By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

Being a maker of sports and grand touring automobiles for 100 years means you've done at least a few things right along the way. Despite being near-death for more than a few years and needing some serious cash infusions along the way, British car-maker Aston Martin is celebrating its centenary in 2013. And to help blend its past performance with modern design, it's given itself the CC100 as a birthday gift.

The open-topped roadster reminds us of the Le Mans-winning DBR1 from 1959, the last time the brand took victory there. The details of the concept are pretty stunning, like the flip-up 'doors, the race-spec wheels and tires, along with the throwback leather belts and door-pulls inside.

Under the hood, Aston's familiar 6.0-litre V12 with a paddle-shifted sequential transmission. The company figures it'll do 0-100 km/h in under four seconds and top out over 290 km/h. The CC100 was introduced as during a pre-race lap at the Nurburgring 24 in Germany, a race the DBR1 also won in '59...

What do you think? We figure Aston Martin will put at least a limited number into production. Why not? It has no problem pulling seven-figure sums for its small-run projects like the One-77 and V12 Zagato.

Like it? Love it? Loathe it? Let us know.

Pininfarina's Ferrari Sergio concept car. Photo: John LeBlanc

By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos Canada

Geneva, Switzerland — With no major, international Italian auto show on the calendar, Switzerland’s Geneva event is the closest geographically for Italy's design houses to show their wares. And this year’s Swiss show was no different, with all the big studios — Bertone, IED ItalDesign Giugiaro and Pinanfarina — showing up with new concepts and show cars.

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

It's no great secret that I love off-the-wall wagons as much as the next guy, and let me tell you, when some rich dude wants a custom-built performance luxury five-door, all I can do is cheer. So one loaded Aston Martin customer went to Italian design house Bertone and asked for a station-wagon version of the Rapide sedan. Since this is both Aston's 100th birthday and 60 years of working with Bertone, obviously the people in England quickly said, "Sure, why not?"

The result is the Bertone Jet 2+2, based on the current Rapide mechanicals with everything aft of the B-pillars being all-new and melded perfectly with Aston's design. It uses a 470-horsepower 6.0-litre V12 from the 'old' Rapide rather than the upgraded 550-horsepower version from the new Rapide S. Still, who'll complain?

New seats, woods and aluminum have been used inside to give it a more custom feel, while the rear two seats do fold flat to increase cargo room. 

This isn't the first Bertone/Aston Martin 'shooting break'. The Bertone Jet 2 is essentially a wagonized version of the old Vanquish, a dozen DB5's were similarly modified by company owner David Brown, some DB6's, and of course, the Sultan of Brunei's fleet of modified Virages.

It's pretty much a tie in my books between this and the Maserati Quattroporte Bellagio Touring from a few years back. What's your vote? What other high-end sedan or coupe would you like to see turned into a station wagon or shooting break? Let us know!

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

The Aston Martin Virage was essentially a one-year wonder. Positioned between the old DB9 and high-performance DBS, the Virage split the two perfectly between price and performance. With the DBS replaced by the new Vanquish, Aston's decided to return to a three-car lineup and is updating the sexy DB9 for 2013.

Essentially, the new DB9 takes most of the visual changes introduced by the Virage including larger vents for cooling, different wheels, and a few other tweaks. The interior is largely unchanged, but that shouldn't garner many complaints since the current one is perfectly luxurious.

Mechanically, the DB9 takes serious advantage of the old 6.0-litre V12 engine designed back when Ford owned the company...The car will now produce 510 horsepower (up from 470 in the old DB9 and 490 in the Virage) and 457 lb-ft of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.

And of course, there will be a convertible Volante version soon after the regular DB9 coupe starts production later this year.

Pricing starts at $185,000 US, but we're sure Canadian DB9's will be priced higher than that. But after nearly a decade of EVERY Aston Martin looking the same, would you still drop nearly 200 grand on a new one? 

Jake Lingeman, AutoWeek

The Aston Martin Vanquish made its Canadian debut during the third annual Luxury & Supercar weekend held Sept. 7-9 in Vancouver, B.C. According to Aston, the V12-powered coupe represents the pinnacle of the brand.

