ITV

Tag: Aston Martin

  • Aston Martin launches new Vantage car in India

    Aston Martin launches new Vantage car in India

    Mumbai: The latest in an iconic bloodline spanning a 74-year history, Aston Martin New Delhi is thrilled to introduce the all-new Vantage in India, priced at Rs 3.99 Cr personalised options. The All-New Vantage is positioned as the frontrunner in our lineup, a perfect sports car engineered for real drivers. The Vantage embodies the perfect blend of performance, luxury, and heritage, with this launch, Aston Martin is making a bold statement, betting big on the Vantage to redefine sports car excellence in the Indian market.

    Aston Martin’s new Vantage, reimagined through a contemporary lens, embodies the essence of high-performance sports cars while addressing the modern market’s evolving demands. This latest iteration celebrates qualities that enthusiasts have cherished for decades but are increasingly rare today: breathtaking power, razor-sharp handling, and a finely tuned front-engine, rear-wheel-drive chassis.

    The Vantage follows the successful debut of the acclaimed DB12 Coupe and Volante, further cementing Aston Martin’s position in the ultra-luxury sports car market. The new Vantage joins a prestigious lineup that includes ultra-luxury sporting GTs, SUVs, hypercars, and a notable presence in world championship motorsport.

    Tracing its roots back to 1950, when “Vantage” first signified an enhanced engine for the DB2, the nameplate became a model designation in 1964 with the DB5. The early 1970s saw the introduction of a standalone Vantage model, which has since become a cornerstone of Aston Martin’s offerings, known for its immaculate style, performance, and distinctive character.

    The new Vantage reflects a transformative period in Aston Martin’s 111-year history. It boasts a striking exterior design characterized by an aggressive front grille, aerodynamic lines, and a dynamic silhouette. Inside, the cabin offers a blend of luxury and technology, featuring premium materials, a state-of-the-art infotainment system, and advanced driver-assistance technologies. Key features include adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and a comprehensive airbag system for enhanced safety.

    This latest Vantage arrives amidst a strong motorsport presence, highlighted by Aston Martin’s formidable performance in the 2023 Formula One season, international GT racing, and their upcoming bid for victory in the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours race with the Valkyrie AMR.

    Aston Martin chief executive officer Amedeo Felisa said: “As we enter a period of pivotal change in the world of high-performance cars it is essential to remain true to those qualities upon which a legendary marque has been built. Any car bearing the Vantage name has much to live-up to, which is why this newest model makes an unwavering commitment to high-performance in its purest and most explicit form. Class-leading power and speed establish its credentials, but it is through expert application of the latest technologies to the Vantage’s perfectly balanced front-engine rear-drive chassis that we have created a sports car with addictive capability. Together with assertive styling, all-new interior and state-of-the-art infotainment, Vantage is world-class in every respect”.      

    The new Aston Martin Vantage delivers unprecedented performance with its heavily reworked 4.0 Twin-Turbo V8 engine. This engine, hand-built and finely tuned, produces a remarkable 665PS and 800Nm of torque—marking a 30% increase in power and 15% in torque over its predecessor. Achieved through enhanced cam profiles, optimized compression ratios, and larger turbos, the engine offers sharper, more visceral character. Mated to an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission, it propels the Vantage to a top speed of 202mph and accelerates from 0 to 60mph in just 3.4 seconds. A new Launch Control system optimizes torque deployment for maximum performance, while an advanced cooling system, including additional radiators and an upgraded oil cooler, ensures engine stability.

    The Vantage’s handling is underpinned by a highly evolved bonded aluminum structure, providing a perfect 50:50 weight distribution. Enhanced with additional underbody stiffening and intelligent adaptive dampers, the Vantage offers precise handling and exceptional driver feedback. Its Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) delivers direct, tactile responses, while Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tires and lightweight 21” forged alloy wheels ensure superior grip and performance. Standard cast-iron brakes can be upgraded to Carbon Ceramic Brakes for even greater stopping power and reduced unsprung mass.

    Exteriorly, the Vantage boasts a muscular physique with a 30mm wider stance, a redesigned front end featuring a 38% larger grille for improved cooling, and new Matrix LED headlamps. It also introduces a striking rear design with a wider bumper and larger quad exhausts. The interior combines luxury with the latest technology, featuring premium materials and advanced infotainment systems. Optional livery designs in 21 colors enhance its sporty appearance. The Vantage’s blend of cutting-edge performance, dynamic handling, and striking design exemplifies the pinnacle of modern sports car engineering.

    Aston Martin chief creative officer Marek Reichman added, “Aston Martin is blessed with many evocative model names, but none conjure excitement and dynamism like Vantage. To capture the new car’s huge uplift in power and performance we have accentuated its physique, increasing its muscularity and sharpening its sculptural form. We took some inspiration from the One-77 supercar, but we wanted Vantage to express its intent and potency more explicitly. One look and you know it packs a real punch, but there’s an elegance of form and proportion that hints at the sophistication that underpins its raw power. This balance of instant visual impact and slow-burn charisma mirrors the driving experience and perfectly captures the essence of Vantage”.

