Takeover could revive Aston’s SUV plans
As Mercedes and Aston Martin seem to be getting ever cozier, rumours are swirling regarding a possible takeover of the British automaker by its German partner.
Speaking to Autocar, Mercedes head Dieter Zetsche stated Aston Martin “is a fantastic brand, and we are willing to support its further development.” However, he would neither confirm nor deny Mercedes’ long-term intentions with Aston Martin.
AMG will develop, supply, and build in Germany a new V8 engine for Aston Martin to be used in its next generation Vantage grand tourer. It’s said to be shared with the next C63 AMG, measuring 4.0-litres in displacement and benefiting from two turbos. Power estimates for the new engine are approximately 480 hp.
If Mercedes were to court Aston Martin further, the German company would have to purchase most or all of a 37.5 percent stake currently held by Investindustrial.
German ownership could bring back another nameplate – Lagonda – previously teased in concept SUV form, though the concept itself was widely criticized. A production Lagonda SUV could be underpinned by the same platform as the Mercedes GL.
