Aston Martin launched its new DB7 coupe in 1993, the result of development by Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) funded by Aston Martin owners Ford who also owned Jaguar at this time. TWR chose to include some Jaguar DNA in the DB7 as it already had experience with the Jaguar XJ-S, and both the chassis and the engine had cat heritage. In fact the DB7 began life as a Jaguar F-type project designed by Keith Helfet (Jaguar XJ220) and its platform was shared between the DB7 and tha Jaguar XK8. Ian Callum translated the rejected F-type into the DB7. Aston Martin developed a 3,239cc straight six cylinder dohc engine with Roots supercharger for the DB7, and production began at the end of 1994. The open top Volante version of the DB7 was announced in 1996, and in 1999 Geneva saw a new DB7 with twice the cylinders as the DB7 Vantage was given a 5,935cc V12 engine. From 2000 all DB7s were sold as DB7 Vantage cars with the V12 engine. In 2002 A DB7 Zagato coupe was launched, and production of 99 orders started in 2003. Also in 2003 Aston Martin announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show the Aston Martin DB AR1, but this was not simply a 'Volante' open top version of the Zagato coupe as it was not given any roof at all, not even a foldway top. DB7 production ended in 2004 with almost 7,000 sold, of which 4,444 were V12 DB7.