Aston Martin may have outsourced the development of its latest powertrains largely to Mercedes-AMG, and Cosworth for the Valkyrie, but it’s investing heavily in an electrified future – and it wants to develop that capacity in-house.
So to get it there, it’s picked up an experienced propulsion engineer from Ferrari and Maserati.
His name is Joerg Ross, and he’s Aston’s new chief powertrain engineer. The German native holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, and has more than 25 years’ experience in the industry working for companies like Ford and Scuderia Ferrari, most recently serving as Maserati’s head of advanced powertrain development.
“I’m delighted to be joining Aston Martin at what is an exciting time for the brand,” said Ross upon his appointment. “The company is at a significant point in its history, with the recent announcement of its first all-electric car the RapidE. I’m excited to play a part in developing Aston Martin’s future vehicle strategy.”
The RapidE is slated to become Aston’s first electric vehicle, packing nearly a thousand horsepower’s worth of batteries and electric motors into the company’s four-door model. It likely won’t be its last, however, as Gaydon pursues hybrid and full electric powertrains for its future models.
In his new capacity, Ross will be in charge of Aston Martin’s engines, transmissions, and electrification, reporting to the company’s chief technical officer Max Szwaj. Given Aston’s interest in joining Formula One and Ross’ experience in Maranello, we won’t be surprised to see him playing a key role there, too.
Photo Gallery
