Prince William borrows father’s vintage Aston Martin for Royal Wedding cruise [w/video]

Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Performance, Government/Legal, Videos, Aston Martin, UK, Celebrities, Luxury

Prince William and Kate Middleton leave Royal Wedding in Aston Martin

Prince William and Kate Middleton leave Royal Wedding in Aston Martin – Click above for high-res image gallery

Kings and princes aren’t generally in the business of driving themselves… well, anywhere. More often than not, such dignitaries can be found ensconced in the lap of luxury known to us mere mortals (or at least non Royals) as The Back Seat. Then again, it’s not every day that a prince finds himself a brand new princess to call his very own, as is the case with the newly crowned Duchess of Cambridge.

And so it’s refreshing to see Prince William drive himself and his bride around London following the Royal Wedding in front of a massive swarm of onlookers. The best part, though, is that the Royal Couple chose to drive away in a perfectly appropriate Aston Martin. Not just any Aston Martin – this Seychelles Blue DB6 MKII Volante actually belongs to William’s dad, Prince Charles, and was gifted to him by his mother (that’d be The Queen, naturally) in 1969 on Charles’ 21st birthday.

A few details worthy of note: This droptop DB6 has been converted to run on Royal Grapes. Well, sort of. Aston Martin retrofitted this car’s engine with a kit that allows it to run on alcohol fuel, which is created using grapes grown on a vineyard owned by the Royal Family. So it’s green… -ish: it can only manage about eight miles per gallon. Also, take a gander at the big L on the front of the car. That stands for Learner; apparently even for Royal Learners. Also, the rear plate is a special one: JU5T WED. Clever.

And finally, are you wondering what William and Kate actually choose to drive when nobody else is looking? William reportedly owns an Audi S4, and Kate drives an Audi A3 hatchback.

Check out our high-res image gallery of the Royal Lovebirds in the Aston Martin DB6 Volante below, and feel free to check out video of the event after the break.

Gallery: Royal Wedding’s Vintage Aston Martin

[Images: Getty]

Continue reading Prince William borrows father’s vintage Aston Martin for Royal Wedding cruise [w/video]

Prince William borrows father’s vintage Aston Martin for Royal Wedding cruise [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: 2012 Audi A6 grows up, borrows a page from A8

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Audi, Diesel, Luxury

2012 audi A6

2012 Audi A6 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Set to make its debut early next year, the 2012 Audi A6 is a totally revamped version of the automaker’s mid-size luxury sedan. Styled to match the 2011 Audi A8, the new A6 (which, as we pointed out when it leaked a day early, looks a lot like the old A6) hides plenty of lightweight aluminum and high-tech steel components under its revised exterior. Inside, the A6 benefits from a wrap-around cockpit that envelops both the driver and front passenger with leather and wood, while luxury amenities – ranging from heated and ventilated seats to optional massage functionality – are all available for the taking.

The available powertrains – a choice between two gasoline engines and three diesel mills worldwide – have improved fuel economy by 19 percent, and a hybrid version will be introduced down the road. The most economical unit, a 2.0-liter TDI, is expected to achieve about 48 miles per gallon, while the hybrid will come in closer to 38 mpg. You don’t have to be totally frugal on the fuel to have some fun though, thanks to a carryover 300-horsepower supercharged 3.0-liter TFSI powerplant that achieves 27 miles per gallon and runs to a limited top speed of 155 miles per hour.

The other gasoline engine is a 2.8-liter naturally aspirated unit that produces 204 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque which may or may not be available in the States (don’t hold you breath). For oil burner fans, two 3.0-liter diesel choices exist: a 204 hp/295 lb-ft example and a top-of-the-line 245 hp/368 lb-ft mill. The more powerful unit is rated at nearly 40 mpg yet runs from 0-60 in just 6.1 seconds.

The 2012 A6 Hybrid, the second hybrid behind the launch of the Q5, will make its debut sometime after the new A6 hits the market. Power will come from a 2.0 TFSI engine paired with an electric motor that sits between the engine and the eight-speed transmission. The A6 Hybrid will be able to run on electric power alone at speeds of up to 62 mph.

Transmission options on the 2012 A6 are as varied as the available motors they pair with. A six-speed manual will join a CVT and seven-speed S-tronic automatic before the aforementioned eight-speeder arrives in the hybrid.

A mega press release chock full of A6 information is waiting for you just after the jump, and a massive photo gallery lies down below. Keep in mind these figures represent the German version of the A6, but give us a good idea of what to expect when it makes its way to the U.S.

Gallery: 2012 Audi A6

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Officially Official: 2012 Audi A6 grows up, borrows a page from A8

Officially Official: 2012 Audi A6 grows up, borrows a page from A8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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