Aston Martin Vanquish Volante: The Most Powerful Convertible

It would therefore not be wrong to complete the present presentation of Aston Martin by claiming that this carmaker has set new standards in the production of high-performance automobiles. The first showing of the new Aston Martin Vanquish Volante contains plenty of meaning for Aston Martin. The latter is its most potent and swiftest front-engined convertible model to have hit the market. These official pictures of this beautiful car have left many gasping, especially pointing to a probable rivalry with the Ferrari 12 Cilindri Spider.

• It is the most powerful convertible
• Accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds
• Powered by a 5.2-liter V12 engine that generates 835 horsepower
• The top speed is set at 344 km/h

Table of Contents

1. The Powerhouse: Vanquish Volante
2. Reinforced for Performance
3. Speed and Precision
4. Design Excellence
5. Conclusion
6. End Note
7. Aston Martin Vanquish Volante – Photo Gallery

The Powerhouse: Vanquish Volante

The Vanquish Volante is not a simple hope of an automotive manufacturing company but the creation of a sophisticated fantasy. It is a potent tool that is expected to leave all its competitors in the dust. This new model elevates the light and exceptionally beautiful Vanquish Coupe to even greater heights.

Altogether, they are the most potent front-wheel drive production automobiles on the market currently. It has an expected 5.2-liter V12, turbocharged to ideal heights, and pumps an impressive 835 hp and 1000 Nm of torque. This amount of power is sent to the rear axle with the help of an upgraded eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF.

Aston Martin Vanquish Volante

Reinforced for Performance

There are several limitations faced due to the fact that the Vanquish Volante is a convertible. Since the top was not anchored and thus had no solidity, the chassis had to be strengthened to achieve the necessary integrity. This has been done effectively by Aston Martin in strengthening the structure, though the model is 95 kg heavier than the coupe. Still, the car is brilliantly effective when it comes to its suspension system, which has been tweaked to enhance the car’s nimbleness.

Aston Martin Vanquish Volante

Speed and Precision

The Vanquish Volante is not shy on the power either, and it proves this when it comes to the speed. This car can sprint from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in a remarkable 3.4 seconds. It accelerates to a perfect top speed that is the same as that of the coupes at 344 km/h. Despite this, its closest competitor, the Ferrari 12 Cilindri Spider, is capable of going 340 km/h top speed but offers almost one second less in the 0-100 acceleration. This makes the Vanquish Volante rank at the top within the said segment and class of the most performance cars in the world.

Aston Martin Vanquish Volante Interior

Design Excellence

The roof of the Vanquish Volante operates in a very unique way, and thus its design is, of course, incredible. The exterior of the design has always been a shining point in any Aston Martin, and the company makes sure that the proportions do not turn messy even when transformed into a convertible.

It paints the car in a very dynamic and muscular look with sharp upper shoulders and continuous curved lines that drastically lead to the comparatively straight rear part of the car. Of course, the finishing fabric roof opens and closes in just 14 seconds, and as Aston Martin specifies, the material does not allow significant noise or heat ingress and is comparable to the insulation of the coupe model.

Conclusion

The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante is the perfect example of sophistication and the brand’s dedication to the advancement of automobile designs. It is a car that not only possesses the attributes that will allow the driver to make the car go through the speeds and push for power, but also provides the driver with an elegant and sophisticated touch.

Aston Martin dealers have long waited for such a convertible vehicle that does not compromise on performance, and the Vanquish Volante is all that customers needed.

I think I have a keen interest in the new product portfolio of Aston Martin. This is indeed a car that is sleek, stylish, and luxurious as well as fast, making it one of those vehicles that every car lover would love to own. That is why for everyone who would like to find an extraordinary convertible, the Vanquish Volante can be an interesting solution. What do you think about this masterpiece?

