Karmann Ghia 1960 Logo, Metal, New (jus-kgh-3n) on 2040-parts.com

Official: Aston Martin gets its hands on Mercedes AMG engines & Electronic Architecture

Aston Martin & AMG confirm they’re getting in bed together Back in December we reported that Aston Martin had new investment from Investindustrial and wondered if that would mean – thanks to an existing relationship between Investindustrial and AMG – if we’d see Aston Martin finally getting access to AMG’s engines and platforms. By May, things had moved on and it was clear that Aston Martin and AMG were in talks for Aston Martin to get access to their engines for the next generation of AML’s cars. Now those talks have borne fruit and AMG and AML have signed a letter of intent for Aston Martin to “access significant Mercedes-AMG GmbH and Mercedes-Benz Cars’ resources, allowing the development of bespoke V8 powertrains and the use of certain components of electric/electronic (e/e) architecture.” Interestingly, there’s no talk of V12 engines – which could mean Aston Martin are going to move from the current Ford V12 for the DB9 and Vanquish to a powerful V8 from AMG – and nor is there talk of sharing platforms.

A classic covey gathers at The Quail for Monterey weekend

For seven years now every August, the fairway in front of the Quail Lodge has been transformed into a racing paddock. Great sports, race and super cars of all eras sprawl out on the grass like a tremendous, wheeled museum of speed. This year, in addition to the usual categories of "pre-war sports and racing," "post-war sports," etc., there were classes for BMW M1s, a celebration of 50 years of racing at Daytona and even a class of eight Devins.

Chrysler 300

The Detroit Motor Show will see Chrysler unveil its 2011 300. Whilst benefiting from an extensive exterior refresh, the platform on which it is based remains unchanged, meaning that this 2011 model is little more than a face-lifted variant of the car that joined us in 2004. The exterior of the 300 loses some of its forbearer's sinister styling; its imposing face has been substituted in favor of a softer, more rounded style, intersected only by the muscular wheel arches.