Aston Martin to match Mercedes V8 engines with new sports-car platform

By Stephen Edelstein Published April 29, 2014

Aston Martin announced today the largest investment in company history, which comes in the wake of a very successful 2013.

The British automaker will implement its biggest investment program ever over the next few years to develop a new platform that will replace the current VH architecture, Aston CFO Hanno Kirner said in a statement.

The company is simultaneously partnering with Daimler on electrical components and new V8 engines from the German company’s AMG division.

The new platform while likely underpin all of Aston’s future sports cars, while the AMG V8 engines will be used in the next-generation Vantage only.

That means buyers can expect the newest Aston models in years.

Aston has gotten by for some time by continually updating its VH platform and V8 and V12 engines. While today’s Vanquish and the other Astons still look pretty attractive, the company will have to replace them with new designs at some point to remain competitive.

The overhaul will be made possible in part by market gains made in 2013. Aston sales increased 11 percent to around 4,200 last year, will revenue was up 13 percent to around 519 million pounds (about $873 million at current exchange rates).

Any new models that result from the investment program or the collaboration with Daimler probably won’t arrive for some time.

For now, Aston will start 2014 with the DB9 Carbon special edition and the sporty V8 Vantage GT, which the company hopes will attract new buyers with its sub-$100,000 ($99,900, to be exact) base price.

Stephen Edelstein

Former Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

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