Aston Martin is determined to keep building its glorious V12 engines for as long as it can.
While speaking with Top Gear at the Shanghai Auto Show, where the all-electric Rapide E was launched, executive vice president and chief executive officer of Aston Martin Lagonda, Marek Reichman, said that the V12 is “one of the hearts” of the brand.
“It gets harder and harder to meet emissions, obviously, but I think we have the capability to keep V12 engines going within the business. We’ve just got to be very aware of the compliance and the emissions rules that will come out in the future,” Reichman said. “Part of the trick of being an engineer is understanding the potential legislation that will come your way.”
The current DB11 and DBS Superleggera are both powered by 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged V12s and offer superb performance. The Aston Martin family will soon get another V12-powered model in its range, the Valkyrie hypercar, which will be powered by a naturally-aspirated, 6.5-liter 12-cylinder from Cosworth with 1,000 hp, while a further 160 hp will be provided by an electric motor.
The new RB 003 and Vanquish presented at the Geneva Motor Show will slot below the Valkyrie but feature powerful twin-turbo V6s. Aston is very confident in the performance of this new powertrain, but when asked if the new Vanquish could get a V12 variant, Reichman replied “Couldn’t possibly say…” with a grin on his face.
Aston Martin isn’t the only car manufacturer committed to V12s. Lamborghini has confirmed that it shall keep building V12 engines for its future models, which will feature some form of electrification to ensure they meet emissions and fuel economy regulations.
