Jaeger-LeCoultre

 

So here is part 2 coming, named the black version! We've seen in part 1 the most glorious part of Aston Martin's racing history. Maybe we should remember that the racing history is not an ended book. This year Le Mans was again a great time for Aston Martin. There was very little chance to win with the duel between diesel and petrol engines. And there was already a  fierce competition between Peugeot and Audi for the first place. Still as sport is sport and AML racers are not just joking, they wanted to show something. They did it!

 

Two Aston Martin LMP1 before the race

 

We can wonder if sports cars are so essential for Peugeot but undoubtedly they are for Aston Martin. Dr Bez is not coming from Porsche for nothing.

 

Road or track

 

So apparently the challenge was to be the first of the petrol engines and be there in case…..

 

24 Hours are the chapters of a long race, begun long months before and ending only at the last minute. I won't comment too much the results as I'm not a specialist of such competition. You all know how it turned out. Peugeot got the first and second places, Audi caught the third one, and Aston Martin went fourth (and first petrol car). That won't be our subject! Still I was very happy for the Aston Martin Racing team and hope to see them do even better in the future. David Richards said somewhere that they would not be back if they had no chance to win. I'm sure there's always a chance.

 

Subtle and discreet sporting look

 

In fact I would be more tempted to talk and write about another race that is already begun even if nobody really noticed the beginning.

 

I've been a very long fan of Aston Martin cars. I have to confess I'm now too old to seriously consider ever owning such a car as it is so far from my (happy) world. Still I keep a great admiration for these beautiful machines. I wish them to keep make us dream. And there's one aspect hardly ever mentioned about these cars, their future.

 

The Volante version should have an orange hood

 

We all know that our world is currently in trouble, because of climate changes. We also know that our fossil energy reserves are not like diamonds, forever! No matter how long it may takes, but someday it will end! I wish to see Aston Martin cars still run when there is no more petrol! Of course Aston Martin is apparently conscious and doing efforts already. For instance the new Vantage V8 4.7 litres is now consuming 13.2 litres vs 15 for the former 4.3 litres version ( for 100 km of combined trip). The CO2 emissions are also lower from 358 to 328 grams per km. Still this seems to be huge, like it is the case for all such extreme cars.

 

Porsche for instance has shown its capacity to decrease even more its emissions. A Carrera S is now as low as 240 grams per km. The European Commission is still less strict with real car "manufactures" (who conceive and build their cars themselves) producing less than 10 000 cars a year, but that probably won't last and we can hope that with the time passing customers will ask also "cleaner" cars. So I wonder if Le Mans races could not become a way to experiment cleaner cars by enforcing strict emissions regulations for the cars racing. Certainly petrol cars could be easily cleaner than diesel ones. And maybe the Hunaudieres could be straight back!

 

You can actually order it

 

Do you think I'm dreaming, or do you think I'm asking unavoidable questions?

 

Marek Reichman head of design at AML

 

The race was not the time to ask such questions, and such questions should not be asked only to Aston Martin. I just hope such questions are already asked inside Aston Martin. I would be so happy to see a next generation Vantage, or the DR1, come up with an electric engine, or any other cleaner solution.

 

I can just say that it will certainly look like an Amvox2, as there were so many of them around inside the Aston martin Hospitality. There were obviously not so many of them two years ago. It seems that the JLC/AML partnership is working efficiently among AML owners and fans.

 

So let's now have a look at the new Jaeger-LeCoultre Amvox2 Racing black version.

 

Jaeger-LeCoultre Amvox2 Racing black version

 

This black version has no longer any vintage/retro touch like its white sister shows. The watch is still surprisingly readable once you've used yourself to what you're looking at.

 

The blackest of Amvoxes

 

It is also really appealing at first sight, even if after some time I got more appealed by the white version.

 

You should read sport proto

 

This one also has the black crown that many found missing on the original black Amvox2.

 

Commemorative

 

Out of the colour combination it is obviously the same watch as the white.

 

Known and unknown

 

Orange is a trendy colour, not just for Gulf reasons! The colour is perhaps more discreet on the watch than on the car! Still this "Gulf" DBS was particularly astounding.

 

Vents or how long will they be needed

 

You find carbon on the watch dial, for the counters, and also carbon on the car, as it is one of the main materials of the DBS.

 

Carbon and glass

 

The DBS engine is particularly quiet and impressive at idle speed. I've unfortunately not been able to hear it at higher revs, but you can still watch back the last James Bond movie "Quantum of Solace" to have an idea (in "Casino Royale" it apparently was just a mocked up DB9).

