Recall Alert: 2012-14 Aston Martin DB9, Virage, V8 and V12 Vantage, Rapide

Aston Martin is recalling 689 sports cars due to a manufacturing error that could cause the throttle pedal arm to break, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Affected vehicles include model-year 2012-14 DB9, Virage, V8 and V12 Vantage, and Rapide.

The recalled vehicles were manufactured between May 14, 2012, and April 10, 2013. If the throttle pedal arm breaks, the engine will return to idle and the driver will be unable to maintain or increase engine speed, increasing the risk of a crash.

Aston Martin will notify owners according to a still-unspecified schedule, and dealers will replace the throttle pedal assemblies for free. Owners may call the automaker at 888-923-9988 or the NHTSA vehicle-safety hotline at 888-327-4236, or go to www.safercar.gov, for more info.

Related
Recall Alert: 2010-2012 Aston Martin V12 Vantage
More Aston Martin News on Cars.com
Check out Other Recalls

2014 Aston Martin Rapide S: First Look

• Competes with: Rolls-Royce Ghost, Bentley Continental Flying Spur, Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG, Porsche Panamera Turbo S
• Looks like: The Rapide adopted a conjoined grille
• Drivetrain: 550-hp, 6.0-liter V-12 with six-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: Next month

Aston Martin's four-door Rapide S replaces the Rapide for 2014. Typical of "S" designations, it brings more power to the British marque's only four-door car. Aston Martins are about as easy to distinguish as Kardashians, but the Rapide S has one giveaway: the grille, which joins the upper and lower portions where the Rapide left them split. Aston Martin says it works in conjunction with a revised hood and front bumper to improve pedestrian protection, which is in line with Europe's latest pedestrian-impact regulations.

James Bond Cars You Can Afford

The newest James Bond movie, "Skyfall," hits theaters Nov. 9 and marks 50 years of Bond coolness in motion pictures. The epitome of James Bond impersonation goes to a car collector in Ohio who dropped $4.6 million for the actual 1964 Aston Martin DB5 movie car driven by Sean Connery in "Goldfinger" and "Thunderball." The rest of us have to settle for scale models of the quintessential spymobile, as even DB5s not driven by 007 are highly collectable and worth nearly half a million dollars in pristine condition.

But there's hope yet. After 50 years on the big screen, Bond has piloted countless spy, getaway and chase cars. They may not be as cool as a vintage Aston Martin, but there are affordable Bond cars available to attain ultimate Bond nerdom.

Recall Alert: 2010-2012 Aston Martin V12 Vantage

Aston Martin is recalling 169 model-year 2010-12 versions of the V12 Vantage coupe due to problems with the tire pressure monitoring system, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In the affected vehicles, the low tire pressure warning light won't illuminate until the pressure is more than 25% below the recommended level. Underinflated tires could lead to tire failure and a possible crash.

Aston Martin has not yet provided an owner notification schedule, but dealers will reprogram the software for free. Owners can call Aston Martin at 888-923-9988 or NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236 for more info.

Related
Research the Aston Martin V12 Vantage
More Safety News on Cars.com
Check out Other Recalls

2013 Aston Martin DB9: First Look

• Competes with: Ferrari 458 Italia, Lamborghini Gallardo, Bentley Continental Supersports 
• Looks like: The DB9 could use a more thorough styling update 
• Drivetrain: 510-hp, 6.0-liter V-12 and six-speed automatic transmission 
• Hits dealerships: November 2012 

For the 2013 model year, the Aston Martin DB9 gets a few exterior tweaks and more luxury appointments. Although the exterior updates don't radically change the look of the now-7-year-old DB9, the big news is that the model gets a more powerful V-12 power plant.

Borrowed from the new Aston Martin Vanquish, the new V-12 engine makes 510 horsepower and 457 pounds-feet of torque. While that's a bit less power than what's available in the Vanquish, it's a 40-hp increase over the DB9's old V-12. The new engine benefits from a revised engine block, dual variable-valve timing, a revised intake manifold and combustion chambers, and enlarged throttle bodies. The new V-12 can propel the Aston from zero to 62 mph in 4.6 seconds, with a top speed of 183 mph, which is similar to the old engine's stats. The new V-12 is likely more fuel efficient, however. No word yet on gas mileage.

