After three years on the market, the Aston Martin Rapide is being treated to a minor makeover that sees it gain more power and a new S designation, but thankfully does not jeopardize its status as the most stylish four-door on the market.

Half a million dollars (330,000 British pounds). Plus options, like non-standard paint and bespoke leather. Plus a place on the waiting list, one of 101. Not to mention the guts it takes to be seen in the most extroverted Aston Martin ever built, and to drive such a precious and rare commodity. Is the Aston Martin V12 Zagato a silly proposition? Not at all. The way things are going in the crazy collector-car arena, the limited-edition Zagato likely will depreciate much more slowly over the next few years than the Vantage V12 on which it's based. More to the point, the Zagato is an even more raw and rare driving experience. It may not be outright beautiful by conventional standards, but it does look breathtakingly different: the radically aggressive, big-mouth front end vacates fast lanes more promptly than a cop car with siren wailing and lights blazing. The sculptured rear with the oversize spoiler and the eyeball taillights has "I was born on the Nordschleife" written all over it. Then there's the soundtrack, which is guaranteed to raise goose bumps on your forearms.

As disappointments go, the iPhone 5 has to rank up there with Michael Jordan's baseball career and Tiger Woods' Ryder Cup record. I mean, seriously, it's an iPhone 4S that's been stretched and squashed, and yet I lie awake at night imagining the moment I can get my feverish palms on one - that's the power of the Apple brand.

Remember the special edition Aston Martin DBS Ultimate? It turns out its nomenclature wasn't simply marketing hyperbole. Not only did that small batch of sports cars celebrate the end of the DBS model, but also the end of the DBS name: Aston has instead chosen to call its successor the 2013 Vanquish.

Barely a month passes without a product announcement from Gaydon, headquarters of Aston Martin. Aston is the uncrowned king of the limited-edition premium-car scene, and it applies all the marketing tricks of the trade to keep the business going. Totally new models are rare, but regular cosmetic updates, engineering upgrades, and tasty special-value packages seem to keep the Aston Martin community happy.

The V8 Vantage offers entrance into the exclusive club of Aston Martin ownership at a price not much more than that of an optioned-up Porsche 911. Of course, you can always spend more on the V8 Vantage S or the V12 Vantage. Even at $185,650, the twelve-cylinder Vantage strikes us as a comparative value. The Vantage's shorter chassis makes it lighter and more nimble than its more expensive siblings, and the V-12 engine is the same 510-hp V-12 found in the DBS. It is 0.2 second quicker to 60 mph and yet sells for $94,926 less than Aston's most expensive car. The Vantage's appeal extends deeper than numbers, too. It's a true driver's car. Regardless of which engine is under the hood, the Vantage rewards the driver with communicative steering, responsive handling, and authoritative thrust. The V12 Vantage is available only as a coupe with a six-speed manual. The V8 Vantage offers a choice of a manual or a six-speed automated manual transmission and is available in either fixed-roof or droptop form. Like the rest of the Aston range, the Vantage boasts an exquisite interior with clumsy ergonomics and a simple, slightly outdated style. The smaller wheelbase also means a tighter cabin, which can be an inconvenience for taller drivers. The N420 edition adds a dose of visual distinction with carbon-fiber body add-ons, carbon-fiber sill plates, a sport suspension riding on ten-spoke wheels, and Alcantara seat inserts.

Your eyes will struggle to believe it, but every body panel save for the door skins and the roof is unique to the Virage, which debuted in the spring of 2011. The visual similarity between the Virage and its platform mates is fitting, however, since the 5.9-liter V-12 engine makes 490 hp here, exactly 20 hp less than the DBS and 20 hp more than the DB9. For an additional $17,000 over the cost of a DB9, the Virage gets twenty-inch wheels, carbon-ceramic brake discs, and a ten-setting adaptive Bilstein suspension. As in all Astons, the interior is covered in high-quality, hand-stitched leather. The familiar paddleshifted six-speed automatic is the only transmission. Not surprisingly, the Virage drives like all Astons do, with gracious athleticism and impeccable composure. It is responsive without being abrupt, agile without being edgy, and fast without being frenetic. However, those attributes are readily available in a DB9 and DBS, so aside from the fact that it fills the smallest of niches in the carmaker's lineup and is the newest fashion, the Virage's value to Aston Martin and its loyalists seems dubious.