 

What's inside

 

You also find back the blue colour (particularly to my taste by the way) of the Gulf cars in the back of the Amvox2 Racing white strap. It may be possible to see someday a version with blue "brake callipers".

 

Nice blue by the way

 

Looking at such cars you can also wonder how long they will find room left to put some air inside the wheels? I find this new wheel design superb.

 

There's still some rubber left

 

At least the rear lighting diods help save some energy! It is a beginning.

 

Wings of glory

 

In Aston Martin's history the DBS was the last of the DB cars, before the revival of the DB line with the DB7 some 20 years later. Is the current DBS another end to the DB line? Is it another indication that a DR1 would be coming?

 

The second DBS of history

 

The DBS is not my favourite current Aston Martin (the V8 Vantage is the one) but I must say that the detailing of the car is by far above the other models.

 

Maybe its only fault to my eyes is to be priced too close to a nice DB4 or DB5! Each man its choice!

 

Carbon everywhere

 

Didn't I actually finally prefer the Polaris over the Amvox1?

 

Ready for a ride

 

Still I'm sure the DBS must be a fantastic car to ride in everyday !

 

Aston Martin V8 Vantage LMGT2

 

But let's come back to racing. Isn't this prepared V8 particularly tasty?

 

Did you know Dr Bez is coming from Porsche

 

In fact it seems that Aston Martin cars now have a nice reputation of capable and reliable cars, just what contributed a lot to the Porsche fame.

 

The temple of Aston Martin Racing

 

Of course these racing cars need some attention and we're going to see where they get such respect.

 

Dr Ulrich Bez CEO of Aston Martin and Jerome Lambert head of Jaeger-LeCoultre

 

Wasn't it the perfect place to cross the path of two friends enjoying a promising week end?

 

Just in case

 

Visiting the Aston Martin garage as an Aston Martin fan is a bit weird as you hope that everything is turning fine and at the same time you want to see some activity there.

 

Fuel but for how long

 

At least they have to fuel, what doesn't last long enough to really see something.

 

I'd like to get this kind of tool kit at home

 

Looking at the place you imagine that sometimes it can turn differently.

 

Noir c'est noir il n'y a plus d'espoir

 

But time is passing by and it's too late to stay. We will be back. We need to see more about watches now.

 

It used to be black

 

Here is another example above of a much older black JLC. Here is a Chronoflight, an 8 days chronograph! Wouldn't it be nice to have such a mix of complications on the wrist today.

 

Would it be less beautiful with an electric engine

 

I must confess that I could hardly stop looking at this DBS. I wonder how my son would react if I ever had the chance to pick him up at school in this one.

 

When is James Bond going to fight the greenhouse effect

 

We were back at the circuit later at night after a dinner (and the famous swimming pool session). Of course some other tired moderators were already in bed at that time.

 

Fueling again at night

 

We finally and unfortunately got some action in the garage.

 

Water is leaking somewhere apparently

 

Car number 9 showed a water leak problem.

 

Discreetly signed

 

They had to bring it in and dismantle all the coach. They were at a time something like ten the head in the car looking for the problem.

 

Watchmakers at work or not

 

All computers were sent there to see if they could identify the problem.

 

That's getting serious we're in need of water

 

It was obviously for us an amazing opportunity to see what's inside a race car such as this one.

 

Huge rear suspensions like in the new Aston Martin One-77

 

I had read an article about the new Aston Martin supercar One-77. Apparently the LMP1 has a close kind (not similar though) of rear suspensions.

 

Cars need fresh air too

 

They finally got the job done and after something like around 15 minutes the #9 went to the track again.

 

Ready to go

 

We feared for a while that they would fire the engine inside the garage, but they pushed it out before. Our ears were saved.

 

We'll always have our legs and harms

 

After thinking about 1959 it also reminded me of 1958 and the cherished Geophysique and I thought that the Amvox line would deserve a simple high end chronometer as an Amvox4! A new Amvox cased Geophysique with a hand wound calibre incorporating some "simple" Extreme Lab advances.

 

We can see the orange light in the middle of the blackest

 

Aston Martin cars are generally understated so why couldn't we get an understated Amvox4?

 

Still readable but what a bad pic

 

But the night was long begun already and it was time to leave and get some sleep!

 

Time to leave

 

I can say that it was another great experience. Please let me thank the whole Jaeger-LeCoultre team for their fantastic organization and presence.

 

2009 was a great Le Mans year for Aston Martin

 

And again congratulations to the Aston Martin and Aston Martin Racing teams for their superb accomplishment.

 

See you soon for the launch of the first electric Aston Martin?

 

Cheers

 

Dje