End Note

The new Aston Martin Vanquish Volante has entered the production phase and it is possible to place an order for it, meaning that delivery will be in the second half of this year. It is a car satisfactory to any car fanatic and a speed demon due to its capacity to offer them value during a drive. It is not just an automobile but the representation of performance with style in equal measures.

Aston Martin Vanquish Volante – Photo Gallery

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Rolls-Royce Wraith Venuum: An Astonishing Opulence Unveiled

In the world of luxury cars, it would be difficult to get a name more representative of luxury than Rolls-Royce. However, for those who want to feel what is beyond the possibilities of the mainstream, even having a Rolls-Royce Wraith can feel mundane. See Venuum, a firm from Dubai specializing in these rare brands and the ritual of turning these cars into personalized statements of opulence that rich people cannot do without.

The latest product from the house of Venuum, known as the Wraith Apollo, is the best example of exclusivity’s enticing propositions. The Rolls-Royce Wraith in its regular version already stands out as the king of the roads; however, Venuum has taken this Rolls-Royce Wraith and transformed it into a symbol of luxury, asserting the owner’s position. It is not only a restoration that retains all the magnificence that was in the original design, but adds to it and goes beyond the unbelievable.

Rolls-Royce Wraith Apollo by Venuum

The Rolls-Royce Wraith Apollo looks like it is in firm control throughout, a feature attributed to the numerous body enhancements. With widened fenders, side skirts, and beautifully integrated rear vents, one can give the car a stylish and macho look. This is made even more appealing by the big white wheels and black strips that give an improved outlook by drawing the attention of anyone nearby.

The Wraith Apollo is utilizing an unaltered 6.6-liter V12 engine, which references 591 bhp (440 kW) and 663 lb-ft (900 Nm) torque. Wow, it’s plenty of power under the hood of this “yacht”!

Though the gist of the car has not been changed, exterior touches give some hints that there might be improved performance beneath the skin, especially concerning the wide-body kit and enormous wheels.

Nevertheless, the interior of Wraith Apollo is at its best, where the company has given a glimpse of a splendid lifestyle that can only be described as hyper-real. Upon opening the two doors, the genuine snake-skin feature merges with white leather interiors. Wow, this is insane!! The snake-skin theme gets applied throughout the car in multiple locations, including the steering wheel, dashboard trims, headrests, seatbacks, bottom cushion, and door sills. This particular layout creates an association with an emperor’s throne, embedded in the oriental opulence of animalistic skin.

Rolls-Royce Wraith Apollo by Venuum

This interior has a golden hue added to the scheme in the form of trims for a magnificent outlook, besides improving the look of the snake skin and the pleasure associated with it. Taking it to this level turns the automobile into an aristocratic ride from what would otherwise be just a means of transport.

Considering that it bears the widebody kit and uses such colossal wheels, one can assume that the suspension setup installs a more aggressive lowering kit to give significant ground clearance.

Rolls-Royce Wraith Apollo by Venuum

For the price, you can make no mistake; the Wraith Apollo is one of those die-hard Rolls-Royce Wraith that will cost customers more than the base model. There is a rumor that it may be sold for 1.3 million dollars, which should be regarded as appropriate because of all those extras. To those in high society, in particular, and the privileged class in general, such a price is nothing when getting the best quality and tranquillity is the ultimate goal.

Namely, the Rolls-Royce Wraith Venuum is not mere transport; it is a signal, an emblem of opulence and individualism, tailored to appeal to the clients who try to imagine and reach beyond the logical.

Do you like this tuning done by those from Venuum? Please let us know your opinion in the comments section below. 🙂 Thank you!

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Purple Haze: Turning the Harley Low Rider S into a neo-retro chopper

Fo Huang has an enviable skill—the ability to take whatever he imagines and turn it into a physical object. Working as NamiXII Design from Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan, he creates everything from furniture and sculptures to trophies. More importantly, he also builds radical 70s-style choppers.

