Best you give Dr.B a call and let him know how easy it is.

Now interesting you mention JLR. Would that be the same JLR that has a contract with Ford until 2019 (or thereabouts) to supply its engines?

FF

 

I agree, we need Aston to strike a deal with someone for a new engine (as it did with Ford) and then enable both companies to pool their resources an do something bespoke for Aston - again, as it did with Ford.

FF

 

Great discussions guys, touché ... I too agree the negative criticism is normal for thos resisting change.

If MB motors are good enough for PAGANI ZONDA, they are damn good enough for an Aston . They both have a meaty muscle car sound, and Aston would develop their own exhaust systems for the motor to maintain that Aston sound so I doubt the concerns are warranted.

Benz does produce the most V12s in the world, but they have stated that they will be discontinuing the NA V12, (largely bc of emissions reasons). That and the M120 Benz V12 is 23 years old (hard to believe I know)!

If I had to take a guess I would say they will use MB tech to use the NA5.5L AMG which now has cylinder deactivation, as well as stop start technology as well as other possibilities. Their new motors are much more fuel efficient than the current Aston engines.

Those that say Aston never did turbos does not know their Aston History. Aston Martin produced the first turbocharged HyperCar as far back as the 70s... (search Aston Bulldog). Even by today's standards its performance is staggering. So there is precedent for turbo technology on astons. Supercharging is not likely because benz eliminated all their SC engines due to high repair costs and failure rates. SC is not nearly as efficient and reliable as turbocharging.

I'm sure more news to come

 

Well said Racer.

The P51 Mustang is an American Icon, and was at it's best when the Rolls-Royce Engine from the Spitfire was added to it.

 

Well, there is a case to be said for reliability. Ironic as it sounds, I think that you might notice a decline in reliability. The Aston engines seem to be very reliable compared to MB as of late. We have Ford to thank for that.

 

You MB fan-bois are a treat. Seems like you need to be selling your Astons and go buy you some Mercedes-Benzes if you want 'dem motors.

 

Let me offer an interesting perspective. I have been an AM owner and stead-fast supporter. It took a car like the 12C Spider to pull me off the brand(combined with the V12VR not coming to the US). AM needs to make a step forward in terms of its power supply technology. There is nothing like the design and style. If they were able to modernize the driving experience from the power to the translation to the road, they would become the most desirable car brand on the planet. I think the MB partnership is a move in the right direction. A modern power source, a real transmission and a handling package to match the looks and interior would be an amazing package. If you look back at the history of Am, their place was much different than the last 30 years. They were innovators. They fared very well in the racing community and they were held in the same kind of esteem as Ferrari. In some ways, the recent experience with McLaren reminds me of what I have read about early Aston Martin. An MB sourced power supply with a Gaziano Duel clutch on a light-weight platform with AM styling and finish would be very hard to beat.

 

Jay,

You bring up a good point and made me realize something as well. If Aston were to partner with Benz, they could also use Mercedes new MCT dual wet clutch transmission (which actually exceeded my expectations when I drove an SLS recently. It's a very good transmission and would allow them to get packaged motor & trans drivetrains ready to go. on the SLS the tranny is already in rear transaxle form anyways so it wouldn't take much for them to put it from SLS to Aston. I think they will mate it to smaller V8, but it still makes a lot of business sense to partner with Benz in so many ways giving credence to the rumors this time. I hope they do it.

Who knows down they road they may do a baby Aston with AMGs new twin turbo V6 (to compete with Jaguar Ftype S and etc). It does open up a lot of possibilities for Aston.

 

Ha, ha, ha. What a jokester. MB engines in an Aston...

 

Of all the possible suitors, MB AMG seem like the best choice tv hey make amazing NA motors, they sound fantastic, they have the torque, they have the power, MB needs the business and plenty of other exotics have used them.

As long as they stay away from the MB transmissions.

 

Now we're talkin'

 

What is more central to the driving experience, the feel, the character of a car than its engine? That's what I mean.

So an M-B rebodied as an Aston and with an exhaust that sounds like an Aston’s would be an Aston??? Not to me.

 

My Aston has been more reliable than either of my current M-Bs.

 

For me, it's not about resisting change, it's the type of change (and we don't know what that may be yet) I'm concerned about.

Pagani -- IMO, it's a totally different situation. It’s not about whether M-B engines would be “good enough.” Aston has a long history of making its own engines and, to me, that is an essential part of what makes an Aston an Aston. Pagani is a very new company in the car world, and it made its name in a complelely different way, including with the use of M-B engines. Pagani never made its own engines – its not part of what makes a Pagani. Also, as I understand it, the engine in the Huayra is quite different from the AMG engines used in M-Bs, and was designed to a very significant degree to be bespoke to Pagani. As I’ve repeatedly said, if the next Aston engines are “based” on M-B engnes but are bespoke to Aston/different from the "source" engine in the same way that the current Aston V8 is unique to Aston/differs from the Jaguar V8 that spawned it, that would be a great solution. An Aston with an AMG engine and Aston's "own exhaust system" would be an "Aston" with a Benz engine. No thanks.

An Aston Martin is more than what's on the outside and what it sounds like. A male cross-dresser isn't a woman...

 

I'm thinking you wouldn't miss the Aston engine, especially if the MB one had more power/torque/responsiveness. As for sound, I think that has more to do with the exhaust tuning than the engine.

Again, Astons are not known for their engines and they aren't unique.