Aston Martin offers an AMG-sourced twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine in a number of different models – including the DB11, DBX and Vantage – but it’s living on borrowed time.
In an interview with Car & Driver, Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer revealed the company is working on a new hybridized V6 which will replace the AMG-sourced V8.
While Aston Martin has been strapped for cash, Mercedes is planning to replace their mighty V8 with a hybridized four-cylinder engine. That’s a no-go for the British automaker as Palmer told the publication “Obviously, we don’t foresee four-cylinder engines in our Astons.”
Instead, the company is working on a new V6 which will reportedly displace 3.0-liters. The engine has been prioritized thanks to the freezing of the Lagonda relaunch and Palmer suggested the hybridized V6 will be just as good, if not better, than AMG’s V8.
The executive didn’t go into many specifics, but suggested the new powertrain will be at least as powerful as the twin-turbo V8. There’s no word on numbers at this point, but Palmer said “We can use the hybrid system and the electric motor to fill in on torque, so you can compensate for the cylinder size with the electrical assist.”
Besides talking about the upcoming V6, Palmer said the company remains committed to the V12. While he admitted the engine will likely die in the future, Palmer said that’s not happening anytime soon as they can continue to make it more environmentally friendly. Longer term, “It will be a sad day when we see the V12 engine disappear from an Aston.”
