Aston Martin will continue to make cars powered solely by an internal combustion engine beyond 2030.
Aston chairman Lawrence Stroll, speaking at the Financial Times Future of the Car Summit, said there were “always going to be enthusiasts” who would want cars powered solely by internal combustion engines (ICE), and Aston would cater for them.
“By 2030, 5% of business will still always be ICE,” he said. “I never see it going down to zero.” When asked if that would still be the case further in the future, from 2050/60, Stroll said: “That is beyond the horizon I’m looking at.”
However, the UK government will ban the sale of such cars from 2030, meaning at present that these Astons would not be able to be sold in their home market, at least for road driving.
As for its future engine strategy, Aston will be getting bespoke engines from Mercedes-AMG, rather than the current off-the-shelf 4.0-litre V8 units, as part of a wider tie-up between the two brands.
“Our current AMG engines are just that - AMG engines in an Aston,” said Stroll. “With this new deal, we will have bespoke AMG engines for Aston with different outputs, torque characteristics etc. They’ll still be AMG components but bespoke manufactured in Germany.”
Aston currently uses its own V12 engines made in the UK and has its own turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 - codenamed TM01 - in the works. Announced earlier this year, it will be used in the firm's still-planned mid-engined Vanquish supercar.
However, it’s unclear how these two engines fit into the wider AMG deal, particularly around the plug-in hybrid technology that Aston will be getting from its German shareholder as part of the technical tie-up. As such, their long-term futures are unknown.
Aston will also be getting its electric car drive systems from AMG as part of the deal. Stroll said the first electric cars will arrive no later than 2026 and will carry the Aston badge rather than the Lagonda name that had been planned by the previous management.
“It should be Aston so we changed it back to Aston,” he said. “When we go electric, brand will become critical,” he added, in reference to the fewer differentiators between electric cars in drive and performance compared to internal-combustion-engined ones. “Brand is key,” said Stroll on electric cars. “Aston is known historically for making the most beautiful cars.”
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I don't understand the article. It seems to be directed at the gullable Donald Trump type supporter who'll believe anything they're told without question.
The gov intend to ban ICE car sales from 2030 but then Aston Martin say they'll still produce those engines. So how do they intend to sell ICE cars in UK and Europe? The article doesn't even begin to address that.
Will it be profitable to sell cars elsewhere in the world that haven't banned ICE? Will you be able to buy and Aston Martin in say Russia or China and then import it back to blighty? Seems such an obvious loophole I very much doubt you'd be able to import any car that's been built after 2030 with an ICE engine. So how do Aston Martin intend to sell ICE cars after 2030?
Do I believe there will be an ICE ban on new cars by 2030 in the UK? No
But if there is a ban, do I believe Aston Martin will continue to build cars with ICE? No.
What I took from that, commercially speaking, is that they might type approve and build the ICE cars elsewhere. Taking Stroll at his own words, however, it wouldn't be that many cars anyway. Only about 300 based on current production numbers but even if they were into the 10,000 cars per year level I suspect what he has in mind would be the very niche track day specials that, sold in "ICE prohibited" markets would live in collections and move on transporters for use off the public road.
I took his statement to mean that, while the sale of new ICE vehicles might be ban in Europe, other markets around the world may still be open to them. Remember, the individual making that statement is Canada and such a ban make not come there as quickly (if at all). Also, there still will be racing of ICE vehicles, which his son is apart of, so Aston will still be developing ICE to support that effort. So from the things that Aston proved, in lieu of his investment, the ban in 2030 may not directly impact his interests.
My other concern was the back handed statement he made about Aston's BEV efforts. So, is the Lagonda BEV's dead? Is the tech they had been working on and the amazing concepts from the 'previous management', tossed in the trash? They implied that they will be using AMG's BEV tech, but will they be restyling their earlier concepts to hue closer to current Aston designs, or will they be starting from scratch? If they are starting over, it would definitely be a shame, for the exterior designs of those Lagonda concepts were incredible and it would be sad it they were not put into production.
Only a boring twit would buy an EV. They are expensive impractical and more polluting than an ICE powered car.Like the Brexit debate people are being told lies to make them buy them. The batteries need harmful cobalt and or lithium for their production, this results in new mines being opened up to extract these poisonous ,flammable and toxic materials. Has any thought been given to the recycling of these awful batteries? The diesel engine is the future now that a method has been found by a team from Loughborough university to make it 98% clean.All that comes out of the exhaust after this process is nitrogen and water.
Only a boorish buffoon would repeat this nonsense when it's been conclusively debunked.
So, it's Sunday, homework is done and you're allowed to use the family computer?
You know, Being a cretin is no way to go through life- particularly a lying cretin. Do some research you twerp particularly about how gasoline is produced from crude oil.
Translated: Aston like all of us know 2030 is utter bollocks, won't happen, can't happen, will get pushed way back when it gets nearer the time and reality sinks in, so they are going to carry on business as usual.
Agreed 2030 like so many of BoZo Johnsons spoutings is utter drivel. We should all refuse to but these disgusting EVs