What's the news?

To mark its 100th birthday celebrations Aston Martin has announced the launch of special Centenary Editions of the V8 Vantage, DB9, Rapide and Vanquish models. Just 100 examples of each car will be produced, featuring bespoke exterior and interior fittings.

Exterior

Aston Martin CEO, Dr Ulrich Bez, clearly sanctioned some overtime for the Centenary models as the paint on these cars requires an additional 18 hours of work to complete. This is due to the paint finish that gradually gets darker on the contour lines thanks to custom-made 'tinters' that are applied to each panel by hand, using a miniature spray gun.

To complement the special finish each Centenary car also wears solid sterling silver Aston Martin wing badges with tailored 'trans flux' enamel inlay.

Interior

Just in case you missed the exterior Centenary Edition identifiers, Aston Martin has also made the cabin unique. Deep Soft black leather - previously reserved only for the One-77 - contrasts with silver stitching and the special silver thread embroidery of the Aston Martin wings in the head rests. Individually numbered, solid sterling silver sill plaques are also fitted.

Mechanicals

You would imagine while the body-shop was putting in an extra 18 hours on the bodywork and the seamstresses were working with leather that was previously reserved for only 77 cars that the engineers would be busy fettling with the company's V12 powerplant, hoping to liberate a few more Gaydon ponies. Afraid not...

Anything else?

Each Centenary Edition model will be supplied with a unique presentation box containing two glass keys, two bespoke key pouches made from leather matching the car's interior trim, solid silver cufflinks featuring the Aston Martin script, a solid silver Rollerball pen and Bang & Olufsen headphones.

Paul Healy - 15 Jan 2013