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British marque Aston Martin has taken on a new persona lately, evidenced by its somewhat surprising vow to turn its efforts to both performance and efficiency. Efficiency? The latest news from the company incorporates both of those factors, says CEO Andy Palmer. Following the trend of many of its competitors, Aston will begin to shift towards hybrid technology in the next few years, and be completely hybrid by the mid-2020s.
The brand had already led on to this decision by announcing its hybrid Valkyrie hypercar as well as an all-electric Rapide four-door, both of which are said to be coming in the next two years. Whereas these will both be exclusive, low number runs, plans of a DBX crossover are also in the works, and it will offer hybrid and electric options on a larger scale. By switching to partial and full forms of electric power, Palmer believes the brand will be headed in a direction that not only keeps Aston relevant for years to come, but also on top of the ever-heightening technological ladder.
“We will be 100 percent hybrid by the middle of the 2020s,” Palmer told Financial Times in a recent interview.
Our first taste of Aston Martin’s hybrid offerings will be the Valkyrie, and its quickly shaping up to be the most exciting car from the brand in years. While not all of these electrified models will be as bonkers or ridiculous as the 1,000 horsepower supercar, it will be interesting to see how effective and efficient these new powertrains will be that push Aston into the next generation.
In other news, the mid-engine supercar that Palmer hinted to be coming in 2020 will reportedly feature a high power V6 engine, Financial Times tells. This will deviate from the automaker’s current lineup that exclusively offers V8 and V12 options. As a result, the six cylinder will be an all-new powerplant that sits midship, behind the driver.
Both of these releases show that Aston is looking to move with the times rather than staying, and possibly being left, behind. Palmer has shown intent to push forward after recent years of profitability, and this shift towards electrification seems to be a direct correlation.
