In 2018 Lunaz Design announced a plan to further the legacies of the most beautiful cars in history through restoration, re-engineering and electrification.
Since then, increasing legislative pressure and a change in global sensibilities has made the company’s mission to preserve these most significant objects more essential than ever before.
Today, Lunaz Design announces the completion of its family of the most celebrated cars in British history with the introduction of a limited production run of restored, re-engineered and electrified Aston Martin DB6 cars. They join the stable of a rapidly growing company that is already meeting significant latent global demand with the world’s first and only electric Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Range Rover and Jaguar sportscar models. Highly limited build-slots will be made available for Aston Martin DB4 and DB5 cars.
Lunaz takes extraordinary care in the selection of the marques it chooses to apply its restoration, re-engineering and electrification process to. Only the most beautiful, rare or significant examples of their respective breed are considered. In the case of the Aston Martin DB6, there is no purer or striking evocation of the British Gran Turismo. However, the decision to move into production was not driven by beauty and rarity alone.
“The introduction of electric Aston Martin DB6 cars has been driven by sustained demand from our existing clients. It also reflects the desires of an entirely new classic car buyer. These women and men have been drawn to Lunaz because for the first time they are presented with the powertrain and modern conveniences of today, clothed in a design that speaks of an era when aesthetic purity was the only requirement.”
David Lorenz, Founder and CEO, Lunaz Group
Following the confirmation of orders for these first cars, Lunaz will now offer to clients across the globe a highly limited production allocation of Aston Martin DB6 cars in both Left Hand Drive and Right Hand Drive configuration. Exact prices will be communicated privately on application but exceeds $1million + local taxes. First deliveries are scheduled for the third quarter of 2023. Prices for rare DB4 and DB5 model cars will be available strictly on application.
Each electrified Aston Martin DB6 by Lunaz will undergo an exhaustive bare-metal restoration and re-engineering process. This means clients are presented with a concourse-level vehicle that addresses the key requirements of usability, reliability and sustainability that serves as the foundation for Lunaz’ leadership of the electric classic car market.
Driveability is ensured through the up-rating of brakes, suspension and steering while interior comfort and convenience is brought up to modern standards through the provision of air conditioning and the sensitive integration of latest infotainment, navigation systems and full Wi-Fi connectivity.
The car will be powered by Lunaz’ proprietary modular electric powertrain, developed entirely in-house and comprised of the very highest standard European-sourced Tier 1 OEM battery cells and motors. All current Lunaz vehicles’ battery capacity ranges from 80-120 kWh. Range is 255 miles. Every car by Lunaz is equipped with CCS fast-charging capability.
All electrified vehicles by Lunaz are engineered, designed and crafted at the company’s home in Silverstone, England. Lunaz recently announced a significant injection of growth capital from leading institutional investors. This includes the Barclay, Reuben and Dallal families and David Beckham. This coincided with the launch of the expanded Lunaz Group and the wider application of its modular electric powertrain for the remanufacturing and conversion of industrial vehicles.
“As an investor in Lunaz and a huge car enthusiast I’m delighted to see this new development which completes the company’s line up of British auto icons. I’m proud to be involved with a talented team that is leading the field in creating sustainable solutions.”
David Beckham, Investor, Lunaz Group
THE ASTON MARTIN DB6: RE-ENGINEERED FOR A NEW GENERATION:
“Re-engineering and electrification delivers the ultimate Aston Martin driving experience. We are proud of our work creating a dynamic, engaging and truly usable expression of one of the great icons of British automotive heritage.”
Jon Hilton, Managing Director and Technical Lead, Lunaz Group
Every Aston Martin DB6 build by Lunaz begins with a bare metal restoration. Beyond ensuring the car represents a perfect example of an electrified classic, this also means its customer is afforded a full scope of personalisation. Each of these cars will represent a truly singular expression of the breed, remastered entirely in the client’s image.
This vision is executed by over 100 engineers, restoration specialists and craftspeople that work at Lunaz’ 62,000 sq/ft HQ on the Silverstone Technology Park. They are drawn from companies including Aston Martin, Bentley, F1, Ferrari, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mclaren and Rolls-Royce. As a collective they represent the largest technical team of their kind in the world engaged in the restoration, re-engineering and electrification of pinnacle classic cars.
