Aston Martin is developing a
limited-edition car for the James Bond movie Spectre next year,
continuing a 50-year relationship between the luxury-car manufacturer
and the spy-film franchise.
Spectre will feature actor Daniel Craig in the role of James Bond
for the fourth time and is scheduled for release in November next year.
The latest Bond vehicle, dubbed the DB10, will offer a "glimpse" of
the future design for Aston Martin Lagonda's next line of cars, the
Gaydon, England-based company said in a statement on Thursday.
The car maker will build just 10 of the model.
The tie-in with the new movie will offer a global audience to Aston
Martin, one of the few independent luxury-car brands, as the company
invests £500 million (S$1 billion) on an expansion through 2017.
The manufacturer teamed up with Daimler AG's Mercedes performance
unit a year ago to gain technology to compete with Volkswagen's Bentley
and Porsche divisions and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles's Maserati.
AMG will provide modified V8 engines for the next generation of Aston Martin cars.
Stuttgart, Germany-based Daimler is also in talks on developing a
sport-utility vehicle for the British company, according to people
familiar with the matter.
Aston Martin, which sold 4,200 vehicles last year, is in the midst
of the biggest expansion in its 101-year history after London-based
investment firm Investindustrial bought a 37.5 per cent stake in
December 2012.
Daimler will acquire a holding of as much as 5 per cent as cooperation develops, according to the agreement reached last year.
The DB10 was developed in close cooperation with Mr Marek Reichman,
Aston Martin's head of design, and Sam Mendes, the film's director, the
UK car maker said.
