Aston Martin's mystery damage

James Bond has driven Aston Martin sports cars off cliffs.

Here in New Zealand, the damage done to one of the $250,000 luxury cars was not so explosive - but perhaps more intriguing.

Mystery surrounds how the car, owned by an Auckland dealership, came back damaged after being lent to international motor-racing star Chris van der Drift while he was home in New Zealand.

Van der Drift was lent the car to drive to Taupo for the A1GP in January. When the car was returned, the rear suspension was damaged.

Lee Small, manager of Independent Prestige in Auckland, said the car was on loan to van der Drift as the firm sponsors the A1GP.

The car's damaged suspension was discovered after the car was driven back to Auckland by one of his staff.

It was not clear whether the car was damaged on the way down to Taupo when it was being driven by van der Drift, or on the way back to Auckland.

"We don't know what happened; it essentially hit a pothole," Small said.

Small said the company was not holding van der Drift responsible for the damage.

Small said the car's suspension was "pushed up" but the incident had "absolutely nothing to do with driving ability."