- Aston Martin toasts new DB12 with glittering event at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc
- Car unveiled by Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One® Team drivers Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso
- 110 acclaimed figures from entertainment, sport and the arts gather to celebrate the iconic brand’s 110th anniversary and herald its next generation
- Aston Martin proudly partners with amfAR – the foundation for AIDS research
25 May 2023, Cap d’Antibes, France: Aston Martin last night toasted the start of its next generation of sportscars, as the iconic British brand presented the new DB12 with a glittering premiere near Cannes.
Proudly unveiled in the serene surroundings of the French Riviera, the grand Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc provided a fitting backdrop for Aston Martin’s sparkling newcomer to steal the spotlight during the Cannes International Film Festival.
Celebrating Aston Martin’s 110th anniversary, 110 esteemed guests from across the fields of entertainment, sport, the arts, and business gathered to witness the arrival of a new icon and enjoy stunning live performances from multi-award-winning British chart-topping singer and actress Rina Sawayama and international DJ Peggy Gou.
Stars of cinema in attendance included Academy Award winners Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas and Leonardo Di Caprio, whose critically acclaimed performance in Killers of the Flower Moon has wowed critics in Cannes this week. Other actors in attendance included Kate Beckinsale, Tobey Maguire, James Marsden and James Bond actor Jeffrey Wright.
They were joined by other celebrated personalities from the worlds of entertainment including Grammy Award winning rapper, singer and actress Queen Latifah and American singer-songwriter Adam Lambert. The world of fashion was also represented by leading models Winnie Harlow, Lais Ribeiro, Alessandra Ambrosio and Poppy Delevingne.
Billed as the world’s first Super Tourer, the bold DB12 is defining its own new category of one and sets the benchmark for performance, driving excitement, ultra-luxury, and style. DB12 is the first of Aston Martin’s highly anticipated next generation of sportscars, which herald a new era of high performance and ultra-luxury.
With an exhilarating top speed of 202mph and best-in-class power output of 680PS/800Nm from its 4.0 V8 Twin-Turbo engine, DB12 combines exceptional performance and handling with an ultra-luxurious interior design focusing on a driver centric cockpit, integrating latest technologies with luxury craftmanship and materials.
In the week of Formula One’s jewel in the crown race in Monaco, Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One® Team drivers Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso were on hand to personally unveil the new performance model that proudly joins Aston Martin’s 75-year-old DB bloodline of exceptional British sportscars. The two drivers will hope to continue Aston Martin’s stunning start to the 2023 F1® World Championship, with the team currently second in the Constructor’s Championship.
Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman of Aston Martin said: “The launch of DB12 marks not just the start of our next generation of sportscars, but also a key step forward in our vision to establish Aston Martin as the world’s most desirable British ultra-luxury performance brand.
“Given the focus on celebrating our unique combination of ultra-luxury and high-performance, there could be no better place to unveil DB12 than here in Cannes on the eve of the amfAR Gala and during the Monaco Grand Prix week.”
Aston Martin is proud to be a Presenting Sponsor of the prestigious amfAR Gala Cannes, with the privileged opportunity to own the very first DB12 customer car to be auctioned tomorrow evening in support of the foundation for AIDS research that was co-founded by the late Elizabeth Taylor.
Aston Martin DB12 launch edition raises $1,600,000 at amfAR Gala Cannes
26 May 2023, Cap d’Antibes, France: The privileged opportunity to own the very first Aston Martin DB12 customer car was last night purchased for $1,600,000 (€1.5 Million) in a star-studded charity auction at the amfAR Gala Cannes.
The social highlight of the Cannes International Film Festival, the prestigious black-tie gala event at the iconic Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc was attended by celebrated figures from the world of entertainment, the arts and fashion including Grammy award winning host Queen Latifa, actors Rebel Wilson, Fan Bingbing and models Sara Sampaio, Bianca Balti, Heidi Klum, Stella Maxwell and Alessandra Ambrosio.
Acting couple Amy Jackson and Ed Westwick were joined by German athlete Alica Schmidt as guests of Aston Martin.
Presented for auction on the night by Eva Longoria and James Marsden, it was the DB12 that became the star of the show, with the stunning model accelerating well beyond auction estimates to raise a remarkable amount to support the work of the foundation for AIDS research as the most converted article of the evening.
Kevin Robert Frost, CEO of amfAR, said: “We have been incredibly fortunate to have Aston Martin as Presenting Sponsor for the 29th amfAR Gala Cannes and we’re immensely grateful for their generous donation of this spectacular DB12 for our live auction. This phenomenal sportscar was a highlight of the gala and the auction proceeds will give an important boost to our efforts to develop a cure for HIV.”
Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman of Aston Martin said: “Aston Martin is thrilled to have supported the amfAR Gala Cannes. In addition to showcasing the generosity of amfAR attendees, the incredible amount raised through this charity auction highlights the excitement for the new DB12 and the unique ultra-luxury and high-performance aspects of this model that elevate it well beyond the current GT category.”
The Launch Edition sold at auction will be the very first example of the world’s first Super Tourer to be hand delivered to a customer anywhere in the world. It is proudly arrayed in the halo Iridescent Emerald specification unveiled at the car’s global debut in Cannes.
The car is also the very first to be adorned with special touches carefully curated by the Q by Aston Martin bespoke service to celebrate the marque’s historic 110th anniversary, including a special fender badge and headrest embroidery. The one-of-its-kind car also displays a plaque on the door sill of the cabin, marking its unique history.
The privileged owner will also have the rare opportunity for Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One® Team drivers Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso to personally add their signatures to the engine cover, a unique aspect to be permanently preserved by Aston Martin in a manner befitting of this truly incredible, high-performance, ultra-luxury model.
Aston Martin is proud to be a Presenting Sponsor of the prestigious amfAR Gala Cannes, which supports the work of the leading nonprofit organisation dedicated to AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. Since 1985, amfAR has raised nearly $617 million and has awarded more than 3,500 grants to research teams worldwide.
The donation to such an important cause forms part of Aston Martin’s philanthropic activities and the company’s Racing. Green. sustainability strategy, which seeks to not only minimalise its environmental impacts but also make a positive contribution to society.
