This version will pave the way for a plug-in hybrid variant – Aston’s first – in 2023, as Moers revealed during a call with investors following the release of the company’s 2020 results. “We are planning this in the DBX platform before 2024, but we have to embrace all Mercedes technology transfers,” he said. “That takes time. We’re implementing technology faster than anything I’ve done before in my life, but it still takes time. So by 2023 we will have the PHEV with us. “
The DBX will also provide the basis for Aston’s first battery-electric car, which Moers expects to go on sale by 2025. Most likely based on the second iteration of the DBX, the four-wheel-drive electric SUV will be built. at the company’s plant in St Athan, Wales, and is likely to use Mercedes’ new Modular Electrical Architecture (MEA) platform, as launched by the new luxury sedan EQS .
Expect it to have a 100kWh battery, be able to charge at speeds of up to 350kW and provide similar performance to the V8 car.
Sports cars should not be sidelined
While the DBX is crucial to Aston’s short-term stability, traditional front-engine sports cars and GTs are expected to account for 40% of the brand’s ultimate goal of 10,000 sales per year.
To that end, the company will look to boost the appeal of the aging Vantage, DB11, and DBS Superleggera models with particularly comprehensive mid-life updates in 2023.
The silhouette will remain familiar to everyone, but the heavily reworked styling, along with infotainment, chassis and powertrain improvements, will aim to ensure strong sales until Aston begins to phase out combustion. Moers suggested plug-in hybrid technology could be introduced at this point if Aston can find a way to incorporate an electrified transaxle. AMG’s new P3 PHEV system could provide a solution, especially for the entry-level Vantage and DB11, which already share a V8 with AMG’s top-end PHEV models.
Limited-edition promotions in the vein of the new Vantage F1 Edition and the DBS Superleggera Concorde Edition will continue to play a key role in maintaining sports car market share and enthusiasts’ appeal. The company’s 110th anniversary in 2023 is likely to provide an opportunity for special editions of all models in the range.
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-04-19 23:01:23