed this project closely for the past 18 months and working alongside the development team, unveiling Valhalla’s dynamic capability to the world at the Monaco Grand Prix weekend is a fantastic moment for both myself and the brand. Taking Aston Martin’s unmatched luxury credentials and added cutting-edge F1^® inspired technology and class-leading performance, I can confirm Valhalla is a true supercar both on road and on track. Outside of the outright power and dynamics, it delivers on all of the raw feelings and emotions you look for when behind the wheel of a car like Valhalla.”

Adrian Hallmark, Aston Martin CEO said, “The extreme performance and unprecedented dynamic bandwidth that distinguishes Valhalla from its rivals presented many new opportunities to both the engineering and design teams throughout its development. To witness the culmination of the tireless work from all teams involved, showcased on an iconic F1^® circuit like Monaco and driven by an icon like Fernando is a significant moment in Aston Martin’s rich history of both road cars and racing.”

With a combination of 1079PS and 1100Nm via the hybrid powertrain, Valhalla is a car of many ‘firsts’: Aston Martin’s first series production mid-engined supercar, first plug-in hybrid and first production vehicle with dedicated EV range capability. The marque’s first model to use the bespoke 4.0-litre twin-turbo flat-plane crank V8 engine – the highest performing V8 engine ever fitted to an Aston Martin – and the first to use the marque’s all-new 8-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT), which incorporates an e-Motor and electronic rear differential (E-diff). It is also the first application of the all-new front axle twin motors, which facilitate torque vectoring and contribute to the all-wheel drive system.

Limited to 999 units, delivery of Aston Martin’s ultimate supercar, Valhalla, is set to commence in H2 2025.

15 May 2025, Gaydon, UK: Aston Martin is the first manufacturer in the world to deliver CarPlay Ultra to drivers, bringing together the best of Aston Martin and the best of iPhone for the ultimate in-car experience.

Apple CarPlay Ultra builds upon the capabilities of CarPlay for the ultimate in-car solution. With real-time information across both the infotainment touch screen and the instrument cluster, it gives Aston Martin drivers a familiar experience they will instantly recognise with the marques high-performance DNA and a customisable, personalised platform. Debuted on the Supercar of SUVs, DBX, and the core Aston Martin sportscar range, CarPlay Ultra comes as standard on all new orders in the USA and Canada from today and will be available as an update in the coming weeks for existing core models featuring Aston Martin’s next-generation infotainment system.

Aston Martin CEO, Adrian Hallmark said: “Aston Martin is delighted to have collaborated with Apple, and to be first to launch CarPlay Ultra.  As a Brand our focus on world leading performance goes beyond the traditional attributes associated with powertrains, dynamic performance and craftsmanship.

The integration of CarPlay Ultra is a clear example of the dedication to collaborate with the best companies in the world to bring unique experiences and in-vehicle capabilities to our customers. Building on our in-house state-of-the-art infotainment system, CarPlay Ultra will provide additional functionality and personalisation opportunities which place Aston Martin at the forefront of infotainment in the sector. “

“iPhone users love CarPlay and it has changed the way people interact with their vehicles. With CarPlay Ultra, together with automakers we are reimagining the in-car experience and making it even more unified and consistent,” says Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “The next generation of CarPlay gives drivers a smarter, safer way to use their iPhone in the car, deeply integrating with the vehicle while maintaining the very best of the automaker. We are thrilled to begin rolling out CarPlay Ultra with Aston Martin, with more manufacturers to come.”

CarPlay Ultra extends to the instrument cluster, with a number of seamlessly designed options for the speedometer and tachometer dials drivers can choose from as well as the ability to display maps and media in full screen providing drivers a way to curate their own multi-screen set-up, and the freedom to modify the layout.

Aston Martin has worked closely in partnership with Apple to ensure CarPlay Ultra is consistent with the brand’s unique design philosophy and remains instantly recognisable as Aston Martin. Drivers can choose from a number of different instrument cluster themes, whilst also being able to tailor the colours and wallpapers to match their individual tastes.

In addition, drivers can manage vehicle functions like radio and climate right from within CarPlay Ultra with touchscreen controls, physical buttons, or Siri. Drivers can also add widgets powered by iPhone that perfectly fit Aston Martin’s 10.25” infotainment screen or instrument cluster to provide information at a glance. 

