Aston Martin to replace V8 with hybrid V6

Monday, 9 March 2020

First Kiwi track outing for Aston Martin's all-new Vantage.

Aston Martin CEO, Andy Palmer, has confirmed the manufacturer will eventually replace its AMG-sourced V8 with an electrified V6 of its own design, the same engine set to power the forthcoming mid-engined Valhalla supercar.

Talking to Car and Driver, Palmer said that 'Mercedes has made no secret of where their engine technology is moving to, and we don't foresee four-cylinder engines in our Astons. So we've got to make our own journey.'

While a V6 powerplant doesn't provide the exact same aural thrills as a bent-eight, Palmer is confident the new engine will retain the right characteristics for the brand.

Aston Martin is working on an in-house replacement for its AMG-sourced V8 engines, coming in the form of a hybrid V6.

The key, according to Palmer, is sound or 'tuning the pipes to make it sound like an Aston.' Palmer told Car and Driver that the company would use the hybrid system and the electric motor to fill in on torque and compensate for the lower cylinder count with the electrical assist.

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'As long as it feels like a V8 and sounds majestic, I think it's a perfectly sensible way to go, and a lot more sensible than an [inline] four would be for us.'

Development of the pure-electric Lagonda models has been paused to work on the new V6, which will be built in the United Kingdom rather than Cologne, along with the V12.

It's too early to discuss output but Palmer indicated we can expect at least the same power as the current 375kW/685Nm V8, which currently powers the Vantage, DB11 and upcoming DBX SUV.

In regards to the production move, Palmer said the UK government's aim to ban all internal combustion cars by 2035 won't necessarily impact other markets.

'If we were only selling to the United Kingdom it would be different, but we're selling to a worldwide market where there are a variety of views in terms of future technology and how it will be deployed.'

If a hybrid Aston doesn't sound up your alley, fear not because the company's monster 5.2-litre turbo twelve will stick around for the next while.

'I hope the V12 is around for a good while longer. You can see in the longer term it won't last, but certainly over the next few years we can continue to produce V12 engines and we can make them more CO2 friendly,' Palmer told Car and Driver.