Aston Martin boss hints at future six-cylinder model
Andy Palmer says that Aston Martin’s relationship with Mercedes-AMG could provide access to V6 power plant
Aston Martin could return to using six-cylinder engines in its future models, the British manufacturer has suggested.
It follows the sports car manufacturer signing a deal with Daimler AG in 2013 – the parent company of Mercedes-Benz – that saw the German company acquire a five per cent stake in Aston Martin.
As a part of this relationship, Aston Martin has access to Mercedes-AMG engines – such as the 4.0-litre biturbo V8 used in the latest DB11 grand tourer.
However, that V8 engine isn’t the only power plant that AMG produces. It also makes a 3.0-litre V6, which is used in vehicles such as the C 43 and E 43 saloons.
When asked whether this six-cylinder engine could make its way into a future Aston Martin product, company CEO and president Andy Palmer said: “We have a very rewarding relationship with Daimler Group. It gives us access to the electrical technology we use in our cars, the electrical architecture technology, and of course with AMG, we have access to the V8 engine.
“Daimler has a five per cent share in Aston Martin, and that allows us access to certain technologies. Whether that gives us access to a V6 engine or an inline-six engine in the future is a matter of discussion and it depends on our line-up.
“It certainly doesn’t preclude that, but for now the relationship is all around fantastic electrical architecture and the fantastic V8.”
Although Palmer stopped short of confirming outright that Aston Martin would make use of a six-cylinder AMG engine in future, the company does have form with six-cylinder power plants.
Classic models such as the DB4 and DB5 both made use of inline-six engines, while the original DB7 also boasted a supercharged inline-six.
With a new Vantage due to be unveiled at the end of this year, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to speculate that the smallest Aston Martin could at some point be available with AMG’s V6 engine.