Aston Martin introduced the marques’ next-generation infotainment system in 2023, which debuted on the all-new DB12. Entirely bespoke, the system is Aston Martin’s first in-house development and as such has allowed the brand to work directly with Apple to flawlessly integrate CarPlay Ultra.

The new system provides full online connectivity and is displayed using 10.25” Pure Black touchscreen technology with full capacitive single and multi-finger gesture control. Understanding the need for balance between touchscreen commands and the positive tactility of physical switches, buttons are retained for the key mechanical operations of gear selection, drive selection, heating and ventilation. There are also override switches for Chassis, ESP and Exhaust, Lane Assist and Park Distance Control, ensuring the most used controls are always conveniently to hand.

With the adoption of Aston Martin’s state-of-the-art in-house developed infotainment system and striking new cabin architecture, the transformative enhancement on all new Aston Martin models showcases exemplary craft and innovation combining immaculate design and indulgent luxury with a formidable suite of connected car technology. The addition of CarPlay Ultra, first featured on Aston Martin at launch, further cements the marques position at the forefront of technology and innovation.

Initially launching in the USA and Canada, CarPlay Ultra is available on the Supercar of SUV’s DBX, along with Aston Martin’s core sportscars, Vantage, DB12 and Vanquish, and will expand to include all global markets within the next 12-months. CarPlay Ultra will be on all new vehicle orders from today (in the USA & Canada) as standard and made available as an update for existing models in the coming weeks through Aston Martin’s dealer network. CarPlay Ultra requires an iPhone 12 or later, running iOS 18.54 and later.

15 May 2025, Gaydon, UK: Aston Martin is the first manufacturer in the world to deliver CarPlay Ultra to drivers, bringing together the best of Aston Martin and the best of iPhone for the ultimate in-car experience.

Apple CarPlay Ultra builds upon the capabilities of CarPlay for the ultimate in-car solution. With real-time information across both the infotainment touch screen and the instrument cluster, it gives Aston Martin drivers a familiar experience they will instantly recognise with the marques high-performance DNA and a customisable, personalised platform. Debuted on the Supercar of SUVs, DBX, and the core Aston Martin sportscar range, CarPlay Ultra comes as standard on all new orders in the USA and Canada from today and will be available as an update in the coming weeks for existing core models featuring Aston Martin’s next-generation infotainment system.

Aston Martin CEO, Adrian Hallmark said: “Aston Martin is delighted to have collaborated with Apple, and to be first to launch CarPlay Ultra.  As a Brand our focus on world leading performance goes beyond the traditional attributes associated with powertrains, dynamic performance and craftsmanship.

The integration of CarPlay Ultra is a clear example of the dedication to collaborate with the best companies in the world to bring unique experiences and in-vehicle capabilities to our customers. Building on our in-house state-of-the-art infotainment system, CarPlay Ultra will provide additional functionality and personalisation opportunities which place Aston Martin at the forefront of infotainment in the sector. “

“iPhone users love CarPlay and it has changed the way people interact with their vehicles. With CarPlay Ultra, together with automakers we are reimagining the in-car experience and making it even more unified and consistent,” says Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “The next generation of CarPlay gives drivers a smarter, safer way to use their iPhone in the car, deeply integrating with the vehicle while maintaining the very best of the automaker. We are thrilled to begin rolling out CarPlay Ultra with Aston Martin, with more manufacturers to come.”

CarPlay Ultra extends to the instrument cluster, with a number of seamlessly designed options for the speedometer and tachometer dials drivers can choose from as well as the ability to display maps and media in full screen providing drivers a way to curate their own multi-screen set-up, and the freedom to modify the layout.

Aston Martin has worked closely in partnership with Apple to ensure CarPlay Ultra is consistent with the brand’s unique design philosophy and remains instantly recognisable as Aston Martin. Drivers can choose from a number of different instrument cluster themes, whilst also being able to tailor the colours and wallpapers to match their individual tastes.

In addition, drivers can manage vehicle functions like radio and climate right from within CarPlay Ultra with touchscreen controls, physical buttons, or Siri. Drivers can also add widgets powered by iPhone that perfectly fit Aston Martin’s 10.25” infotainment screen or instrument cluster to provide information at a glance. 

