According to the CEO of AM ,
“ Electric drive is part of our journey and our product plan for the future. We should achieve something by the middle of the decade – that’s the ballpark. That’s the period of time and I think it’s crucial”
The firm’s DBX SUV will kickstart this change as part of Aston’s ‘Project Horizon’ transformation business plan and will be launched “before 2024,” according to Moers, while the brand’s mid-engine
Valhalla supercar’s powertrain is under review.Last year, Aston Martin strengthened its relationship with Mercedesas the German brand upped its stake in the luxury British car maker to 20 per cent, giving Aston access to Mercedes’ electric car technology including next-generation electric motors and battery tech.
“We have re-established engineering in the company on adifferent level and we have a lot of possibilities in mind. We have to finally do that, we have to finally line it up, but we have a clear
ambition for 2030.”A reassessment of the mid-engined Valhalla supercar’s powertrain is also under discussion. It was originally revealed with a twin-turbo V6 petrol-electric powertrain designed and built in-house by Aston Martin. However, a Mercedes-sourced power unit could be possible.
“The PHEV DBX will be before 2024, but we have to run the adaptation of all the Mercedes’ technology transfers, and that needs time – but in 2023 we’re going to have that with us,” Moers said.
Moers commented, “Valhalla at the minute will get a redesign – probably it’s a bit of a different drivetrain than the company thought before, because with the transformational technology agreement with Mercedes there are other chances for us regarding the
combustion engine.
Moers believes that Aston “will still have pure-combustion engines for track toys,” which fits with the firm’s plans to expand its Valkyrie hypercar line-up with more model derivatives, including an even more focused AMR version.
“But we still have an electrified powertrain, we still have kind of a hybrid style, we still have really breathtaking technology. But we have to talk with our clients first and we have to show the new Valhalla, so to speak, to our customers. We’re going to do that over the course of the next three to four months”