    The Aston Martin Vantage combines exhilarating sports car performance with luxurious design and cutting-edge technology. The interior boasts sleek lines, exquisite hand-stitched Bridge of Weir hides, and state-of-the-art technology, including a 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system and a next-gen infotainment setup with a 10.25” touchscreen and seamless smartphone integration. Key features include online connectivity, a comprehensive navigation system with 3D mapping, and wireless Apple CarPlay. Enhanced safety and driver assistance are provided through intuitive physical controls and advanced systems like Chassis, ESP, and Exhaust switches. Production begins in Q1 2024, with deliveries in Q2 2024.

  • LeTV to launch in India in 2016; eyes local content partnerships

    LeTV to launch in India in 2016; eyes local content partnerships

    MUMBAI: Chinese cross-platform internet video service LeTV has set its sight on the Indian market and plans to launch here by early 2016.

     

    Apart from introducing its mobile devices to the Indian market, the company is also looking at replicating its content-device ecosystem in India and offer a new entertainment based experience. The company is keen to provide Indian consumers with local entertainment-based content. To this effect, LeTV is in search for local partners in India, who are active in the content creation business. 

     

    This was announced by LeTV founder Jia Yueting in Beijing at the launch of the company’s new smartphone – Le 1S.

     

    LeTV said it is also mulling setting up production lines and R&D centres in India as a long-term vision. This could be seen as a welcome move by the Narendra Modi led Indian government, which has been pushing the ‘Make In India’ premise to international companies. 

     

    Earlier in April, Letv had launched three smartphones, which will soon see its release in the US. The company is also in talks to start shop in the US this financial year. The company, which has interest in varied businesses, is alsomaking a huge 120-inch 3D 4K TV as well as a smart car in partnership with Aston Martin.

  • Indian brands look to ride the Augmented Reality wave

    Indian brands look to ride the Augmented Reality wave

    MUMBAI: Gone are the days when brands would be happy putting a campaign on TV or printing an ad in newspapers to grab their target audience’s attention. At a time when consumers are looking for greater engagement and connect with brands, Augmented Reality, which provides just that, is slowly making inroads in India.

    In today’s typical life of massive information overload, Augmented Reality breaks the monotony and intelligently places the brand in the perspective of real world surroundings creating a solid Human-Brand-Interface.

    Buoyed by the new model of advertising, Wowsome founder Vishal Reddy and co-founder Karan Bhangay, use mobile Augmented Reality to help brands engage with their consumers by offering real time, enticing and interactive visual content on their mobile devices. Instead of interrupting the consumers, Augmented Reality provides relevant situation based content that urges the consumer to share it with their friends and family.

    Wowsome was born when Reddy and Bhangay witnessed a sea change in advertising with the digital wave in India. “Coming from a print background, we saw that social media was taking over all the print revenues for most of the publications. We thought we should add more life to the dead content that was there in print. We wanted to add more layers of digital content. That’s how Vishal came up with the idea through, which content could be more creative,” informs Bhangay.

    While the industry was undergoing a digital revolution, it was unstructured and disconnected. “Publications were struggling with stagnation in print readership and digital was trying to connect both. And Wowsome broke that disconnect and connected both the mediums,” says Reddy.

    Wowsome, which started a year back, currently boasts of over 50 clients including brands like L’oreal Paris India, Omega Watches, Apollo Hospitals, Being Human, Aston Martin, The Collective, Ballantines, Jaguar and Budweiser among others.

    L’oreal and Omega Watches were the first brands to hop on to Wowsome’s Augmented Reality bandwagon. “Brands in the niche market, that are not typical advertisers and are very creative with their ads, were the first to experiment with Augmented Reality,” informs Bhangay, adding that brands, which have an eye on reaching their client innovatively, are the ones who will pounce on Augmented Reality first.

    The duo feels that the reason why Augmented Reality hasn’t kicked off in India so far is because the technology is difficult to explain. Reddy says, “Augmented Reality is very complicated to explain and the best way is to show clients what it actually does: its immersiveness, the awe factor and the kind of emotions that it puts. In a very natural way, it is a brand engagement medium, which offers very targeted and customized advertising. We got the positioning right and got a product, which is easy to use and hence the penetration happened. The model we created was able to excite most businesses.”

    Reddy and Bhangay are keen to see Augmented Reality grow as an industry in itself. “We want Augmented Reality to become an industry. Of course we have a brand, which serves brands and consumers, but we would want to set a standard for what Augmented Reality could actually do for the industry. On the consumer front, we want to tell people how it works and what all one can do with it,” asserts Bhangay.

    Wowsome, as part of its engagement strategy for consumers, is not just offering goodies, but working on interesting content, which would force the customers to stick to the brand. “A whole season of Augmented Reality is waiting,” opines Bhangay.

