Aston Martin, the quintessentially British auto marque, marked its centenary celebrations in style at the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai in front of some of the Gulf region's most important dignitaries, the luxury car company said in a statement recently. Saudi Arabia is one of the most important markets for Aston Martin, which has dealerships in Al-Khobar, Jeddah and Riyadh and customers, including some of the highest net worth individuals in the Kingdom. Aston Martin CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez will usher in a new century of handmade luxury for the brand, reiterating the values of Aston Martin's heritage, and committing the company to another 100 years at the cutting edge of auto design and production. Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford established their company in the Midlands of England in 1913, and the brand has continued to grow in ambition and achievement ever since. Every handmade luxury car made by the company has combined power, beauty and soul to create some of the most recognizable high performance cars in history, from the original 1915 model, through the Bertelli models of the 20s and 30s and the iconic DB range of the 50s and 60s, to the latest state of the art models epitomized by the Vanquish. Evermore recognized and desired across the world, Aston Martins are known for their 50-year association with another British icon, superspy James Bond, proving the timeless quality of an Aston Martin, the latest film featured the return of the original 007 model, the DB5. – SG
