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Feann Torr14 Mar 2017
NEWS

Aston Martin launches AMR high-performance brand

More mumbo, sharper looks and improved handling dynamics for new breed of Aston

Aston Martin has whipped the covers off three new models to launch its AMR sub-brand: the Vantage AMR Pro, the Rapide AMR and the game-changing Valkyrie hypercar.

These vehicles were unveiled at the 2017 Geneva motor show last week and are the first of many from the British brand designed to whet the appetite of customers looking for more emotion from their cars.

Clearly there are a number of customers who don't think regular Aston Martin cars are fast enough, and the first two production cars getting the AMR treatment - Vantage and Rapide - will be faster and louder.

Aston Martin AMR is ready for battle

They benefit from a range of body work and aerodynamic exterior upgrades including new front splitters, side sills, rear diffusers and wings.

Now, the Aston Martin Rapide AMR also gets fancy 21-inch alloy wheels and a beefed-up 6.0-litre V12 that pumps power up from 411kW to 440kW. It also adds new quad exhaust tips and has a top speed of 338km/h.

Aston says that new top speed makes the Rapide AMR "the world's fastest and most thrilling four-door" car. Cop that Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, which can reach 'only' 310km/h but is still quicker to 100km/h, in 3.4 seconds.

The Rapide AMR and Vantage AMR Pro are the first two production cars from the go-fast brand

The Vantage AMR Pro, meantime, is a race car masquerading as a road car.

For a start it's fitted with a development of the V8 race engine borrowed from the brand's GT4 competition race car. Regular models generate 321kW but this one cranks up the noise to 373kW or 500hp, making it the most powerful V8 Vantage thus far.

Competition engine and transmission mounts are added for good measure, as is race-spec adjustable suspension and 19-inch centre-locking wheels shod with Michelin Pilot Cup 2 tyres to ensure scalpel-sharp handling.

Both models also get AMR interior treatment, which means lots of carbon-fibre and Alcantara upholstery, along with the brand's lime green accents that define the high-performance models.

Aston Martin Vantage AMR Pro gets a worked GT4 race car engine

The race-bred Vantage AMR Pro will be limited to just seven vehicles globally. Aston Martin will build 120 of the Rapide AMR vehicles, but it's not clear how many of either will be coming to Australia at this stage.

"They are the start of something very exciting – a program that will eventually see an AMR version of every model in the Aston Martin range," said Andy Palmer, Aston Martin CEO.

The idea behind the AMR brand is to create a bridge between the UK company's road car operation and Aston Martin Racing – hence the AMR name.

The cabin of the Rapide AMR is now much brighter

At the 2017 Geneva motor show Palmer told motoring.com.au that AMR was "a building block, a foundation" for the brand to move forward with more exhilarating vehicles.

"Basically it’s a moniker under which we can park our performance cars," he added.

"Our brand is about racing, Le Mans, the romance around that race series. But racing is really expensive, unless you can leverage it. The best way to leverage it is to show that it sells cars. So, if AMR is racing then you put the moniker on the car and sell the car, you can directly correlate the impact of racing.

"The colour scheme by the way is our interpretation of the new British Racing Green," explained Palmer of the day-glow yellow accents on the traditional green paint work.

The cockpit of the Vantage AMR Pro features plenty of colour and unique AMR logos

The Aston Martin boss said racing was a key part of the brand's identity and the new AMR road cars would ensure the company competes in various racing categories -- including GTE, GT3 and GT4 -- well into the future.

"If you can take part of the profit of that car, you're actually able plough that back into racing. It justifies our passion for racing, if you will," said Palmer.

The straight-talking Aston Martin chief also confirmed a third AMR model, the Aston Martin Valkyrie, which has been co-developed with Red Bull Racing engineering genius Adrian Newey.

"We debated a long time, should the 150 [Valkyries] be core brand and the 25 track cars be AMR?

"But it's such an extreme car anyway the whole 175 cars will fall under the AMR brand," he said.

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