The new new V8-powered Aston Martin DBX 707 SUV just edges the V12-engined DBS grand tourer on outright acceleration, but boss Tobias Moers has no immediate plans to phase out the company’s own 12-cylinder motor.
Asked if the DBX 707’s V8 – a modified version of Mercedes-AMG’s most potent engine – could replace the V12 in the Aston Martin DBS and the top-rung Aston Martin DB11, Moers said: “No, we won’t do that. The V12 still has a bit of potential, and having the V12 Vantage shows there’s still room for a V12 in our sports car generation.”
The new V12 Vantage is expected to use a similar powertrain configuration to the V12 Speedster, which makes 690bhp and 555lb ft. It has already been confirmed as a swansong for the V12 Vantage name, but Moers’s latest remarks suggest the engine will maintain a role in Aston Martin’s sports car programme.
“The V12 Vantage gives an impression of where we move with the brand,” Moers said. “It’s the highest-performance sports car Aston ever did. It gives an idea what we’re going to do with sports car manufacture.”
He revealed that the end of the lifecycle for the V12s will be 2026-2027. “If you still have customers chasing it, it’s small numbers,” he added. “We’re not talking about mass production.”
That suggests the V12 could become a highly bespoke offering or be used only in ultra-exclusive special editions.
It almost certainly won’t be used in a potent version of the DBX, with Moers listing driving dynamics and weight distribution as factors that would be adversely affected.
Aston Martin currently uses AMG’s V8 and straight-six engines across its line-up, but the turbo four-cylinder destined for deployment in the next-gen C63 and E63 would be “a step too far,” according to Moers. “It might be my brainchild, but it doesn’t fit with Aston as a brand."
Join the debate
Add your comment
Make 6,000 dollar to 8,000 dollar A Month Online With No Prior Experience Or Skills Required. Be Your Own Boss And Choose Your Own Work Hours...Thanks A lot Here:_______Moneystar1.com
Mercedes man Tobias Moers is going down the AMG route of adding more and more power to cars which can't handle that power and expecting people to swoon over them. And doesn't care how ugly they are.
Aston customers tend to be looking for a beautiful and luxurious car. They'll be shopping at Bentley from now on.
If you want a sports car you knock on the door of Ferrari or McLaren. You want luxury it's Bentley, or maybe even Rolls. Aston's niche was somewhere in the middle. Sporty enough when you commanded power, but luxurious enough you could do that long journey. Or use it as an every day driver. Now increasingly that nice is being filled by Porsche, which isn't as bespoke as Aston, but as someone who has a general dislike for Porsche I'd have one over the Aston.
But to be honest, the Ferrari Roma is an Aston Martin that Aston don't build. I'd have that over the Vantage any day of the week.
If you're questioning my comment, which is your right, also have a look at the Aston share price. It continues to circle the drain. The markets aren't buying in to Moers's plans either.
My big problem with Aston Martin right now is that they don't focus on the basic things like:
I agree with you on the whole in the middle luxury/performance car thing. However, i wouldn't judge Moers so soon, give him more time so he has a chance to show us what he can do. The stock is down a lot also due to the huge amount of bad debt the company has. I still cannot belive that bond deal where you pay over 10% interest and if you want to change anything you need to pay a penalty fee. To be fair to Aston Martin Stroll has said he is going to try and get a better deal on those bonds but unless he has some progress to back it up with then i don't think much will change. I really do hope Aston can make it because it is one of the last few companies that are not fully owned by German or other companies.
Unless you haven't read recently, Aston will be extensively revising the Vantage and DB11 extensively next year to address all these issues effectively rendering them almost as new cars.
That's what Stroll has said for 2023 in the last week.
It should have been the No.1 priority of a new designer replacing Reichman. He might do something really great this time, but his track record isn't good. I wouldn't bet on him making Aston beautiful again after so much harm he's done to the brand.
Stroll and Moers had one job to do to save Aston: Sack Reichman. Then they needed to fix the core products, Vantage and DB11/s with his replacement.
I agree with much of this. However, I don't agree that if you want a sports car you don't look at Aston. I did. Aston has made wonderful sports/GT cars for a very long time, many of which have been genuinely superb drivers' cars. I agree, though, that their niche is more GT/luxury than Porsche, and (much) more sports car than Bentley.
Moers needs to go. Not only because he's Mr. AMG and he thinks he can make an Aston out of a Mercedes (that's not possible). He must go because is on record stating that he'd rather spend development money on bespoke infotainment systems than on bespoke engines or platforms. Because the infotainment system will be the "key differentiator" among brands going forward. Anyone who believes that the radio/nav/etc is more important than the engine or chassis structure of a car, let alone this kind of car, must not be its CEO.
Agreed, the Vantage was more sporting than the DB9. I used sweeping generalisations for brevity.
Also agreed that Moers needs to go, and with him Reichman. Moers is determined to make Aston a sub-brand of Mercedes by increasing the amount of AMG branded components find their way in to an Aston. Stroll wants Aston to be the "British Ferrari", but Ferrari wouldn't use a Fiat engine in their cars!
Infotainment isn't the reason why people buy Aston, Ferrari, Lambo, or McLaren. If it were we'd all be driving BMWs as I think their's is the best.
Exactly!