2013 Aston Martin Vanquish: First Look

• Competes with: Ferrari 458 Italia, Ferrari FF, Lamborghini Aventador, Audi R8  
• Looks like: Only a trained Aston Martin enthusiast can tell it apart from the others 
• Drivetrain: 565-hp, 6.0-liter V-12 and six-speed automatic transmission  
• Hits dealerships: Early 2013

After an almost seven-year hiatus in the U.S., the Aston Martin Vanquish returns for the 2013 model year to take on other preeminent supercars from Lamborghini and Ferrari. The Vanquish will replace the DBS when it's discontinued at the end of the year. The announcement comes as Aston Martin prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary early next year.

The Vanquish's exterior and interior styling borrow heavily from the Aston Martin One-77; in fact, the boutique carmaker says many of the structural elements in the new Vanquish are derived from the ultra-supercar, including its digital gauge readouts. The $1.4 million Aston Martin 77 will be replaced by a new (range-topping) Aston Martin V12 Zagato later this fall.

Daily News Briefs: June 11, 2012

Honda says that shipping vehicles from Japan to the United States is not profitable, and the automaker will limit the amount of vehicles it sends to the country, according to Automotive News. Honda produces most of its popular vehicles in the U.S. — about 85% of the cars it sells here are made in North America — but a glaring omission is the Honda Fit, which makes up the bulk of Honda's exports to the U.S. The Fit makes absolutely no profit for Honda in America and very little for dealers, too, people familiar with the matter told Automotive News. Because of this, and combined with "red hot" Fit sales in Japan, U.S. allocation of the subcompact will remain extremely tight, the trade paper reports. Honda is building a factory in Mexico that will make a new, more profitable version of the Fit for the U.S. market by 2014.

In other news:

Aston Martin V12 Zagato at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show

• Competes with: Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, Lamborghini Aventador
• Looks like: A fitting replacement for the One-77
• Drivetrain: 6.0-liter V-12 with six-speed manual; rear-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: Fall 2012

Aston Martin revealed the first images of the V12 Zagato, the high-performance replacement for its flagship One-77.

The Zagato is based off the V12 Vantage but features a new lightweight body and other track enhancements. The supercar will have a limited run of 150 units and will be mostly handmade from aluminum and carbon fiber. The body is much more voluptuous than other Aston Martins, featuring prominent front and rear fenders, haunches in the roofline above the cabin, and pronounced vents before the doors. A large rear wing and radial taillights complete the unique look out back.

In the cabin, there are seven Bridge of Weir leather upholsteries to choose from; satin carbon fiber and piano-black accents also adorn the dash.

The production model is ready for orders now. If you want one it’ll cost more than $500,000, making it one of the most expensive Astons available after this year’s discontinuation of the One-77 model with a price of more than $1 million.

2012 Aston Martin Virage Video

Recently revived, the Aston Martin Virage is what the British carmaker calls a “2+2” convertible and coupe that slots between the DB9 and DBS. Relatively speaking, you get a lot for the Virage’s $200,000 price tag, says Cars.com senior editor Joe Wiesenfelder. But calling it a 2+2 is a bit of a misnomer as Wiesenfelder demonstrates in the video.

2012 Aston Martin Virage at 2011 Geneva Motor Show

• Competes with: Ferrari 458 Italia, Lamborghini Gallardo, Bentley Continental Supersports 
• Looks like: Every other Aston Martin 
• Drivetrain: 490-hp, 6.0-liter V-12 with six-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive 
• Hits dealerships: May 2011 

The Virage is a new V-12-powered sports car that's offered in coupe and convertible body styles. Pricing information hasn't been announced, but the Virage is designed to slot between the nearly $200,000 DB9 and almost $300,000 DBS in the automaker's lineup. It arrives at U.S. dealerships in May.

Even though it's a new model in the Aston Martin range, only ardent followers of the brand will likely be able to tell at a glance because the car looks remarkably similar to Aston Martin's other sports cars. It's a gracefully styled car, no question, but the automaker's designs are clearly meant to create a connection with the brand as opposed to individual models.

Like the DB9 and DBS, the Virage is powered by a 6.0-liter V-12 engine, but its 490-horsepower output splits the difference between the 470-hp DB9 and 510-hp DBS. Unlike the DBs, which are available with either a manual or automatic transmission, the Virage is only offered with an automatic. With this setup, the Virage can accelerate from zero to 62 mph in 4.6 seconds on its way to a top speed of 186 mph, according to Aston Martin. The car features an adaptive suspension and carbon ceramic brake discs.

Seven hand-stitched Bridge of Weir leather hides are used to upholster the cabin, which comes with standard heated seats, a navigation system, cruise control, and Bluetooth and iPod connectivity.