If Aston Martin honcho, Andy Palmer, is right on the money, the future lineup of one Britain’s most iconic sports car brand will likely be made up of several hybrids and/or electric vehicles (EVs). Speaking to Autocar UK at the Nurburgring 24-Hour endurance race, Palmer has been quoted as saying that he “sees in our (Aston Martin) future obviously V12s, V8s and probably battery-electric cars.”
“As time evolves, there’s probably an inevitability to hybridisation, 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,” added Palmer. While Palmer has denied the existence of a hybrid model to feature in the near future, it should be known that the Aston Martin DBX crossover has been confirmed for production.
Said crossover was presented in concept form at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show as an all-electric, all-wheel drive alternative to the marque’s usual two-doored GT models. While figures remain unknown, the setup is said to consist of electric, inboard-of-wheel powered by lithium sulphur cells.
Aside from the DBX crossover, Palmer may have hinted at an electrically-augmented Rapide to sit alongside the regular variant. “Imagine something like a 4×4, 1000 bhp silent Rapide. I think ‘Power, Beauty, Soul’ doesn’t say it has to be a gasoline engine,” he told the publication.
Palmer was also quick to point out that hybridisation will, in one way or another, allow Aston Martin to market its products to a more environmentally-conscious group of buyers. Currently, the marque produces roughly 7,000 units annually – a figure Palmer says is no longer sustainable. “It doesn’t work as a business model. It hasn’t worked for Aston Martin, as we have been bankrupt seven times,” reinforced Palmer.
Aside from going down the electrification route, future Aston Martin models are also expected to feature more advanced safety and connectivity features. The marque will draw upon its partnership with Daimler, in this case. “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,” Palmer concluded.
GALLERY: Aston Martin DBX Concept
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