Andy Palmer is not like most senior auto executives. Aston Martin’s CEO (and Nissan’s former product chief) definitely isn’t the sort of corporate automaton who talks in platitudes and is instead refreshingly willing to discuss the company’s future strategy. So a conversation at last weekend’s Goodwood Revival, where Aston was launching its Assured Provenance program to help reassure the owners of classic Astons just how valuable their cars are, also gave us some more insight into what we can expect to see soon.
The most pressing question was how closely the forthcoming production Astons will stick to the new design previewed by the DB10 [pictured above] that James Bond will be driving in SPECTRE. Palmer confirmed that, despite its name, the DB10 is a broader hint at the styling of the next Vantage rather than the bigger DB11, and said that we will definitely spot a strong family resemblance.
“You’ll see the DNA for sure. It’s not the same, the DB10 was done exclusively for Bond. But you will see that ‘predator’ type look going forwards,” he said, “the best way I can express it is that my mother will be able to tell the difference.”
Conversation soon turned to the DBX electric crossover [at top] that Aston previewed at this year’s Geneva auto show. Palmer confirmed that it is heading for production, likely in 2019, and that a decision on where it will be produced will be taken later this year.
“That’s the big question,” he admitted, “and where we will make it is dependent on grants and logistic costs… I’m a business guy and I’ve got to be able to fund the program properly. I hope production of all Aston Martins will stay in the U.K., that’s all I can say at the moment.”
He also admitted that it is likely to share Daimler architecture, but said that he is keen it sticks with Aston’s familiar aluminum construction. If things go according to plan, it’s also set to be a major player within the premium SUV segment.
“The market [for the DBX] is probably 4000-5000 units, but the honest truth is that nobody knows until [the Bentley] Bentayga launches, there’s nothing in that space,” he said, “then there’s going to be a rush—the Lamborghini, the Maserati, the Rolls-Royce and us. I’d say that no matter the size of that market we’re always going to be at the upper end of it, and if necessary I’d put a cap in there.”
The new Vanquish, DB11, and Vantage replacements will be launched before the DBX goes on sale—we can expect the Vanquish next year—and Palmer pledges that the sports car side of the business will be limited to 7000 cars per year to ensure exclusivity. Meaning that, with 1000 or so Lagondas, Aston could be producing 13,000 cars a year by 2020, a dramatic increase on the 4000 it built last year.
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