Aston Martin introduced the marques’ next-generation infotainment system in 2023, which debuted on the all-new DB12. Entirely bespoke, the system is Aston Martin’s first in-house development and as such has allowed the brand to work directly with Apple to flawlessly integrate CarPlay Ultra.

The new system provides full online connectivity and is displayed using 10.25” Pure Black touchscreen technology with full capacitive single and multi-finger gesture control. Understanding the need for balance between touchscreen commands and the positive tactility of physical switches, buttons are retained for the key mechanical operations of gear selection, drive selection, heating and ventilation. There are also override switches for Chassis, ESP and Exhaust, Lane Assist and Park Distance Control, ensuring the most used controls are always conveniently to hand.

With the adoption of Aston Martin’s state-of-the-art in-house developed infotainment system and striking new cabin architecture, the transformative enhancement on all new Aston Martin models showcases exemplary craft and innovation combining immaculate design and indulgent luxury with a formidable suite of connected car technology. The addition of CarPlay Ultra, first featured on Aston Martin at launch, further cements the marques position at the forefront of technology and innovation.

Initially launching in the USA and Canada, CarPlay Ultra is available on the Supercar of SUV’s DBX, along with Aston Martin’s core sportscars, Vantage, DB12 and Vanquish, and will expand to include all global markets within the next 12-months. CarPlay Ultra will be on all new vehicle orders from today (in the USA & Canada) as standard and made available as an update for existing models in the coming weeks through Aston Martin’s dealer network. CarPlay Ultra requires an iPhone 12 or later, running iOS 18.54 and later.

14 May 2025, Newport Pagnell, UK: Aston Martin Works in Newport Pagnell, the heritage home of the British marque and the place where many of its most famous models of the 20^th Century were manufactured, is this year marking another exceptional milestone: the 70^th anniversary of the brand’s presence at its site in Buckinghamshire.

While the fact that then Aston Martin owner Sir David Brown used the bucolic location to centralise Aston Martin’s UK operations all those years ago may be well-known what is, perhaps, less well understood is why the industrialist entrepreneur – who went on to give his initials to a plethora of world-renowned Aston Martin sports cars – chose Newport Pagnell as the venue to consolidate his manufacturing operations seven decades ago.

Aston Martin Historian, Steve Waddingham, takes up the story: “I can imagine it might have raised a few eyebrows at the then Aston Martin factory in Feltham, on the outskirts of London, when Sir David announced he was moving production to Newport Pagnell, in rural Buckinghamshire.

“Remember: this was years before the M1 motorway was built, and more than a decade before nearby Milton Keynes was anything more than a similarly rustic neighbouring village. The long-standing employees of the time at Feltham must have wondered what on earth was going on!”

Yet, as with much of what Sir David achieved during his 25-year tenure at the helm of Aston Martin Lagonda, the rationale was clear, and compelling. In the mid-1950s it was evident that Aston Martin, and its relatively newly-acquired fellow brand Lagonda, needed production to be carried out on a much larger scale than before the war if the business was to fulfil its potential and prosper.

The Feltham premises, along with Sir David’s factories in Yorkshire where some chassis parts were already manufactured, and entire car assembly was taking place, simply didn’t have enough space to scale up in the way that was needed.

The answer lay in the form of a business Sir David and his team knew well, as it was already carrying out coachbuilding work for Aston Martin: Tickford Ltd, based in Newport Pagnell, Bucks. This well-established coachbuilding firm, with a proud history and strong reputation for excellent quality workmanship, sat on a generous site split by the now world-famous Tickford Street.

With generations of coachbuilding knowledge in the locality and an opportunity to hugely expand Aston Martin production, along with a geographical location between Sir David’s existing factories in the North and near London, Newport Pagnell was, in fact, the obvious choice to host Aston Martin Lagonda car making.

And so it was that in 1955, having recently been acquired by the David Brown Corporation, what had previously been known as Tickford Coachworks began full production of the Aston Martin DB2/4 mk II, ushering in what would quickly become a golden era of Aston Martin sports cars. While it took years for every facet of the company’s operations to make the move from Feltham, with the brand’s motorsport and customer service divisions staying put there into the 1960s, eventually ever aspect of the business would operate out of the Newport Pagnell premises.