The last time we checked in with Fo, he wowed us with a wildly chopped Yamaha SR400. This time he’s back with an equally bodacious chopper on a very different foundation—a 2022-model Harley-Davidson Low Rider S.

Dyna cultists must have felt cheated when The Motor Co. re-released the Low Rider S on their newer Softail platform. But the truth is, the contemporary Low Rider S is a total hoot to ride. Its 117 ci Milwaukee-Eight engine is a peach, and its chassis is vastly better than that of its predecessor.

Fo’s latest build takes all that goodness and repackages it as a Frisco-style chopper. “The design also incorporates the owner’s favorite element—lightning,” he adds.

Step one was to readjust the Low Rider’s stance. Fo stripped the bike’s upside-down forks, and then extended them by four inches. Then he stripped the paint off the yokes and fork uppers to give them a polished finish instead.

The stock wheels were swapped out for a set of stylish forged aluminum hoops from Lyndall, bumping the front wheel up to 21” while retaining the 16” rear wheel size. The wheels sport new Lyndall Gemini brake rotors, plus a pair of Brembo-made front calipers from Harley’s exclusive CVO series. The tires are Bridgestone Battlecruise H50s.

There’s a lot more going on with the Low Rider’s front end than just a set of stretched forks. Fo took the OEM front fender, hacked the front half off, and fabricated a finned replacement piece that’s part decoration and part fork brace.

Further up, he crafted an elegant aluminum headlight housing that sits flush with the yokes. The actual headlight is an LED unit from Moons MC in Japan, but it’s hidden behind a vintage headlight lens.

Kraus Motor risers stand tall behind the headlight, supporting a set of handmade handlebars. The bars wear MX-style grips and Flo Motorsports levers, with discreet LED turn signals mounted below the lever perches. The stock Harley speedo has been relocated to atop the bars via a custom bracket.

The Low Rider’s speedo traditionally lives in a large housing on top of the fuel tank, but Fo binned it—along with the tank itself. A slim 17-liter [4.5-gallon] unit was handcrafted to replace it.

The new tank, and the generously scooped saddle that follows it, contribute to this chopper’s remarkably compact appearance. But it’s the details that crank the overall design up to eleven. The lightning bolt motif on the tank isn’t just pain—it’s a 3D effect that Fo created by welding metal ridges to the tank, before refining them.

Layered over Fo’s sculpting work is a mind-bending blue and purple paint scheme that shifts as light bounces off it. Finer pin-striping details on the fenders tie the design together. Aptly, Fo has nicknamed the bike ‘Purple Haze.’

The pattern on the saddle is equally playful, traversing the upholstery with blue, purple, and white stitching. Out back you’ll find the OEM fender, modified to include a molded housing for a Moons MC taillight. Tiny LED turn signals from Kodlin are mounted to the ends of the fender struts.

Other details include color-matched plug leads, and foot pegs and controls from Flo Motorsports. The Harley’s frame is still intact, as is its original belt drive and belt drive cover (Taiwan’s modification laws are rather strict).

Fo hasn’t messed with the Harley’s engine either—at least, not too much. It’s been treated to a factory ‘Stage 1’ kit, plus an ECU tune to optimize its performance. The delightfully chunky air cleaner is a one-off, as are the two-into-one exhaust headers, which terminate in a Supertrapp muffler.

There’s a lot going on with this Harley-Davidson Low Rider S chopper, yet it still feels remarkably cohesive. Thanks to Fo’s obsessive attention to detail, his sharp eye, and his deft hands, this neo-retro performance chopper is in a class of its own.

NamiXII Design Instagram | Images by Weeber Photography (studio) and Raku (details)

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Future/Primitive: Origins of a Mysterious Ducati SportClassic

As a photographer, I’m always looking for strange and obscure things to shoot. I’d heard about this place in Brooklyn called Jane – a shop that had custom motorcycles, specialty coffee, and apparel – and as a moto enthusiast, I had to check it out. What I found inside was one of the most interesting incarnations of a Ducati I’d ever seen.

