Madsen Pirie

As I have remarked already, one advantage of working near the Parliament end of London’s Victoria Street is that you walk past the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.  They make a habit of putting British technological expertise on display, and on Monday it was the turn of Aston Martin.  Proudly wearing a union jack design, I’m pretty sure it was the V8 Vantage, complete with its 7-speed ‘Sportshift II” transmission.  This gives it closer gear ratios and a lower final drive.  Its specs tell of 0-62 mph in 4.9 seconds, making it difficult to beat from a standing start at traffic lights.  That V8 produces 426PS of peak power and 470Nm of torque, but let’s talk about looks.  It’s low and sleek, radiating power as either a roadster or a coupé, and while it was a little dark for me to see inside clearly, we are promised a “passenger environment of exquisite finesse” that is “created by expert craftsmen.”  OK, it’s British and it’s cool, but the key question on everyone’s mind is whether this is a car that Bond would drive.  I think it definitely is, though not in those colours.  He’d go for something a little less showy, and since there are hundreds of unique colour and finish combinations, he’d be satisfied.

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