This could be the coolest thing to grace our desk all year. Two things we love. Concorde, and Aston Martin. In British Airways’ centenary year and on the anniversary of Concorde’s final flight, the carrier announced a partnership with Aston Martin, cumulating in a limited-edition sports car that honours the supersonic aircraft.
The luxury British car manufacturer has created a new icon in the DBS Superleggera Concorde Edition. Launching in October 2020 each vehicle will feature titanium from compressor blades that were used across British Airways’ supersonic fleet.
Instead of an obvious design connection, the airline and car manufacturer Each model will have a unique CAA approved registration number and British Airways’ iconic Chatham Flag tailfin design. The exterior features a bespoke painted livery in the airline’s red, white and blue colours, and a black tinted carbon fibre roof emblazoned with Concorde’s streamlined silhouette.
Inside, the paddle shifters will be made from the original Concorde metal and a Mach Meter graphic will be embroidered on the driver’s sun side visor; some of the many carefully judged design features that have been incorporated to celebrate the remarkable achievements of this aircraft.
This most likely will only appeal to a small selection of consumers, and ones who probably were previously Concorde passengers thanks to thee rather astronomic price tag. The run is strictly limited to just 10 examples and priced at £321,350, and all will be available to purchase exclusively from Aston Martin Bristol. On November 26, 2003, Alpha Foxtrot, the last ever Concorde to be built, touched down for the final time at RAF Filton, which is just three miles from where the cars will be sold and home to one of the 10 Concordes that were made in Britain.
Being a partnership with BA, parts of the proceeds from the sale of each individual car will be donated to the Air League Trust, a not-for-profit organisation that teaches under privileged children how to fly and work in engineering. As part of the collaboration the Air League Trust will run a week-long scholarship programme for young people at Cranfield University. This supplements British Airways’ BA 2119: Future of Fuels initiative, which the airline partnered with Cranfield University on earlier this year.
Alex Cruz, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO, said: “Concorde was one of the most iconic designs of a generation and will always be a hugely important part of our heritage. In our centenary year we are thrilled to partner with Aston Martin, another British brand with an established history of exceptional design and engineering, and we hope to inspire another generation of aviators and engineers through this exciting partnership.”
The bespoke inspection plaque will be signed by Alex Cruz and Aston Martin Lagonda’s CEO, Dr. Andy Palmer, before the limited-edition cars are handed over to their buyers next year. Now, where’s our Amex?
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