A brand-new high-dollar model named V12 Vanquish joined the lineup of this legendary British sports car maker in 2002. Not only was the initial allotment of 70 cars for the United States hurriedly snatched up, but the total for 2003 — an even 100 cars — also sold out early, according to Automotive News. Two rear-wheel-drive body styles are available: a two-passenger coupe and a 2+2 model with a small backseat. Starting with cars produced in May 2004, a Sports Dynamic option will be available as a dealer-installed accessory. It consists of a sport pack suspension and a new braking system with six-piston front calipers and larger discs. Nine-spoke wheels are 19 inches in diameter and are made of lightweight, forged alloy. At the 2004 North American International Auto Show, Aston Martin introduced a brand-new DB9 model that will emerge for 2005. Production of the DB7 Vantage model halted after 2003. Headquartered in Buckinghamshire, England, and long known for limited-production sports cars, Aston Martin is owned by Ford. Aston Martin sold 519 cars in the United States during 2003; most of the automaker’s vehicles are sold in the United States and Great Britain.