It looked like a WWII-era P-51 Mustang fighter plane on two wheels. Bright blocks of colored paint made up the bodywork while it was adorned with intricate details of gold. It was bold, brash, and sexy.

Adam and Alex, the owners of Jane, didn’t have much information beyond the fact that the bike was on consignment for the current owner, who wanted to remain anonymous.

As I spent more time there, I finally convinced them to let me take her out. I wanted to shoot some impromptu lifestyle photos, and Alex was kind enough to ride the Ducati for the photos you see here. But the images begged more questions than answers. I sent a few comps out to magazines and blogs curious to see if anyone had any info. No one had seen it before or knew any builders familiar with it. Without any details, publications were also hesitant to do anything with the bike. I was at a dead end.

I knew I had something exquisite, but I couldn’t understand it. It was like wandering through the woods and happening upon an Andy Goldsworthy sculpture. How did this thing end up in Brooklyn?

No less than three months later, a young kid came into the shop for a cup of coffee and found himself drawn to the mystery Ducati as I was, but for a completely different reason.

“My dad built that bike!”

Alex called me immediately with the kid’s contact information. After reaching out several times to get a lead on where it came from, I received no response. My encouragement dissipated to disappointment and frustration.

Another month passed until the kid came in again for coffee. Alex obtained his email once more and realized the address was off by one letter.

I finally reached Henry – the builder’s son – and he gave me the email address for his father’s wife Laura. She then connected me with her husband, and within a few days, he emailed me back confirming that he was indeed the builder of the bike in the photos. His name was Jon Aesoph. His nickname was “Einstein.”

When we were finally able to talk, Einstein was matter-of-fact, though he never came off as pretentious. Instead, he was almost aloof to his own abilities. I came to appreciate that he was just a tinkerer in the woods making weird stuff. Motorcycles just happened to be one of them.

“I am an artist, who works mainly in drawing and painting. I love machines and try to get them to love me. As much as I appreciate what the manufacturers offer us, I really need to make it my own. I don’t consider myself to be a ‘builder,’ but have always re-imagined any bike I’ve owned, and tried to make it unique for myself.”

The mystery Ducati was a SportClassic “S” that Einstein purchased new in the fall of 2009 from Skagit Motor Sports in Mount Vernon, Washington. The “S” meant it came with the front fairing, unlike others in the SportClassic line.

Einstein, a retired art teacher living on Whidbey Island off the coast of Washington state, says he only rode it stock for a few months.

“I like to get to know a bike pretty well on a daily basis; it helps me choose a direction. I wanted something a bit different, as is my usual modus operandi, and decided to change the tail to a ‘Don Vesco Big Butt’ from Airtech Bodywork. This immediately took the bike back in time. The ‘Big Butt’ suggested a race bike from the ‘50s or ‘60s. The new bodywork was painted the dark Ducati Green, and the stock white racing stripes were continued over the top of it. During this time, I did all the sexy motor things that I could afford, such as open Desmodromic belts, gold anodized grips and clutch/brake controls.

“Though the overall seat and tail combination came from Airtech, I needed to re-fabricate portions of it to fit. I lengthened it almost three inches and molded it to fit the tank shape at the forward end. All this consequently required my moving the taillight, which was a quite acceptable round piece, and I put in flexible LED turn signals, which were molded into the sides of the tail. It looked pretty cool to me, and I rode it in that guise for quite a while.

“Some months later I was sitting in the shop staring at it (this is an activity that provides endless mirth and confusion for my lovely wife). I decided the large open space at the rear would look better if I moved the exhaust pipes from low on the side to up under the seat, culminating by appearing from out of the box seat. That proved to be a good move; she looked like a piece of history but with an attitude.”

In 2011, Einstein’s eyes shifted towards another bike – the BMW S1000RR – prompting the need to move the Ducati from his shop to make room. In order to sell the bike, he needed to make some changes that would appeal to more buyers.

