Aston Martin

Type Private Limited Company
Industry Automotive
Founded 1913
Founder(s) Lionel Martin
Robert Bamford
Headquarters Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom
Key people Dr. Ulrich Bez, CEO
Marek Reichman, Director of Design
Products Automobile
Owner(s) David Richards
John Sinders
Investment Dar
Adeem Investment[1]
Website Aston Martin Website for United Kingdom
Aston Martin Website for the World


Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars, based in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The company name is derived from the name of one of the company's founders, Lionel Martin, and from the Aston Hill speed hillclimb near Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire[2]

From 1994 until 2007 Aston Martin was part of the Ford Motor Company, becoming part of the company's Premier Automotive Group in 2000. On 12 March 2007, it was purchased for £479 million by a joint venture company, co-owned by Investment Dar and Adeem Investment of Kuwait and English businessman John Sinders.[3] Ford retained a US$77 million stake in Aston Martin, valuing the company at US$925 million.[4]

Ascari

Manufacturer Ascari
Production 2003–present
Predecessor Ascari Ecosse
Successor Ascari A10
Class Sports car
Body style(s) Berlinetta
Engine(s) 5.0L BMW S62 V8
Transmission(s) 6-speed manual
Length 4,300 mm (169.3 in)
Width 1,852 mm (72.9 in)
Height 1,138 mm (44.8 in)
Curb weight 1,100 kg (2,425 lb)


The Ascari KZ1 is a sports car made by Ascari. It can reach 201 mph (323 km/h)[1]. This car has a highly tuned BMW S62, a 4941 cc V8 engine originally used in the E39 M5 and Z8. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.7 and 8.0 to 100 mph (160 km/h). The car is named from the initials of Ascari's owner Klaas Zwart, a wealthy Dutch businessman.
Only 50 Ascari KZ1 cars will be produced, making it among the most exclusive cars produced today; by comparison, 400 of the well-known Enzo Ferrari have been made. Each car is priced at £235,000 and requires 340 hours of handcrafting. Owners also receive the opportunity to drive the car at the Ascari-managed Race Resort Ascari in Spain.
The KZ1 was also featured in November 2005 on the BBC television show Top Gear, where it set the 5th fastest lap time ever recorded on the show at 1 minute 20.7 seconds; currently, the KZ1 holds 13th place, the second-fastest time being 1:17.3 set by an Ascari A10.

Alfa Romeo

Type Private
Industry Automotive
Predecessor Società Anonima Italiana Darracq (SAID)
Founded 24 June 1910 in Milan, Italy
Founder(s) Alexandre Darracq/Ugo Stella
Nicola Romeo
Headquarters Turin, Italy[1]
Area served Worldwide
Key people Luca di Montezemolo (President)
Harald J. Wester (CEO)
Products Automobiles
Parent Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A.
Website AlfaRomeo.com

Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian automaker founded on June 24, 1910 in Milan.[2] Alfa Romeo has been a part of the Fiat Group since 1986,[3] and since February 2007 a part of Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A. The company was owned by Italian state holding company Istituto per la Ricostruzione Industriale between the end of 1932 to 1986. The company was originally known as A.L.F.A., which is an acronym for Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili (English: Lombard Automobile Factory, Public Company).