36 August 2021 www.bahrainthismonth.com motoring news With just over 1,000 examples of the iconic Aston Martin DB5 built, to see one – let alone have the chance to buy one – is a moment to be cherished. But even among DB5s, connoisseurs look for those rarer still: the performanceenhanced Vantage versions, with less than 70 ever built. Now, Aston Martin specialist Nicholas Mee & Co, is offering for sale a once-in-a-lifetime trio of these DB5 Vantage icons, uniquely in Coupé, Convertible and one-of-one Shooting Brake variations. The Aston Martin DB5 itself is perhaps the most iconic British car of all time, best known as car of choice for James Bond himself, appearing first in the ‘60s but also making a reappearance in the very latest from the 007 franchise – its appeal is enduring. Collected over a 12-year period, never before have these three most coveted examples been offered as a collection. Every one of them has been fully restored to the very highest standards by leading Aston Martin restoration specialists, allowing them to be enjoyed in as-new condition. AND THE VERDICT IS… “It’s exceptional and I’m a big fan” – the words of former F1 world champion Jenson Button after more than 30 laps of the Hethel test track during the launch celebrations for the all-new Lotus Emira. A film of his exclusive world-first test drive was played to the on-site audience and tens of thousands of viewers from around the world watching the livestream on the Lotus website and social channels. Finding the right position when behind the wheel for the first time is key for every driver, not just the professionals, and Jenson said once he’d done that the Emira “just felt right”. The everyday useability of the Emira didn’t pass him by either, thanks to the high levels of comfort, functionality, technology and practicality. “The Lotus purists will love it, and the thing that people new to Lotus will love is the premium quality of the interior,” he says. Jenson is a long-time Lotus fan and customer of the all-electric Evija hypercar. “It’s being called a junior supercar but it would give a lot of supercars a run for their money… and it’s more comfortable than most of them!” he concluded. A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME COLLECTION To follow the testing session on the Giulia GTA and GTAm last fall, Kimi Räikkönen, the Finnish world champion was back at the Balocco Proving Ground recently to personally evaluate the work done on the highest-performing sports sedan the Italian brand has ever produced. Kimi Räikkönen analysed the changes made to the car, specifically in terms of the aerodynamics. He had already worked on this aspect in the first session, providing invaluable advice on the new appendages added both to the front – the new adjustable splitter built into the new front bumper – and to the rear – the addition of the new manually adjustable wing. “We’re looking at a car that can be used on an everyday basis, but that can also be taken onto the track, one in which you can really enjoy yourself. Of course, it’s better at high speeds in terms of balance. It seems the front of the car is lower, making the steering faster. It’s fast, easy to drive, and responsive,” says the world-famous Formula One driver. The loop is therefore completed in a process of development, where the drivers lent their skills to the Alfa Romeo engineering team. SIGN OF APPROVAL
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