Business news: British luxury carmaker Aston Martin has set up a service to provide companies with design, engineering and manufacturing consultation.

The firm, best known for its high-end sports cars like the Vanquish and Vantage models, announced the formation of Aston Martin Consulting today.

It is offering "expertise" in design and engineering to companies wishing to collaborate, building on projects like the new bus for London designed with architects Foster + Partners in 2008.

Aston Martin's more recent consultation collaborations include the AM37 powerboat created with Quintessence Yachts.

"We are often asked to collaborate on projects with other companies," said CEO Andy Palmer. "My belief is that we can expand the provision of our expertise and experience even further."

"The formation of Aston Martin Consulting means that we can offer a more structured approach to these projects," he added.

Aston Martin Consulting will operate from the company's headquarters and manufacturing facility at Gaydon in Warwickshire, England, where 1,800 employees work to produce the company's range of luxury sports cars.

The branch will be headed by managing director Bradley Yorke-Biggs, who has worked on Aston Martin's management team for 14 years.

"We are very excited to be able to extend the reach of the business to include the provision of services across different sectors; both automotive and beyond," he said.

"We have an incredibly talented and experienced team within Aston Martin and we look forward to expanding our horizons as we work with new clients on interesting new projects."

Aston Martin founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. The firm became associated with luxury grand touring cars in the 1950s and 1960s, and its vehicles are most famously used by fictional spy James Bond.

During last year's Geneva Motor Show, the brand released images of a Vantage GT3 special edition and a new Vulcan carbon-fibre racing car.

Image courtesy of Aston Martin.