Aston Martin is a British automaker founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. They started by building cars that competed in hillclimbs and other early forms of motorsport. The name Aston Martin comes in part from the Aston Hill circuit where Martin would drive, and from the names of the company’s founders.
In 1947, the company was purchased by industrialist David Brown, whose initials (DB) would go on to adorn numerous models, from the DB2 to the DB11 and beyond. Brown expanded the company’s scope and ambitions on both the street and in motorsports.
Racing Success and Pop Culture In the 1950s, Aston Martin tasted considerable racing success, winning endurance contests and championships to earn its high-performance stripes. The company also gained worldwide popularity through product placement in a series of films about British superspy James Bond, starting with the 1964 movie Goldfinger, which prominently featured a gadget-laden DB5.
Present-day Aston Martin has had its share of financial woes in recent years. Still, it has continued to introduce new and interesting products, ranging from SUVs to track-only hypercars and upcoming electric vehicles. The company has recently collaborated with Mercedes-AMG to develop new engine technology, and with Red Bull Advanced Technologies to create an advanced mid-engined supercar.
Current Aston Martin Models (2024–2026)
Here are the principal models Aston Martin offers today, spanning sports cars, grand tourers, SUVs, and hypercars.
1. Aston Martin Vantage
- Type: Sports car
- Description: A two-seat performance sports car, the Vantage is often the brand’s entry model — but still delivers thrilling performance, balance, and design. It’s available as both a coupe and a roadster variant.
- Notable Specs: Twin-turbo V8, ≈650-680 hp, ~3.3 sec 0-60 mph.
- Approx. Price (US): ~US$190,000–$200,000+ for recent model years.
2. Aston Martin DB12
- Type: Grand tourer
- Description: The DB12 is Aston Martin’s flagship grand tourer, replacing the DB11. It’s celebrated for luxury, performance, and everyday drivability as a “super tourer.”
- Specs: Twin-turbo V8, ~670-690 hp, excellent refinement.
- Price:
- US: ~US$265,500+ (standard) up to ~$380,000 with options.
- UK: ~£190,000+ base; ~£200,000+ for convertible.
3. Aston Martin DBS
- Type: Super GT
- Description: Positioned as a high-performance grand tourer above the DB12, with more power and aggressive tuning.
- Price: ~£229,000–£247,000 in the UK for current variants.
4. Aston Martin DBX / DBX S
- Type: Luxury SUV
- Description: Aston Martin’s first SUV — powerful, refined, and luxurious while retaining the brand’s dynamic character. The DBX S is the sportier, performance version.
- Price: ~US$253,000+ (DBX707/DBX S).
5. Aston Martin Vanquish
- Type: Grand tourer / high performance
- Description: A newer flagship coupe in Aston’s range, positioned above the DBS with even greater performance and exclusivity.
- Price: ~£330,000+ in UK listings.
6. Aston Martin Valhalla
- Type: Hybrid Supercar
- Description: Next-generation hybrid mid-engine supercar developed with input from Red Bull Advanced Technologies — representing the future of Aston performance.
- Price: Typically estimated at around US$1 million+ (varies).
7. Aston Martin Valkyrie
- Type: Hypercar
- Description: A limited-production hypercar developed with Red Bull, pushing the boundaries of road car performance with race-car engineering.
- Price: ~US$3,500,000+ for road versions.
8. Aston Martin Valour and Valiant
- Type: Limited editions & special models
- Description: Ultra-exclusive (e.g., Valour limited to ≈110 units, celebrating heritage) and other bespoke specials exist beyond the core range, further showcasing Aston Martin’s craftsmanship and collector appeal.
Historical & Classic Models
Aston Martin has produced many legendary cars over its long history, including:
- DB5: Iconic 1960s sports coupe made famous by James Bond.
- DB7 / DB9: Popular grand tourers of the 1990s and early 2000s.
- One-77: Ultra-exclusive supercar limited to 77 units (≈US$1.8M).
- Vulcan: Track-only hypercar.
- Lagonda Taraf: Ultra-luxury sedan that briefly joined Aston’s lineup.
These historic models often fetch extraordinary prices at auctions and among collectors.
Pricing Overview (Typical New Retail)
ModelApprox. Price RangeNotes
Vantage ~US$190k–210k Sports car
DB12 ~US$265k–$380k+ Grand tourer
DBS ~£229k–£247k+ Top GT
DBX / DBX S ~US$253k+ SUV
Vanquish ~£330k+ High-end coupe
Valhalla ~US$1M+ Hybrid supercar
Valkyrie ~US$3.5M+ Hypercar
Prices vary significantly by country, taxes, options, and special editions; the above reflects typical starting points.
Aston Martin remains a symbol of luxury automotive excellence — blending timeless British design with cutting-edge engineering. Its lineup today spans accessible sports cars like the Vantage to rarefied hypercars like the Valkyrie. Across the board, Aston Martin delivers performance, craftsmanship, and exclusivity, often at price points that reflect its status and heritage.
