We’re already familiar with the idea of Aston Martin looking to revive the historically significant Lagonda brand. We also know that the concept bearing the same name was, in fact, underpinned by a Mercedes-Benz GL platform – a bad idea, if you ask me, but not really bothersome.
Now, Autocar is suggesting that the connection between the Aston and AMG (and Mercedes-Benz) is actually deeper than first anticipated. The UK publication is stating that there is a big chance for the speculated upcoming Lagonda (or Aston) SUV to be underpinned by a platform brought in from Germany.
The information seems credible, as the words of none other than Ulrich Bez, the Aston Martin CEO, are quoted. He sates (regarding the two manufacturers’ partnership) that there still is “lots of potential to be discovered,” but they need to see “how far it goes.” The SUV direction seems to be pretty clear though, as Bez alludes to the Porsche Cayenne as a positive example of a good business model – it’s a Porsche, based on a VW Touareg that is highly-successful.
It is suggested that the new Aston SUV could be launched in 2017, and be underpinned by the platform of the next-gen ML. Moreover, if they want to stand a chance of making it a world-wide success story, its (AMG-derived) engine needs to be both powerful enough and efficient enough to not be offensive. For instance, in China, taxes for engines over four liters go through the roof.
Interestingly, despite having access to AMG engine tech, Bez concluded that there is still life in its current six-liter V12 engine “for another ten years at least.” However, they will probably keep using it only in the really special models, and use the Mercedes-derived units on the more mundane cars.
By Andrei Nedelea
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