Even eight years after its debut, the DB9 is the embodiment of automotive cool. Not as hard edged as a Ferrari or as flamboyant as a Lamborghini; not as plummy as a Bentley or as proletarian as a Jaguar. It is today, as it was forty years ago, a wonderful car for the discriminating enthusiast -- an athletic grand tourer that's stylish enough to attract a crowd and fast enough to leave it behind. The 190-mph speedster is powered by a V-12 engine that develops 470 hp and endless bragging rights -- unless you're parked next to a DBS or a new Virage. Those two cars offer all of the DB9's best attributes with a firmer ride and more power. You won't hear any apologies from the DB9, though. It drives with a dynamic sharpness yet is elegantly refined, masterfully combining luxury, sport, and comfort. With the manual out of the picture, the DB9's only transmission is a six-speed, paddleshifted automatic. Four push buttons at the top of the center console select park, reverse, neutral, or drive and add to the sense of occasion you feel when driving an Aston. Unfortunately, the gearbox is neither as smooth nor as quick as those found in the best six-figure sports cars. The most memorable aspect of the DB9 is its sleek, flowing sheetmetal, which makes the coupe look as if it had been milled from a block of aluminum. The convertible version of the DB9, known as the Volante, has an incredibly stiff structure; Aston Martin designed its VH architecture for open-top duty from the start, and it shows.

The DBS sits atop the Aston Martin heap, although you'd be hard pressed to tell that just by looking at it. Aesthetically, the DBS wears the same face, shape, and character lines as the Virage and the DB9. You can distinguish the DBS from lesser Astons by its deeper front spoiler; extra-wide, guppy-style intake for the oil cooler; large rear spoiler; flared wheel arches; and wider rear track. Unless the cars are parked next to one another, the differences are pretty subtle, except in price: nearly $70,000 separates the DBS from the Virage. Like that car, the DBS can be had either as a coupe or a Volante (convertible) and as a two-seater or a two-plus-two. Weighing less and packing 20 more hp than a Virage, the DBS is estimated to go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds en route to a top speed of more than 190 mph. Despite legitimate performance credentials, the DBS is often overshadowed by the more emotional Ferraris and Lamborghinis. Those who buy a DBS won't be disappointed, however. It features carbon-ceramic brake rotors, carbon-fiber body panels, and a six-speed manual transmission. A ZF six-speed automatic is optional. The sure-to-impress Bang & Olufsen audio system is standard and, on the Volante, can sense whether the top is up or down and adjust its sound level accordingly. The Carbon Edition model, which goes on sale in early 2012, adds ten-spoke, gloss black wheels; has an even more plush cabin swathed in leather and trimmed in carbon fiber; and comes in three colors -- flame orange, ceramic gray, and carbon black metallic.

Concept cars typically lose a large portion of their sex appeal as they move from the auto show floor to the dealer showroom. That was not the case for the Rapide, which is every bit as visually arresting as the original concept. Aston Martin's svelte four-door makes its most obvious competitor, the Porsche Panamera, look bloated and fat. The trade-off for that sensual sheetmetal is that rear-seat passengers have to limbo under the low roofline, squeeze through a small door opening, and fold themselves into a cramped back seat. The Rapide is powered by the same 470-hp, 5.9-liter V-12 found in the DB9. The engine doesn't sound especially melodic from inside the car, but it's loud enough outside to startle pedestrians with a prod of the throttle, and it's capable of launching the Rapide to 60 mph in just 5.0 seconds. A genuine sports car, the Rapide pummels roads with ferocious speeds and can reach 184 mph. Like other Astons, the cockpit is ergonomically challenged, but the gauges themselves, like much of the Rapide's cabin, are works of art. For an even richer experience, check out the Luxury model, which adds glass switchgear, a six-piece luggage set, ventilated front and rear seats, and a dual-screen rear entertainment system -- not that many people would be comfortable spending more than an hour or two in the back seat of a Rapide.

Previously, you could order an Aston Martin DBS Carbon Black Edition in any color you desired, so long as it was Carbon Black. For 2012, however, that's no longer the case: the new DBS Carbon Edition is essentially the same car, albeit it isn't tied to a paint palette that would make Henry Ford proud.

Aston Martin's sexy V12 Zagato has already wowed crowds at auto shows around the globe and endured the infamous Nuerburgring for 24 hours straight, but now it's ready to tackle a new venue: public roads. Aston confirmed long ago that the Zagato-bodied racer would spawn a road car, but announced today such a vehicle will be unveiled at next month's Frankfurt Motor Show.

It's a challenge for anyone to keep up with the constantly changing roster of cars on dealership lots. For car lovers it's an even tougher task, because beyond knowing that a certain model exists, you need to know where it fits in the automotive firmament. That's why we've gathered every new model due by the first half of 2012 and categorized them, not alphabetically or by some government-defined size class, but by their relevance to buyers, enthusiasts, and the companies that build them. Some cars thrust automakers into new segments, while others drive just like last year's model. Some cars protect the sanctity of the manual transmission, while others advance performance with the latest technology. Some cars address rising fuel-economy standards, while others disguise obscene speed in stealthy sheetmetal. Here are the 85 new arrivals shaping the automotive world for 2012.

