Aston Martin Found A Loophole To Keep The V12 Alive

Aston Martin's current range is vastly improved from what came before, and its next generation of cars will be even better, but the V12 engine will become scarce at the automaker. Auto Express reports that, to keep within the bounds of the law on both sides of the Atlantic, the 12-cylinder option will become increasingly rare, according to Aston Martin CEO Adrian Hallmark: "We've done some work to make the V12 compliant to European and U.S. [regulations]. If we keep our V12 sales under 1,000 per year, then we're exempt from legislation until 2035 at least."

Aston Martin Vanquish Can Live On

Aston Martin's only current V12-powered product is the Vanquish, and the British automaker already limits production to 1,000 units worldwide to maintain exclusivity. Aston Martin will likely want to introduce more exclusive models with the range-topping engine in the coming years, in the same vein as the Valiant and Valour, and this could mean that the Vanquish will become more exclusive to free up V12 allocations for special editions. What about electrification? Well, Aston Martin thinks adding a plug to combustion cars is simply not worthwhile.

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"We also looked at how much electrification is needed to remain compliant," said Hallmark, "and we don't need plug-in hybrids." EU legislators have been downgrading emission credits because driving data shows that PHEVs are usually driven using their gas engines only, making them less efficient despite the resources allocated towards making the overall powertrain cleaner. The complexity, weight gain, and cost of producing PHEVs are simply wasted by most drivers. "We're not delusional, we're pragmatic," said the CEO.

Aston Martin Is Creating One Platform For All Its Cars

Hallmark says that Aston Martin's new clean-sheet range will put sports cars, supercars, and SUVs on a single new platform, and he says they'll be "revolutionary." Engineers at the automaker are dissecting every possible area to find ways of improving the overall experience, addressing everything "from air-conditioning to steering to braking." Aston Martins will have greater torsional rigidity with a minimal weight penalty, and developments like rear-wheel steering will help mask any added mass, sharpening the handling experience. Along with smarter production processes, next-gen Astons will be less costly to produce and more efficient. With the V12 staying at Gaydon, it looks like Aston is about to give well-heeled buyers more choice and better vehicles without compromising on quality. We'll just have to wait and see if this works out, because Aston Martin has repeatedly promised to become a better company but still finds itself in challenging situations.

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