It looks like an Aston Martin but by golly-gosh it isn’t an Aston Martin. No it isn’t a clone manufactured in China and called the ‘Super Experience Driving Machine Car’ it’s the updated 2017 spec Ford Marstang. It’s been given a mid-life refresh which means a series of minor exterior design details such as re-designed headlights, front bumper, a re-sculptured bonnet and C-shaped rear light clusters. The front bumper also receives a new styling treatment, but the real news is that the V6 is gone, no more… it’s history… finished. Thankfully the services of the 5.0-litre V8 has been retained and a new 10-speed dual-clutch automatic replaces the previous six speed auto. Sadly Ford didn’t see fit to get rid of the 2.3-litre eco-boost engine, choosing a Marstang with a 2.3-litre Ecoboost engine is a little like parachuting out of a plane with either feather dusters or a shopping bag. Ford have also uprated the front and rear suspension so that from now on drivers actually have a bit of suspense from behind the wheel. But our biggest problem with the Marstang is why the motoring journalist community isn’t calling out Ford for blatantly copying from the Aston Martin styling book of blueprints. Clearly the resemblance between the DB9 and the Marstang is so similar that it defies belief that Ford haven’t been sued. If a Chinese or Japanese company had made a similarly designed car then the Anglo-Saxon motoring press would have been up in jingoistic arms, outraged at Johnny foreigner. Yet most of the review copy you read has nothing but positive things to say about the Marstang. It’s as if the motoring press has barricaded itself with collective enforced denial. Another reason why is this, consider Ford to be a corporate version of Donald Trump. Belligerent, can’t take the smallest of slights to it’s character. Will blacklist journalists who blink at the wrong moment. Only then do you begin to understand why the entire motoring press seems to be in collective denial about even daring to mention that Ford copied the DB9 design. Of course they made minor changes, the Marstang isn’t an exact copy of the DB9, but it’s as damn near as you can legally get. Motoring hacks don’t want to upset Ford, there are some real sycophants who will sell there own kidneys so as not to upset Ford, just so they can get behind the wheel of their crappy cars. The major publishers won’t say anything because they know reviewing such cars generates readership interest, ad revenue and click-throughs through all media channels. Aston Martin can’t sue Ford because Ford still owns a 5 percent stake in the company it sold back in 2007 and it would be awkward both personally and from a business perspective. In conclusion… God damn Ford…