At board meetings, on test tracks, and in design studios, decisions are being made today that will influence what you drive tomorrow. Automakers are hard at work creating the next generation of automobiles -- cars that are faster, sexier, more efficient -- while trying to keep their development secret. Like you, we are nosy as hell. Unlike you, we have a vast network of snoops, gossips, and disgruntled former employees who have helped us uncover the information we present here. Our annual Sneak Preview feature contains the industry's future products -- as far out as 2019 -- that are worth saving your milk money for.

What's in a name? That's been a question for Aston Martin, which has birthed roughly a dozen aesthetically gifted models -- coupes, convertibles, classic GTs, and a sedan -- from its Vertical Horizontal platform. This James Brown of high-dollar platforms now spins off the Virage and the Virage Volante convertible, and the name reminds us of how boutique makes like Aston must carefully carve and preserve their precious jewels: The original 1988 Virage was the company's first all-new car in twenty years.

How long does it take to assemble a fine piece of automotive art? Aston Martin says some 200 man-hours. And the Gaydon, Warwickshire-based automaker of premium vehicles will spend those 200 hours bringing the new Virage back from the great beyond.

Aston Martin does not make any "normal" cars, all of their vehicles are built for performance and the DB9 is no exception to this rule. With a huge 470 HP V-12 this high performance machine from Aston Martin is ready for the Autobahn. The DB9 is one of the strongest grand touring vehicles that are made readily available to the public.

All of the major car manufacturers have a single car that really sticks out and is what they are known for. When you are talking about Aston Martin, this car is the DBS. Without a doubt this is the vehicle that makes you instantly think of Aston Marten, whenever you see one on the street, in a movie or on the road. These amazing machines seem more like a work of art than a car.

Every car company has a "first" and for the European luxury sports car manufacturer known as Aston Martin, the Rapide is a first. This company has never produced a four door vehicle until 2010. The Rapide is a four door sports car like no other, with a 470 HP V-12 this car is far from a family car. This vehicle houses the same engine offered in the DB9 and also offer the powerful 6-speed automatic transmission to allow for easy acceleration.

The Aston Martin line of cars if far from the ordinary consumer level vehicles. However, they do offer an entry level car and the V8 Vantage is it. This hot little car comes in a coupe and in a convertible model to fit any sports car fans taste. To further customize your Vantage you can choose from a six-speed automatic or manual transmission. This vehicle is a gas guzzler only offering around 14 to 20 MPG, but any car buyer that is hungry for the power that this vehicle offers will not be concerned with this.

1. WALTER DE'SILVA (59, Italian)
Head of design, Volkswagen Group
Key cars: Audi R8 and A5, 2009 VW Scirocco and 2012 Jetta

The 2011 model year is looking like a fairly quiet one for the major European players. The Volkswagen group has new bookends, with a redesigned Jetta and the Sybaritic Bentley Mulsanne- plus a fresh Audi A8 in between. Both Swedish carmakers enter 2011 with new owners and new sedans- the Saab 9-5 and the Volvo S60- to celebrate their new leases on life, and, of course Fiat returns with its tine 500.

It seems that everything you hear about the Supersports version of the 2011 Bentley Continental convertible concerns its 198-pound weight loss and 21 additional horsepower. Let's put that in perspective: that weight loss on a 5300-pound car is, proportionally, the same as removing a bag of kitty litter from a Lotus Elise, and adding 21 horses to a team of 600 is like a Honda Civic gaining five horsepower. Is that something you'd really notice?

The Aston Martin Rapide will instantly draw comparisons to the Porsche Panamera Turbo sedan, but these two are as different as asparagus and ice cream. Even though the automakers tell us that the Panamera is only 44 pounds heavier, the Aston feels so much lighter. The Aston delivers excellent steering and sharp turn-in for a sense of compact agility that can lead you to quickly forget that there are two doors behind you. The V-12 experience lives up to its 470-hp output, but Aston's been a bit too conservative with the exhaust tuning. The six-speed automated manual in the Rapide also isn't as refined as the seven-speed dual-clutch in the Panamera, particularly when it comes to low-speed driving.

Twelve, size small
Looking at it in pictures and on paper, it may be difficult to really get excited about the Aston Martin V12 Vantage. Sure, it's gorgeous and has a beautifully balanced V-12 under the hood, but it's also the final homogenization of the Aston Martin coupes: three models with the same look, the same architecture, and now the same engine.