Steve Waddingham added: “The arrival of Sir David on that momentous day seven decades ago really did mark the beginning of something special, both for us at Aston Martin Lagonda and, of course, for Newport Pagnell.

“If you think about the years that immediately followed that ambitious move we would quickly see some of the most famous and desired sports cars ever produced all emerge from the factory gates onto Tickford Street. The DB5, DB6, DBS, the V8s – even the hugely sought-after ‘wedge’ Aston Martin Lagonda – plus many more, were all painstakingly built by hand in this small Buckinghamshire town.”

Across Tickford Street from the main factory Sir David and his team created a customer service operation which later became known as Works Service and, today, is known the world over as Aston Martin Works.

While the factory may have gone, following the opening of the brand’s new, purpose-built facilities at Gaydon, Warwickshire, in the early 2000s, the Aston Martin name remains a cornerstone of Newport Pagnell’s identity thanks to the extensive operations continuing to this day at ‘Works’.

Today providing a one-stop shop for all things Aston Martin and Lagonda, the Aston Martin Works business is unique in the brand’s global presence by offering new and pre-owned Aston Martin models for sale, alongside heritage car sales; expert servicing and repair of all Aston Martin models, of whatever vintage; world-class Aston Martin and Lagonda heritage car restoration; unmatched paint and body repairs via its dedicated paint and panel shops; outstanding trim repair, restoration and replacement courtesy of its in-house trim shop; and modern and heritage parts sales via its extensive parts operations department.

With a staff of around 100 – including a dozen apprentices who are learning their trades in Works’ Paint, Panel, Modern Service and Heritage Service departments – Aston Martin Works is a vibrant and successful reminder of the brand’s depth of tradition, and the artisan craftsmanship on which it was founded 112 years ago.

President of Aston Martin Works, Paul Spires, explains: “For 70 years now Aston Martin has had a proud association with this site and, as we mark that conspicuous milestone in 2025, I like to think we are also looking forward with ambition and purpose to the next 70 years here.

“Aston Martin Works still represents the passion and dedication to excellence that, I’m sure, drove Sir David to centralise his operations at Newport Pagnell all those years ago. This is a unique and fascinating part of the ongoing Aston Martin story, and I’m proud to say that, seven decades after we first moved in, we remain an important part of the community.

“Few car makers anywhere in the world can boast such a long, unbroken association with a particular location and, I like to think, it is the rich heritage and history we have around us here that helps make the Aston Martin Works business such an exclusive and appealing part of the marque today.”           

12 May 2025, Spa-Francorchamps, BEL/Laguna Seca, USA: The spectacular new Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar delivered its best race finish to date in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, finishing 13^th and 14^th overall and contending for points until the very closing stages of the race on Saturday.

Meanwhile, at Laguna Seca, on the first competitive weekend where all three Aston Martin THOR Team Valkyries were in action on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean at the same time, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA) entry achieved a third consecutive points finish and maintained its 100% finishing record in the series with tenth place.

“The performance of all three Valkyries was encouraging this weekend,” said Aston Martin Head of Endurance Adam Carter. “That both WEC entries were able to run on the lead lap throughout the six hours, on a fast and challenging circuit such as Spa, demonstrates the progress we’ve made with our performance development of the car. The upwards trajectory of Valkyrie’s pace in comparison to our WEC Hypercar class rivals is positive as we look ahead to the most important race of the season – the 24 Hours of Le Mans [14-15 June].

“In America, Valkyrie ran well and deep in the points-scoring positions until it was struck by an unfortunate tyre issue after contact. Despite this, the car was able to collect points for the third race in succession which is satisfying. Across the two championships Valkyrie has acheived eight finishes in nine starts, which is a strong record for a brand new Hypercar programme. This robust reliability is a strong asset as we look to continue building performance into Valkyrie through its debut season.

Both the #007 Valkyrie, driven by British racers Tom Gamble and Harry Tincknell, which finished 13^th, and the sister #009 car of Alex Riberas (ESP) and Marco Sørensen (DEN) which placed 14^th, ran without issue throughout an eventful, Safety Car-interrupted six-hour race at Spa. Indeed the #007 was running 10^th (having placed as high as fourth through the stop sequence in the final hour) with four laps to go when it became necessary for a ‘splash-and-dash’ energy stop.

