Auto News 5

You know the Brembo brand, which peeks out from between the wheel spokes on the world's most potent automobiles, as a boutique maker of exemplary braking components. But while you weren't paying attention, Brembo grew from a 1961 Italian upstart into the world's largest independent manufacturer of cast iron brake rotors, aluminum calipers, and carbon-ceramic-material (CCM) discs. Brembo supplies braking equipment for cars, motorcycles, and commercial vehicles worldwide with 35 manufacturing and business operations in 14 countries on three continents. This $1-billion enterprise has over 5000 employees, more than 500 engineers and technical specialists, and its fingers in more than brake rotors, calipers, and friction materials. Brembo affiliates manufacture seat belts, child safety equipment, helmets, and motorcyclist air bag jackets. This firm also assembles corner modules -- consisting of suspension linkages, wheel hubs, brake components, and ABS sensors -- for Aston Martin, Ferrari, Maserati, and Porsche.

The Aston Martin Rapide will instantly draw comparisons to the Porsche Panamera Turbo sedan, but these two are as different as asparagus and ice cream. Even though the automakers tell us that the Panamera is only 44 pounds heavier, the Aston feels so much lighter. The Aston delivers excellent steering and sharp turn-in for a sense of compact agility that can lead you to quickly forget that there are two doors behind you. The V-12 experience lives up to its 470-hp output, but Aston's been a bit too conservative with the exhaust tuning. The six-speed automated manual in the Rapide also isn't as refined as the seven-speed dual-clutch in the Panamera, particularly when it comes to low-speed driving.

Over the past thirteen years, the silver spoilered brat pictured here has confidently watched its owner acquire - and then rid himself of - a hot red Nissan, two Mazdas, a VR6-powered Volkswagen, three Mercedes-Benzes, five BMWs, and a pair of Porsches. From its heated garage spot, it has snickered at Ferraris outside braving the rain and Aston Martins fighting the cold. And it laughs so hard it pees - Mobil 1, on the floor - every time some expensive, exotic new car sits out overnight, suffering the indignity of being molested by the neighborhood cat.