    While Wowsome is enrolling brands, the brands in turn are bringing in the customers. “Compare this with e-commerce. People complained that it wouldn’t work, but with the kind of drive and investments, we have become the most promising e-commerce nation. We hope the same will happen with Augmented Reality,” says Reddy.

    Wowsome, according to Reddy, is very economical and provides a great Return on Investment (ROI). “Our business model broadly is to offer 10 to 15 per cent incremental cost on the existing print spend to add an interactive Augmented Reality feature. From that perspective, brands find it economical. It is being used as a sales story by many,” adds Reddy.

    Great Augmented Reality campaigns deliver a seamless experience where users cannot differentiate between the real world and its virtual augmentation. With 160 million smart phone users in India braced by steady 3G data, expected to grow by a staggering 225 million before the end of 2015, Augmented Reality will soon be ubiquitous as the ultimate mass medium of advertising.

    While currently Augmented Reality is sharing the revenue pie with the print or digital spends, the duo is hopeful that in the next two years, brands will set aside separate budgets for the medium. Another advantage of Augmented Reality is that companies can get real time data on customers who are interacting with the brand, which gives them a better chance to convert visitors into buyers.

    Brands that hop on to the new medium soon will benefit, according to Reddy and Bhangay, while those who are applying the wait and watch philosophy could just miss the bus when the medium sees an explosion in the next few years.

     

  • Unlock desire with Supercars season-3

    Unlock desire with Supercars season-3

    MUMBAI: Get ready to drool over the most envied cars as Supercars season three kicks off tonight at 10 pm. The show will be aired every Monday-Friday at National Geographic channel.

     

    Nat Geo’s Supercars is a series, based on the world’s most gorgeous and lust-worthy machines that are aesthetically stunning and boast of sheer engineering genius. In an all new season, the show will give viewers exclusive access into the awe-inspiring world of the most envied cars from the Aston Martin to the Ferrari FF, and what goes into making these marvels tick.

     

    For the first time ever, Supercars will also feature special episodes from Speedmakers – a series that takes a look at what happens off the track and roads, with people who build, innovate and accomplish feats in engineering.

     

    Commenting on the series, motorsport and moto-tech enthusiast, and face of the campaign, John Abraham said, “The way I see it, a supercar can be defined as this contraption consisting of wheels and metal, carved as if by the ‘Hand of God’, to inspire at least one out of the seven cardinal sins: envy! The head-rush that you experience when you get behind the wheel of a powerful machine, the revving of the engine, the surge in speed – it’s almost a spiritual experience for me. And with the third season of the show, the channel has ensured that despite all the restraint that you might impose on yourself, Supercars will have you drooling on these beauties of the 4-wheeled variety. I am thrilled to be associated with the show.”

     

    National Geographic and FOX International Channels vice-president, marketing Debarpita Banerjee asserted, “From the word go, the popularity of Supercars has been palpable. There is a reason why we strive to bring a new season of Supercars each year. Apart from the fact that every episode brilliantly showcases the manufacturing details of these engineering marvels, it is also a great opportunity that we offer our advertisers to associate with the world’s most classy and exclusive line-up of machines, ranging from the Maserati to the Lamborghini Aventador.”

  • Get set for racing adventure with NGCs Supercars

    Get set for racing adventure with NGCs Supercars

    MUMBAI: Car enthusiasts are sure to be driven wild with the stories of flashy motorcars unraveling this season. The third season of Nat Geo’s Supercars based on some of the world’s best machines is going on air from 18 November. The series will be telecast from Monday to Friday at 10.00 pm.

     

    The show will give viewers exclusive access into the awe-inspiring world of the most envied cars from the Aston Martin to the Ferrari FF, and what goes into making these marvels tick.

     

    This time around, the series will also have special episodes — ‘Speedmakers’ — a series that takes a look at what happens off the track and roads, with people who build, innovate and accomplish feats in engineering.

     

    Commenting on the show, motorsport and moto-tech enthusiast, and face of the campaign, John Abraham said, “The way I see it, a Supercar can be defined as this contraption consisting of wheels and metal, carved as if by the Hand of God, to inspire at least one out of the seven cardinal sins: envy! The head-rush that you experience when you get behind the wheel of a powerful machine, the revving of the engine, the surge in speed – it’s almost a spiritual experience for me. And with the third season of the show, Nat Geo has ensured that despite all the restraint that you might impose on yourself, ‘Supercars’ will have you drooling on these beauties of the four-wheeled variety. I am thrilled to be associated with the show!”

     

    Talking about the third season of the hit series, National Geographic and FOX International Channels VP – marketing Debarpita Banerjee said in a release: “From the word go, the popularity of ‘Supercars’ has been palpable. There is a reason why we strive to bring a new season of ‘Supercars’ each year. Apart from the fact that every episode brilliantly showcases the manufacturing details of these engineering marvels, it is also a great opportunity that we offer our advertisers to associate with the world’s most classy and exclusive line-up of machines, ranging from the Maserati to the Lamborghini Aventador.”

     

    So what are you waiting for! Get ready for the adrenaline-pumping show…