Plans for a new British sports car to challenge the successful Porsche Boxster model are expected to get the green light this autumn. Executives at Aston Martin are confident of winning approval for the challenge by September.

Outline approval has been given to plans to build the new sportster at Gaydon in Warwickshire. Powered by a 6.0-litre V12 engine developing 460bhp, the dramatically-styled coupe will cost £158,000 when it goes on sale this summer.