The Aston Martin DBX picture here represents the beginning of the end for pure combustion cars from Gaydon. Equipped with a mild-hybrid inline-six engine and sold only in China, this version of the SUV will be followed by a multitude of models featuring electric assistance. In fact, the British luxury brand has pledged to end sales of ICE-only cars as early as 2026.
Speaking with The Financial Times, Aston Martin chairman Lawrence Stroll has stated the entire lineup will be electrified to some extent in four years’ time. Leading the way is the SUV as the company plans to roll out a separate plug-in hybrid version of the DBX for global markets. However, it won’t hit the market until 2024 when the vehicle will go through a mid-cycle facelift.
While Bentley has vowed to completely end sales of cars powered by combustion engines by the end of the decade, Aston Martin has not taken such a drastic decision. It does expect 90% of its annual sales to be represented by hybrids and EVs by 2030, but the ol’ gasoline engine won’t be discontinued altogether until later the next decade.
Aston Martin has technically already started production and sales of a hybrid model since Valkyrie deliveries commenced towards the end of last year. However, the electrified setup is primarily for added performance rather than efficiency since we’re talking about a fully fledged hypercar utilizing Formula 1 know-how.
Further down the line, replacements for the DB11 and Vantage have already been confirmed to embrace zero emissions. A fully electric car has previously been announced for a 2026 launch while plans to revive Lagonda as an EV-only brand have been put on the backburner for the time being. In addition, a smaller crossover positioned below the DBX has been ruled out.
In the meantime, gasoline engines are still an integral part of what the typical Aston Martin customer wants. Lawrence Stroll told The Financial Times that “people still want the smell, the noise [of combustion-engined cars]. We’re gradually going to get to full EV, but we will continue offering both [electric and hybrids].”
Source: The Financial Times
