Aston Martin mulls overseas plant

Aston Martin was voted the UK's coolest brand

Aston Martin is considering building a car outside the UK for the first time in its 93-year history.

The firm, which has its headquarters in Warwickshire, said it was conducting a feasibility study into making its new four-door saloon - the Rapide - abroad.

Reports suggest that this study is well advanced, with the model due to be launched in 2009.

In March this year, Ford sold Aston Martin to a UK consortium for £479m and it has enjoyed continued success.

A spokesman for transport workers union Unite said that they had called for a meeting with Aston Martin bosses "as a matter of urgency".

"Until we meet with them, which they are willing to do, it would be unfair to comment further," the spokesman said.

Aston Martin is based at Gaydon in Warwickshire. It employs around 1,700 people at two sites, one in Gaydon, the other at Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire.

The marque, which makes the V8 Vantage, the DB9 and DBS models in the UK, is strongly associated with the fictional spy James Bond.

A string of 007s have driven Aston Martins in the Bond films, and this year a survey found it to be the coolest brand in the UK.