The engineering process is led by Jon Hilton, Managing Director and Technical Lead. He blends experience at the pinnacle of motorsport, winning the 3 F1 World Championships with a career pioneering the use of alternative powertrains in mainstream automotive. He has gathered a team that includes senior technical minds that have led specialist engineering projects to customise heritage models for James Bond films. To deliver the ultimate electric driver’s expression of the DB6 he oversees a conversion process that represents re-engineering from the ground up.
It starts with an exhaustive inspection. Each corner is then weighed to understand the original weight distribution to the gram. This information informs decisions on chassis setup, powertrain packaging and suspension. The internal combustion engine and associated systems are then sensitively removed and stored on behalf of the client before the chassis is prepared for re-engineering and electrification.
The car is then 3D scanned; this allows the engineers to create detailed CAD models to ensure technical perfection in every step of the process. The electric powertrain has been engineered entirely in-house under Hilton’s technical leadership.
The company has developed a modular technical approach meaning the powertrain can be adapted to the exact requirements and characteristics of multiple marques and applications. Details of this are closely guarded but Lunaz stands alone in the classic car electrification space in deriving its cells, inverters and motors from European Tier 1 Suppliers. This counters an approach employed by many in adapting existing battery cells from crashed or disposed of passenger cars.
Luanz’ team of software engineers then programmes its powertrain to create the ultimate driver’s Aston Martin . In the case of the Aston Martin DB6, the car will marry brisk initial acceleration with the requirements of a classic car that is very much built in the mode of a Grand Tourer. Indeed, the instant torque and silent delivery of an electric powertrain perfectly augments the intended use for long continental journeys with mixed road conditions.
Traditional coachbuilding and restoration skills are then employed and the car is stripped down to a bare metal shell. Even imperceptible body defects are addressed by hand before the surface finish process begins.
Quality is ensured throughout every touchpoint in the process because every craft, restoration and technical department sits under one roof at Lunaz. Indeed, the rapid expansion of this production footprint and the number of highly skilled jobs within it has propelled Lunaz to having the largest production space and most employees of any business at Silverstone, a globally recognised centre of advanced automotive engineering excellence.
DESIGN: REMASTERING A LEGEND:
“The Aston Martin DB6 delivered on the promise of truly indulgent continental touring. Its lines marry dynamic purpose with generous proportions. This is a legacy we could not resist furthering by creating the most alluring electric car in the world. We are proud to introduce the quintessential British GT, remastered for a new generation.”
Jen Holloway, Design Director, Lunaz Design
Each electrified Aston Martin DB6 by Lunaz represents an authentic remastering of the original. Customers are afforded an unrivalled scope of personalisation. To deliver this, Lunaz has gathered a styling team drawn from some of the most celebrated names in automotive and industrial design.
This is led by Design Director Jen Holloway. Her background as a lead in Aston Martin’s Q-Branch provides a unique sensitivity to the heritage and aesthetic sensibility that has ensured the DB6s status as one of the most revered examples of British automotive design.
Jen and her team lead clients through a process that allows every interior and exterior surface, material and function to be re-imagined. This takes place in a purpose-built design and commissioning space at Lunaz’ HQ at Silverstone. The process begins with a consultative exploration of the tastes and requirements of the client. Material and colour palettes are explored and visualised using both 2D sketch work and advanced 3D modelling.
At this stage decisions on materiality are made. Lunaz offers both a traditional, more restoration focused route with original build-sheets consulted. However, for many clients a more contemporary evocation of classic style is required. This process also allows the Design Team to explore new material palettes that includes the provision of an interior free from animal-derived materials.
Indeed, the overall philosophy of ‘upcycling’ that informs the Lunaz proposition is expressed in an array of materials that take what already exists and finds new purpose. This can even extend to the specification of carpets which are woven from fishing nets recovered from the sea into a feature that matches more traditional lambswool for comfort and tactile quality. 100% recycled textiles are offered throughout the cabin environment, in harmony with bio-content constructed materials.
A commitment to reducing waste and impact wherever possible informs the process throughout. For example, substrates are painstakingly restored in-house within a specialist fabrication department. Their work is then enhanced by Lunaz’ collective of highly skilled trim specialists drawn from the highest end of automotive restoration, fine furniture making, couture and accessories.
The result is an entirely renewed interior, crafted with the requirements of contemporary use but with a profound sensitivity to each individual vehicle’s heritage. This extraordinary attention-to-detail even extends to the function and placement of switches and dials. Read-outs for battery status and other contemporary functions are seamlessly integrated in the spirit of the original aesthetic. Even the weight, form and functionality of the original switches and buttons are replicated throughout to ensure authenticity at every level of the driving experience.