“Step by step everything is improving all the time,” said Tincknell. “We were legitimately fighting for a point at the end of the race, but unfortunately, we needed to box for some energy. We just needed one more Full Course Yellow for half a lap, but there was no way anyone was going to pass me on track. We’re flying now, and at the end of the stint the car is coming back to us more and more. From Qatar, to Imola, to here, we’ve made huge steps and this is fantastic.”

At Laguna Seca, another challenging track for drivers and cars Aston Martin THOR Team drivers Ross Gunn (GBR) – an IMSA GTD Pro class winner at Long Beach – and Roman De Angelis (CDN), the 2022 IMSA GTD champion, delivered on another solid, competitive run to bring Valkyrie home in tenth and finish in the points again. This follows on from tenth place on the car’s debut at Sebring in February, and then eighth place at Long Beach last month. Yesterday’s result extends a record-setting run of points finishes for a car built to FIA-homologated Hypercar (LMH) regulations.

“We had another progressive race at Laguna Seca,” said Gunn. “Unfortunately, in the race we suffered a puncture when we were within 20 seconds of the leaders after 45 minutes. From then on it was just about bringing it home to the finish, which we did. In general, it’s been a positive weekend in terms of the steps that we have made and how we managed to get closer to the midfield of the GTP class. Now we can take everything we have learned and build it into Detroit in three weeks’ time.

The first ‘Le Mans Hypercar’ (LMH) to be produced by Aston Martin, Valkyrie is the only car in IMSA’s premier GTP category derived from a road-legal hypercar. The British contender is also the first LMH car of any kind to compete in IMSA, and the only one contesting both IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) simultaneously, having made its debut in the Qatar 1812km in February.

Developed from the Valkyrie production car by Aston Martin and THOR, the competition version blends a race-optimised carbon fibre chassis with a modified 6.5-litre V12 powerplant that revs to 11,000rpm and produces over 1000bhp in standard form, but adheres to a strict 500kw (680bhp) power limit as per Hypercar regulations.

14 April, 2025, Long Beach, USA: The spectacular new Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar scored both its best race finish (and qualifying result) with a strong weekend-long performance at the world-renowned Grand Prix of Long Beach, the latest round of the IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship (IMSA), last weekend.

Hot on the heels of a highly-respectable ninth-place result at the 12 Hours of Sebring last month – the first points finish of any car built to hypercar regulations in the history of IMSA competition – the British ultra-luxury high performance brand’s all-new Valkyrie went one better by finishing eighth after a competitive showing across the event.

Aston Martin THOR Team and its drivers Ross Gunn (GBR) – an IMSA GTD Pro class winner at Long Beach – and Roman De Angelis (CDN), the 2022 IMSA GTD champion, made gains in Friday practice and then achieved a best-ever 11th place in qualifying, just a tenth of a second shy of the top 10, on what was only Valkyrie’s third start and its second in IMSA’s GTP division. But a faultless and reliable run through the 100-minute race – the shortest on the IMSA calendar – was rewarded with an eighth-place finish.

The first ‘Le Mans Hypercar’ (LMH) to be produced by Aston Martin, Valkyrie is the only car in IMSA’s premier GTP category derived from a road-legal hypercar. The British contender is also the first LMH car of any kind to compete in IMSA, and the only one contesting both IMSA and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) simultaneously, having made its debut in the Qatar 1812km in February.

Valkyrie’s US debut season, masterminded by the works Aston Martin THOR team at Sebring, has already produced an encouraging pair of top-10 finishes on circuits recognised as some of the world’s most demanding.

Developed from the Valkyrie production car by Aston Martin and THOR, the competition version blends a race-optimised carbon fibre chassis with a modified 6.5-litre V12 powerplant that revs to 11,000rpm and produces over 1000bhp in standard form, but adheres to a strict 500kw (680bhp) power limit as per hypercar regulations.

