Aston Martin DB7

• Production dates: 1994 - 1999

It was Victor Gauntlett who first suggested that a new, smaller Aston Martin should be built alongside the big V8 Astons, a car that would, in terms, be a volume seller.

The advent of the Ford Motor Company and the appointment of the late Walter Hayes as Chief Executive of Aston Martin not only provided new funding, but a renewed vigour in the person of Rod Mansfield who, as Engineering Director in 1990, was charged with the development of the 'smaller' Aston Martin, code names DP1999.

The new design, code named NPX, was subjected to far more development and testing than the majority of models to date, with the use of some 30 prototypes which were exposed to extreme conditions and temperatures across the World.

At the Geneva Motorshow in March 1993, Aston Martin launched the DB7 to the public.

The engine proved to be a light alloy, twin camshaft, supercharged straight six of 3,228cc based on a design that had originated at Jaguar. The cylinder head used 4 valves per cylinder with Zytec electronic multi-point fuel injection while the air needed to combust the fuel was delivered by a water cooled Eaton, 'roots' type, supercharger which was driven by a toothed belt from the camshaft.

Although it didn't appear for almost 3 years after the DB7's unveiling, Aston Martin had every intention of creating a soft-top version. In 1996, the Volante made its debut at the Los Angeles and Detroit motor show.

In 1999, the DB7 received significant engineering enhancements with the introduction of the DB7 Vantage – the first Aston Martin to use a V12 engine.

DB7 Fact File:

• DB7 has been sold into 29 different markets across the world since its launch.
• Since 1999, the DB7 Vantage has accounted for 60% of total DB7 sales.
• The Coupe constitutes for 56% of total DB7 production.
• DB7's have been painted in more than 200 different colours.
• The most popular exterior colour for DB7 is green, followed by silver and then blue.
• Since 1993, more than 56,000 litres of paint have been mixed
• It takes over 200 man hours to build a DB7.

Specification

• Bore/stroke: 91mm x 83mm
• Length: 4631mm.
• Width: 1820 mm.
• Height: 1268 mm.
• Wheelbase: 2691 mm.
• Kerb Weight: 1725 kgs
• Track: (Front) 1524 mm. (Rear) 1530 mm.
• Fuel tank capacity: 89 litres (95 RON unleaded).
• Maximum power: 355 bhp @ 5500 rpm.
• Maximum torque: 500 Nm (368 lb. ft) @ 3000 rpm.
• Acceleration: 0 - 62 mph: 5.8 seconds (Manual Transmission).
• Maximum speed: 266 km/h (165 mph)

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