Aston developing all-new architecture

Aston Martin has revealed it is developing a completely new chassis architecture to underpin its next-generation sports cars, which will also benefit from Daimler-sourced electronics and V8 engines.

Chief financial officer Hanno Kirner confirmed the development of a replacement for its decade-old VH platform, as part of the British car-maker’s biggest ever investment program.

The news came as part of yesterday’s announcement that Aston Martin’s global sales increased by 11 per cent to about 4200 vehicles in 2013, when the brand celebrated its centenary. As a result, full-year revenue increased by 13 per cent to £519 million ($A944m), while gross profit rose by 22 per cent to £84.8 million ($A154m).

However, with an after-tax operating profit of just £1.5 million ($A2.73m), Aston Martin turned to experienced sector investor, Investindustrial, which last April joined Primewagon, Adeem Investment and other existing Aston shareholders to raise around £100 million ($A182m) for the company’s new VH platform.

The all-new architecture will employ electrical and electronic systems developed by Mercedes-Benz, whose parent company Daimler owns a five per cent stake in Aston. In a deal first mooted last July but only formalised in December, some of Aston’s next-generation models will also be powered by V8 engines co-developed with Benz.

Aston’s latest announcement appears to scuttle recent industry speculation that Daimler was planning a full acquisition of the brand. However, it remains unclear which models will be underpinned by which platforms and what engines will power them.

Aston is developing a replacement for the DB9 that should – along with a new V8 Vantage – be powered by an AMG-sourced twin-turbo 4.0-litre and the company’s own 6.0-litre V12, but some reports suggest the next DB9 will retain Aston’s existing VH structure.

Hard-core N430 and Carbon limited-edition versions of the V8 Vantage and DB9 respectively (pictured) were revealed at the Geneva motor show in March.

Other sources indicate Aston could use Daimler’s MSA platform, which forms the basis of Mercedes’ next SL and SLK, while a separate platform-sharing deal is expected to lead to a full-size Lagonda-badged SUV from Aston by 2017.

“We made excellent progress on a number of fronts in 2013: growing our global sales, improving our EBITDA and building further on the company’s strong brand as we celebrated our centenary around the globe,” said Kirner.

“We will, in the next few years, be implementing the biggest investment program in our 101-year history, preparing the ground for new and exciting products in the future.

“Our strong ownership structure and strategic partnership with Daimler AG, finalised in December 2013, provides us with a solid foundation for the unprecedented investment program that will underpin our future growth.

“We are engineering a completely new architecture and technologies to ensure that our next generation of sports cars is at the forefront of design, performance and technology. The strategic partnership with Daimler AG will bring with it cutting edge electrical and electronic expertise, and the shared development of world-class bespoke V8 powertrains.”

Aston said a stronger dealer network and its move into Mexico and Thailand – giving it a global network of 148 dealerships across 44 countries -- helped its bottom line last year, when it lodged full-year sales of the Vanquish Coupe and, in the fourth quarter, launched the Vanquish Volante and V12 Vantage S.

Also including the Rapide sedan, the bespoke British brand sold 99 cars in Australia last year (up from 94 in 2012) and, with 32 sales to March this year, has notched up a 60 per cent sales increase in the first quarter of 2014.