Aston Martin’s Reborn Lagonda To Launch Company’s First Electric Model In 2021

Aston Martin will reportedly launch its first production electric model in 2021 under its reborn Lagonda brand, in the form of a Rolls Royce Phantom-rivaling luxury saloon.

The new electric Lagonda has been previewed by the Vision Concept, which was displayed at the Geneva Motor Show this year. Autocar reports that it was Aston Martin’s boss Andy Palmer who confirmed that Lagonda will lead the company’s electrification strategy and not the all-electric version of the upcoming DBX SUV.

Aston Martin plans to position Lagonda as a “futuristic alternative” to Rolls Royce and Bentley. Lagonda wants to be the first luxury brand to fully embrace new technologies and all-electric powertrains.

“We have the capability, but the plan right now is petrol and hybridization,” said Palmer. “The new platform has indeed been delivered with the capability to go pure electric, but that technology gets used first on the Lagonda.”

Lagonda plans to launch an SUV as well, after the saloon. Aston Martin will produce Lagonda models and the DBX at its new St. Athan factory in Wales.

Palmer also said that the DBX’s internal-combustion powertrains will be sourced from Daimler. This means that the first Aston Martin crossover will likely use AMG’s twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, as well as a more powerful hybrid powertrain.

Aston Martin’s CEO also said that the V12 engine in the DB11 and DBS Superleggera will gain some form of electrical assistance, to help extend their lifespan in the face of increasingly tougher emission rules.

“We see a path that enables us to conform with CAFE regulations [US fuel economy standards] with hybridization,” he said. “The idea was to prioritize keeping the V12, which we think is the beating heart of the company, and offset it with a pure electric version. But as that’s matured, you see this application of hybridization instead.”

“A purist might argue that it’s better naturally aspirated or not hybridised,” Palmer said. “But nevertheless, 12 cylinders is 12 cylinders.”

Lagonda Vision Concept pictured