The name Aston Martin used to mean something more. It evoked James Bond and British excellence. Its iconic wings draped over the bonnets of some of the most beautiful cars on the planet—the DB5, the DB7, the DBS. But for the last decade or so, the brand has become more like a footnote in the market, as brands like Ferrari and Porsche have built cars that adhere closely to stronger brand identities, and often with impeccable performance credentials.
