ASTON Martin is marking the new Millennium with the introduction of finger-tip operated electronic control for the automatic transmission of the 185mph Bloxham-built Aston Martin DB7 Vantage.

Developed in conjunction with transmission manufacturers ZF the new "Touchtronic" system from Aston Martin allows the driver to change up and down through plus and minus buttons recessed into the spokes of the steering wheel.

In addition to operating the transmission in fully automatic mode, gear selection can also be determined through a floor-mounted selector level.

Both the steering wheel buttons, which enable the driver to make sequential changes and the floor-mounted selector lever are linked directly to the engine and transmission's electronic management systems to prevent misuse.

When the gears are being selected manually, the transmission is programmed to "Sport Mode" for optimum performance.

The new gearbox for the Aston Martin DB7 Vantage together with a new design Visteon instrument display and Alpine stereo radio and CD player will be unveiled in Detroit in January at the North American International Auto Show.

Robert Dover, chairman and chief executive of Aston Marton Lagonda, said: "The addition of the 420 horsepower 6.0-litre V12 Vantage and Vantage Volante models to the DB7 range has enabled us to build on the impressive records of success already established with the supercharged models.

"The Aston Martin DB7 is undoubtedly the most successful Aston Martin model of all time," he continued.

"Such has been the response to the new Vantage model that we have reprogrammed our production schedules for the coming year so that more than 95 per cent of all DB7 production will be devoted to the Vantage derivative and we have confirmed orders until July, 2000. By the end of this year DB7 production will have reached the 3000 mark."

In Britain, the addition of "Touchtronic" to the specification of a DB7 Vantage will add £4,000 to the purchase price of £92,500 for the Coupe and the same amount to the price of £99,950 for the DB7 Vantage Volante.

Story date: Wednesday 15 December

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