Ross Gunn, driver #23 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “I’m super-happy with our eighth-place finish at Long Beach. It was a difficult Friday with a couple of issues that we had to overcome, but at this stage of the programme, that’s completely normal.  Everybody did a great job figuring out and fixing what had arisen. The main positive is that we improved throughout the weekend. We improved on our last race result at Sebring, kept it clean and completed another race. We’ve ticked a lot more boxes with Valkyrie and I’m very happy.”

Roman De Angelis, driver #23 Aston Martin Valkyrie: “It was a tough race, but we kept the car clean. We had a tricky start to the weekend with some issues in practice and I only had about 10 laps before the race, so all in all I’m happy that the car is in one piece and that the race was clean. I’m excited to see what Laguna Seca brings next time out.”

Ian James, Team Principal, Aston Martin THOR Team: “It was a very positive weekend for Valkyrie. The team had a great strategy. We were right with some of the other cars at the end so to be mixing with any of the other manufacturers at this point makes us proud. There is still lots to learn from each weekend, but it was a step forward for our performance and for the Valkyrie programme as a whole, and it will be even better come Laguna Seca.”

Adam Carter, Aston Martin Head of Endurance Motorsport: “Long Beach posed a complex test for Valkyrie; a street track with very different technical challenges to those experienced at Sebring on its first appearance in IMSA or in Qatar for its global race debut in the FIA WEC. Despite this, it came through with flying colours as Aston Martin Team THOR scored the car’s best results to date. We continue to make enormous progress every time Valkyrie goes on track and this latest achievement will give us all added determination to keep moving forwards and striving for more.”

Vantage GT3 on podium as 2025 GT World Challenge Europe begins at Paul Ricard

• Verstappen.com Racing second in class in GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup at Paul Ricard on debut with Vantage GT3
• Aston Martin works drivers charge through to finish in top five for Comtoyou Racing in six-hour ‘into the night’ race in France
• The Heart of Racing qualify third on streets of Long Beach in IMSA GTD
• D’station Racing begin Super GT GT300 championship challenge with front-row start at Okayama

The latest iteration of Aston Martin’s most successful racing car – the Vantage GT3 – scored another podium finish last weekend as the GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS began at Circuit Paul Ricard, France.

The 2Seas Motorsport-run Verstappenracing.com Vantage was a contender for honours in the Gold Cup category across the weekend; setting the fastest time overall in opening practice and running strongly throughout the six-hour race.

Having gradually moved up from fourth place in the Gold Cup order, driver Harry King (GBR) chased down the #31 car’s race-long rival with 20 minutes left to snatch second place for himself and co-drivers Thierry Vermeulen (NED) and Chris Lulham (GBR).

The best overall Vantage finisher was the Pro-class entry from Comtoyou Racing featuring Aston Martin works drivers Marco Sørensen (DEN), Nicki Thiim (DEN) and Mattia Drudi (ITA), who started 19th but fought back throughout the six-hour race to highlight the Vantage GT3’s long-stint pace. Last year’s 24 Hours of Spa-winning crew came home fifth.

Walkenhorst Motorsport’s line-up of works drivers, David Pittard (GBR), Henrique Chaves (POR) and Norwegian Christian Krognes – who was having his first race with factory status – was eighth while the Comtoyou entry featuring Aston Martin Aramco Formula One^® Team Driver Ambassador Jessica Hawkins (GBR) Jessica Hawkins was 11th in the Bronze Cup.

The IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship moved from its most demanding event; the 12 Hours of Sebring, to one of its shortest; a 100-minute ‘Sprint’ event on the streets of Long Beach.

Tom Gamble (GBR) qualified his Vantage GT3 a season’s-best third for Seattle-based The Heart of Racing (THOR), coming within seven hundredths of a second of pole position and putting him in a prime place to take second place on the opening lap. He and Casper Stevenson (GBR) finished ninth following contact from a GTP machine during the second half of the race but remain third in the Drivers’ title race with three rounds completed.

In Japan, D’station Racing pair Tomonobu Fujii (JPN) and Charlie Fagg (GBR) began their AUTOBACS Super GT Series title challenge with a front-row start in the GT300 class at Okayama with its Aston Martin Vantage GT3. Fujii was leading when a rival car spun him off a wet track at a quarter distance dropping the #777 Vantage out of serious contention.