Among the many elite automotive visitors at last weekend’s Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, the Aston Martin Project AM 310 Concept put in its first-ever appearance to effectively preview what we can expect when the automaker shows a production version of its all-new Aston Martin DBS flagship later this summer. Blending classic Aston cues with a number of more radical line forms culled from its recently departed One-77 Supercar, the look – and sonic signature – of the Project AM310 Concept bodes well for aficionados of the marque.
While Aston Martin provided few technical details about the Project AM 310, there’s strong reason to believe that it continues along a semi-familiar DBS/One-77 design path and uses a variation of the automaker’s bonded-aluminum "VH" chassis and loads of lightweight alloy components along with carbon-fiber bodywork that displays its strongest relationship with the One-77 from the A-pillar back. Well-grounded speculation indicates the engine in Project AM 310 is a tweaked version of the existing 5.9-liter V12, with output increased to about 550-575 horsepower versus the 510 pony count in the current Vantage and outgoing DBS models. Whatever lies beneath the hood, it definitely caught the attention of the crowds at Lake Como when it was fired up during the car’s coming out party.
Like the One-77 that appeared there in 2009, the new Aston Martin DBS production model is expected to make its premier in California at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance this August. Its on-sale date early next year will coincide with the 100th Anniversary year of Aston Martin. Until then, Aston will be busy creating a special 100-unit limited-edition farewell run of DBS Ultimate variants based on the existing DBS package and previewed earlier this month.