“We’ve all seen the stir that café racers have made on our contemporary motorcycling scene, even to the point of manufacturers producing them, lifeless as they are. I decided to again change the tail/seating area on the bike, and chose a Ducati race seat intended for the Ducati MH900e. While I was at it, I decided to do the Italian flag colors on her, with silver being the main accent. Again, pining for the past, I sat down and in one session drew my spraying plan, not following any vintage bike in particular, but desiring a result that would make people want to hug her. There’s something that happens when you decide to spray a separate color around the headlamp. Don’t ask me why, but to me, it makes the bike more accessible, more human. While I was prepping for the spray, and had all the bodywork off, I decided to lengthen the pipes out the rear a full three inches. That move really brought on that badly serious attitude she began to take on.”

“I have always loved Ducati’s propensity for drilling holes wherever they can fit them in. They call this ‘lightening,’ but let’s admit it: this is also another great design tactic. I drilled the hell out of everything. Where I could add a hole, I did. Another design tactic I have is to use Caterpillar Yellow a lot. I was on a UH1B in Vietnam, and I loved the markings that usually designated danger in that same yellow. Once I was finished, I put her up for sale, and it sold in two days, to a gentleman in Texas. That was the last I saw of her until my son let me know she had shown up in Brooklyn. Amazing…”

Despite a missing block of time in the lifespan of this Ducati, the mystery of its birth was solved. While all of this could live on a spec sheet about upgrades, performance stats, and mechanical specifications, it is really about a photographer, two shop owners, a son, a patient wife, an eccentric builder, and finally, a publisher willing to tell the story. The tale of this single machine – chased from NYC to Whidbey Island through a tangled and intertwined circle – is unraveled, and finally complete.

This article first appeared in issue 20 of Iron & Air Magazine, and is reproduced here under license | Words and Images by Stan Evans | stanevansphoto.com | janemotorcycles.com

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Audi to Launch Its First Exclusive Electric Model in China

To ensure a breakthrough into the Chinese market, the subsidiary of the famous German car company known as AUDI is right now planning to release the first model of an electric car in the middle of this year. This is the emergence of a new model with the AUDI brand name with a focus on the EV market in the Chinese market. The model will be launched on April 23, which is two days before the beginning of the Shanghai Auto Show taking place from 25th April to 2nd of May.

This has come at the right time since the automotive industry is under pressure from domestic automotive manufacturers in China. Audi remains the first German car-making firm to set an entry to China as early as 1988 and to sustain its competitive advantage, it changes strategies often. Now there is heightened competition and the firm is shifting focus towards electric cars.

AUDI Electric Car – China

At first, the new brand will unveil three models and the first of them will be the car that was presented at the concern as AUDI E concept last year. Although details of this model’s name have not yet been released, this is typical of Audi to support China’s plans to go green. This new path is somewhat divergent from Audi’s global businesses, which will keep on catering for ICE vehicles through at least 2032.

Another interesting point is that it is crucial to identify a particular brand image for this initiative, which is potentially suggestive of a brand personality to achieve a sense of consistency. New cars produced under the brand written as AUDI with capital letters on the lettering will not have the four-circle emblem. This is to imply the company’s strategic direction of diversifying the models for the Chinese market from the global models.

Currently, there is a new set of electric models developed by Audi and its Chinese partner, SAIC. This strategy is quite popular throughout the automotive industry because global brands rely on local assistance to deal with emerging markets and local know-how.

The baseline electric vehicle market will welcome two new AUDI models during the upcoming two years as the company seeks greater China market presence. Establishing Audi in the middle of China represents a bold plan to compete in the current green vehicle market transition toward prominence within the automotive industry.

The electric vehicle segment in China provides evidence that a car manufacturer can adjust its business operations to meet market demands, which become more competitive and advanced.

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