Aston Martin Hybrids Are on the Way
Aston Martin is pushing to expand its lineup, which the company’s CEO says will include new electrified vehicles.
Speaking to Autocar at the Nurburgring 24 Hours race, Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer shared that he believes Aston Martin can expand its range to at least six or seven models in the coming years. “I see in our future obviously V12s, V8s and probably battery-electric cars,” said Palmer.
Recently, the company confirmed that the DBX crossover will be produced sometime after the arrival of the new DB11, which will replace the current DB9 sports car. While Palmer promises that V8 and V12 engines will remain for sports cars, he admits that Aston Martin hybrids are inevitable “simply because, car by car, you can only downsize so much. I’d rather put a hybrid in there than an in-line four cylinder.”
SEE ALSO: Aston Martin DBX Crossover Production Confirmed
Although Aston Martin doesn’t have any immediate plans for a hybrid, Palmer acknowledged that building just 7,000 vehicles a year isn’t a sustainable business model, which means expanding the lineup is a must for the brand. “Imagine something like a 4×4, 1000bhp silent Rapide. I think ‘Power, Beauty, Soul’ doesn’t say it has to be a gasoline engine. It just needs to be really powerful, really beautiful and set your heart on fire,” he said.
Palmer is working to set Aston on a winning path and one that won’t end in bankruptcy, a place the company has been seven times before. “The DBX and Lagonda are part of that solution, but we can’t afford the multi-billion-dollar bill to engineer to engineer all of the active safety-connected car and autonomous car regulatory things that are coming along,” he said. “However, having that strategic relationship and the 5% ownership with Daimler gives us access to that technology. It works for Daimler and it works for us.”
[Source: Autocar]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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Aston Martin can always score a hybrid powertrain from Daimler. *they will still be selling cars in California penalty free; unlike Mazda, Mitsubishi, Vulva, Jaguar, and Subaru.