Aston Martin is developing its own straight-six powerplant - possibly with hybrid tech - to eventually replace the Mercedes-AMG-sourced V8, according to a source close to the firm.
It is believed that work is already under way on the powertrain, which will be crucial to helping Aston meet tougher future emissions legislation. The most likely first recipient of the powertrain would be the soon-to-be-launched DBX crossover.
Aston Martin signed a technical partnership deal with Mercedes-AMG back in 2013. The deal allowed the British brand access to the AMG's 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, which today can be found in the DB11 and Vantage coupes.
However, Autocar understands that the engine-sharing part of the deal was only ever meant to be temporary while Aston engineers work on a straight-six, which could be derived from Aston's current 5.2-litre V12.
Technical details of the engine are still firmly under wraps, but it looks likely to utilise hybrid technology developed through the brand's Rapide E programme. While a it might not be a full plug-in hybrid - Aston said last year the overall experience "isn't premium enough" for its customers yet - it should still combine the performance expected of an Aston with efficiency unheard of for the brand.
Aston will make use of the Mercedes-AMG deal for another few years yet, launching its hotly-anticipated DBX next year. That car will feature turbocharged V8 and V12 power initially, with a long talked about hybrid variant due early in the next decade.
Read more:
Aston Martin DBX shown in near-production form before 2019 release
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If using someone else's (AMG
If using someone else's (AMG's) off-the-shelf V8 is temporary until they reintroduce their own Aston Martin engine, then I'm all for this! A straight-6 is a wonderful engine, and powered many of the greatest-ever Astons. I don't have much interest in the hybrid thing personally, but an Aston Martin should NOT use someone else's bought-in engine, nor should they share an engine with another company. McLaren doesn't have the very long history of building engines that Aston does, but McLaren doesn't share its engine with anyone else -- it's unique to McLaren. For me, the AMG engine is an absolute deal breaker (how good an engine it is doesn't matter). If this is true, it's very encouraging. Wopuld a Ferrari be a Ferrari with someone else's engine. No! Same for Aston Martin.
Hmmm...
I half suspect that's actually what is happening...
After all, the new M-B engine is already available as either a 48v mild hybrid or with even greater battery electric boost, and is getting excellent reviews...
Aston Martin going it alone to duplicate suchan engine would be an enormous waste of scarce resources for such a small company. Even Maserati and Maclaren don't develop their engines entirely in-house...
However, if going it alone is in fact what they intend to do then, yes, I agree: the straight six should be available for poor JLR who once were talking of Ingenium straight sixes, but have gone awfully quiet on that front in the past 6 months or so...
Other customers
AM could spread its development costs by selling this new straight-6 to Jaguar. God knows, the latter seem incapable of developing a 'best-in-class' internal combustion engine these days....