Aston Martin is poised to launch eight new front-engined sports cars over the next two years, starting with a replacement for the DB11.
That model, likely to be called Aston Martin DB12, will kick-start the new model blitz that’s been three years in the making, company chairman Lawrence Stroll today told the Financial Times’ Future of the Car summit.
“It feels like watching paint dry or grass grow, but after three years we’ve got our next generation of sports cars and will launch eight in the next 24 months,” he said. “We will bring in new technology, have performance from our F1 team integrated into the business, and continue the great luxury [of cars today].”
The new Aston sports car line-up will include replacements for today’s Aston Martin DB11, Aston Martin Vantage and Aston Martin DBS, the quoted number of eight models including variants of this trio.
Stroll hinted that the new range would include a new model “above GT” that stood alone in the market. “We’ve created a new sector above GT,” he said. “A true high level of luxury with a high level of performance. Something new.”
Stroll promised much improved technology in the cars but said Aston would “bring technology in a way our customer wants it to be delivered”, a reference to ensuring technology isn’t simply introduced for the sake of it.
Aston Martin also remains on track to launch its first electric car in 2025, and Stroll said more details would be given at its capital markets day on 27 June: “The software components have been decided, [and it will be done] mostly in-house. We’ve hired several hundred people and brought lots of competency in-house. It still has to be an Aston Martin experience with EV.”
The firm will continue to grow its mid-engined line-up beyond the Aston Martin Valkyrie, too, starting with the hybrid Valhalla. Stroll expects around 1200-1500 Valhallas (and variants thereof) to be made each year, and the model is being developed using expertise and wind tunnel resources at Aston's Silverstone-based F1 team. “There will be a mid-engined sports car legitimately using F1 technology,” said Stroll.
The software and manufacturing issues with the Valkyrie were now behind Aston, said Stroll, and more than 100 had been delivered. He didn’t rule out a future Aston Martin commanding the Valkyrie’s £3 million price in the future as part of the firm’s plan to continue to offer limited-run special models once or twice a year.
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