Word Is Going Around that Aston Martin May Use Mercedes AMG Platform for SUV
We’re already familiar with the idea of Aston Martin looking to revive the historically significant Lagonda brand. We also know that the concept bearing the same name was, in fact, underpinned by a Mercedes-Benz GL platform – a bad idea, if you ask me, but not really bothersome.
Now, Autocar is suggesting that the connection between the Aston and AMG (and Mercedes-Benz) is actually deeper than first anticipated. The UK publication is stating that there is a big chance for the speculated upcoming Lagonda (or Aston) SUV to be underpinned by a platform brought in from Germany.
The information seems credible, as the words of none other than Ulrich Bez, the Aston Martin CEO, are quoted. He sates (regarding the two manufacturers’ partnership) that there still is “lots of potential to be discovered,” but they need to see “how far it goes.” The SUV direction seems to be pretty clear though, as Bez alludes to the Porsche Cayenne as a positive example of a good business model – it’s a Porsche, based on a VW Touareg that is highly-successful.
It is suggested that the new Aston SUV could be launched in 2017, and be underpinned by the platform of the next-gen ML. Moreover, if they want to stand a chance of making it a world-wide success story, its (AMG-derived) engine needs to be both powerful enough and efficient enough to not be offensive. For instance, in China, taxes for engines over four liters go through the roof.
Interestingly, despite having access to AMG engine tech, Bez concluded that there is still life in its current six-liter V12 engine “for another ten years at least.” However, they will probably keep using it only in the really special models, and use the Mercedes-derived units on the more mundane cars.
By Andrei Nedelea
Aston Boss Says Cygnet Discontinued Because Toyota iQ will be Axed in 2014
Earlier this month, we reported that Aston Martin has discontinued the Cygnet due to poor sales. However, it turns out there was more to it than that. Aston Martin CEO Ulrich Bez said Toyota is going to axe the iQ next year, so Aston Martin had no choice but to stop production of the Cygnet as well. The Cygnet is basically a rebadged and more luxurious version of the Toyota iQ.
“We stopped the Cygnet as Toyota itself will stop the iQ in 2014 and we don’t want to invest anymore,” Ulrich Bez was quoted as saying by Autocar. The executive said he had big plans with the Cygnet, but they never came to fruition because of various reasons.
“I wanted to bring it to the US, but there was no support for it. I wanted a supercharged engine, but there was also no support,” he said. Bez placed a part of the blame on Toyota for the lack of success of the Cygnet.
“We had a great start with Akio Toyoda, whom I still have a great relationship with. But Toyota didn’t follow up the support like it does with Tesla and its marketing of other products,” Bez revealed.
He added that Aston Martin did a good thing with the Cygnet after all and that it’s a great car, particularly in London. “It will be a cult car in the future and will be well looked after,” Bez said.
In response to the executive’s statements, Toyota said it has no plans to end iQ production and declined to comment any further.
By Dan Mihalascu
Brand New Aston Martin One-77 Can Be Yours for $2.04 Million / €1.48 Million
Although many limited edition supercars are reported sold out even before the start of deliveries, there is still hope for those who have enough money to splash on a very expensive and rare machine.
With the 499 units of the Ferrari LaFerrari already sold out and the McLaren P1 and Porsche 918 Spyder on track to be out of stock too, the only hope for someone willing to spend an obscene amount of money on a rare supercar is to check out the classifieds.
How about an Aston Martin One-77 with 0 kilometers or miles on the odometer? This rare British beast (only 77 were built) exists and awaits its future owner in a Dubai luxury car dealership. Painted Pearl White and with a matching interior and blue dashboard, the left-hand drive One-77 was built in 2012 and is available for 7,500,000 AED ($2.04 million/€1.48 million).
That’s around half a million dollars more than the car’s original price when it rolled off the Aston Martin assembly line. Still, the One-77 looks mesmerizing and is from a traditional breed of supercars for which the words downsizing, turbocharging or electrification has no meaning whatsoever.
The most powerful and exclusive model from Gaydon is powered by a naturally aspirated 7.3-liter V12 engine developing 750 hp (760PS) and 750Nm (553.2 lb-ft) of torque. The One-77 sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in under 3.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of over 354 km/h (220 mph).
By Dan Mihalascu
Man Explains Why he Bought and Loves his Aston Martin Rapide
The day cars will no longer be a source of joy for their passionate owners will be the day on which we will know that the world is nearing the end… It’s not the most encouraging of prospects, and while there is a sense that the day is drawing ever closer given the direction the industry is going in, it’s not here yet; if cool cars continue to be made, we will be able to keep it at bay, and save the world.
We had a look at this owner spotlight video by AutoTrader UK that focuses on Cliff Graham, from Southport in the UK, and his prized silver four-door Aston Martin Rapide. He is so invested in his words that his presentation of why he bought his car, how he uses it and why he loves it makes perfect sense, even if the Rapide wouldn’t necessarily be everybody’s first choice in its price bracket.
After all, aside from looking and sounding pretty cool, it’s flawed in so many ways as a practical, usable car that it can’t be recommended based on logic alone. But then again, if logic and reason were the reasons behind why people bought Astons in the first place, the company would have gone out of business long ago, because they are lagging behind the pack from a technical and technological standpoint – good thing AMG came along to sort one of their problems…
Where they win points back is through the sentiments that they stir up inside their owners, a phenomenon best described by the video discussed here. Check it out after the virtual jump.
By Andrei Nedelea
Aston Martin Boss Disses Hybrid Supercars, Says the Key to Lower Emissions is to…Drive Slower
Even though the trio of hypercars from Ferrari, McLaren and Porsche all use hybrid powertrains, Aston Martin will remain faithful to V12 engines for the foreseeable future and resist hybrids for as long as possible.
Aston Martin CEO Ulrich Bez doesn’t have good things to say about the Porsche 918 Spyder, Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1. According to the executive, the additional weight of the batteries spoils the purity of extreme machines and the benefits of hybrids are not what customers of such cars want.
“We will not have a hybrid in next year or the year after. Hybridisation has two aspects; like in F1 to pass someone, which is irrelevant on the road, and the other is to be more fuel-efficient. But it is very simple; if you drive a little slower you will be much better off,” said Bez, according to Australian outlet, Drive.
He added that Aston Martin will look at other ways to improve the economy of petrol engines, including downsizing the capacity, optimizing aerodynamics and reducing weight.
“I am a purist and I think a sports car should have as low weight as possible. It should be in as minimalistic as it can be and this does not work with hybridisation,” he said. “I don’t think it is necessary to give me a power shot on the road. I don’t think I need something that gives me 100hp more. I do not know why I need an extra 100kg just to get those things. I think a pure sports car does not need this,” Bez said.
These are some pretty straightforward opinions from Aston Martin’s CEO, and I tend to agree with him. What do you think, is hybridisation absolutely necessary for supercars?
By Dan Mihalascu