It replaces the DBS as the halo coupe, and features design elements from the One-77 supercar including the side strakes and LED rear-light blades.

The 565-hp engine is attached to a Touchtronic II six-speed transmission, and it also makes 457 lb-ft of twist. The Vanquish name was last used in 2007.

Like every Aston in the lineup, it will be expensive, priced at $279,995.

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

With the hand-built One-77 sold out and the current range-topping DBS heading to pasture, Aston Martin has revived one of its more recent names to use on their replacement. The all new Vanquish, previewed almost exactly by the AM 310 concept shown at the Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza a couple months ago, doesn't move the styling marker terribly far. The overall shape is reminiscent of every Aston Martin - bar the outrageous One-77 - in 20 years. But it has enough 'modern' details like the LED lighting, swoopier shoulder lines and the carbon-fibre ground effects to help distinguish from 'mere' DB9s. 

Inside, the cabin is definitely inspired by the One-77, although the Vanquish will be available either as a 2+2 or a strict two-seater. Trunk space is apparently up as well.

The engine is yet another further reworking of the 6.0-litre V12 that debuted a decade ago during the Ford era, and produces 565 horsepower and 457 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission, with no word yet on whether Aston will fit either a manual or dual-clutch gearbox any time soon. The Vanquish is supposed to do the 0-60 mph dance in 4.1 seconds with a top speed of 183 mph (a flat 300 km/h).

Pricing is as you'd expect for an Aston Martin halo car at just under $300,000 and the Vanquish will officially go on sale this Fall.

For a closer look and walkaround of the new Vanquish, check out the video after the jump.

By Mark Atkinson for MSN Autos

The late Carroll Shelby needs no introduction - his contributions to racing and car-building are incredible, and he will always be remembered as one of the most passionate personalities around.

Since we're only a few days away from the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and Shelby is inexorably linked with that famed event in France, both as a driver and team head, a couple of the most important ones are being brought back into the spotlight.

First, it's been 45 years since the original Ford MKIV - the fourth-revision of the legendary GT40 - won Le Mans with A.J. Foyt and Dan Gurney as drivers. The victory in 1967 was the second of four in a row that Ford would score, and the first - and last - all-American overall victory. Shelby, of course, ran the team, and spearheaded the efforts in Europe to beat rival Ferrari at any cost. 

The gorgeous MKIV has been a permanent resident in the Henry Ford museum in Dearborn, MI, but was recently packed off to Europe for a celebratory victory lap. It'll be on display at this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed in England from June 28-July 1, and will be back in North America by September.

By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos Canada

I mean really, who doesn’t want to own an Aston Martin? Where Ferraris and Lamborghinis can be seen like their owners are trying too hard, and some Porsche’s have a distinct whiff of Boy Racer about them, the always-elegant and tasteful cars from Coventry (that’s in England, BTW…) strike a fine balance between lust and maturity. Then there’s that longstanding association with a certain cinematic Bond (James Bond), that’s also created an enigmatic image for the brand.

By John LeBlanc for MSN Autos Canada

This past week, the Interweb was all a twitter over the supposed leaked patent drawings of a new version of the SLS AMG, Mercedes-Benz’s unofficial “supercar”. Unlike the existing two-door, two-seat hardtop or convertible, this SLS had four seats and four doors: a pair of top-hinged “gullwing” openings up front, and two “suicide” rear-hinged at the back for, ostensibly, to make it easier for rear passengers to enter and exit graciously.

By Jake Lingeman, AutoWeek

We love one-off specials almost as much as we love the supercars upon which they're based. And if you're a tuner trying to pick a good chassis, we can't think of a much better place to start than the Aston Martin V12 Vantage.

That's what Danish company HBH did for its Bulldog GT. The Bulldog takes its general form from the shapely Vantage, though the rear gets a small lip spoiler on top and the body panels surround the rear fascia. Side strakes adorn the doors and rear quarter similar to those found on Aston's One-77. The front is slightly more stylized than the Vantage donor car, with a wide aperture and a black grille.