While we were being bombarded with terms such as ‘EVs are the future’ not so long ago, there seems to have been a shift in the universe lately. Mercedes-Benz recently backpedalled its plans of becoming an all-electric manufacturer by 2030, there are rumours of a plug-in hybrid version of the Fiat 500e being developed, and now Aston Martin has given hope to us enthusiasts as well.
In an interview with Autocar UK, Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman, Aston Martin stated that there will always be demand for combustion-engined cars, even if it’s small, and it will continue selling them for as long as it is legally allowed to. The British car maker not only had plans to unveil its first all-electric car by 2025, but to also become an all-electric car maker by 2030, as well as showcase its first plug-in hybrid by this year. Instead, the first all-electric Aston has been pushed back to 2027, with the British car maker opening up investments for plug-in hybrids.
According to Stroll, Aston Martin customers want the sounds and smells associated with the combustion engine, and that demand for an all-electric Aston comes from a more political stance rather than actual customer need. There will be a bespoke EV platform that will spawn off multiple body styles, but none of them will be seen before 2027. As for plug-in hybrids, they will be underpinned by Aston’s current ICE platforms, with the PHEV tech to be integrated into the V8 and V12 engines.
The mid-engined Valhalla is set to be Aston Martin’s first hybrid car, featuring a V8 with a three-electric motor hybrid setup. Due to enter production later this year, the Valhalla hybrid is unlikely to make it to India. However, with this announcement, we enthusiasts can rest assured that the combustion engine will stay alive for longer than expected.
