Discussion: AMG and Aston. Fraternising with the enemy?

With cars and motoring we tend to see trends, eras, that in their prime are the defining feature of the company, make or model with which they are affiliated. When such eras come to an end its an uncomfortable experience for most of the community, the world of petrol heads. We are a diverse breed with factions of fanboys for particular makes, models, and even types of engine, but as a whole when there is a seismic shift within an industry great everyone tends to reel to some extent. Much has changed recently to accommodate requirements for efficiency and cleanness in internal combustion. The advent and market domination of the paddle shift gearbox, the downsizing and turbocharging of engines and so on: changes that have threatened to take the life out of the sports car in granting life to our precious planet...

Will the heart of future Astons have a German beat?

What am I going on about?

...Aston Martin and Mercedes - AMG gmbh signed an agreement entitling Aston to AMG engine and electrical knowhow and in exchange for a 5% share stake. For the community this has been read on the surface as concrete evidence of the imminent death of the definitive 6.0 V12: utterly representative of what is largely considered to be one of the greatest eras for AM. Making its first appearance in the 1999 DB7 Vantage, it is seen as the bonafide beating heart for Aston Martin in the modern age. Critically acclaimed for it's character, smoothness and gorgeous noise, the unit is however by modern standards thirsty, dirty and weak for its size. This has been apparent since 2007's DBS which had a painfully obvious 100BHP power deficit compared to the Ferrari 599 of the same year. Fast forward 6 years and the old girl is somewhat musclier but appearing to be close to the end of her life. Naturally to us majority of stick-in-the-muds the AM/AMG deal is interpreted as somewhat ominous of this impending doom.

How much of this..
.. will we see in future Astons?

My thoughts however, bear words of comfort and reassurance. I see the lusty mill evolving and growing in true Aston tradition until it is truly its time to leave us, until we are truly sick of it (A La Gallardo). In the last year Aston has breathed life into the fabled powertrain with more muscle and a smudge less C02 output at 335 g/km (in the Vanquish) as opposed to its predecessors 388 g/km. Not unequivocally future proof but it shows the unit has about another 5 years left and is demonstrative of the evolutionary nature of Astons tac. It shows that put under enough pressure, can teach the old dog new tricks.

When Porsche announced the death of the manual in the GT3, 90% of the internets forums erupted in riposte. The 10% knew that the GT3 would be as magnificent as ever. As BMW-M cars gradually transitioned to turbo power the sceptics chunterred away about the good old days while the minority accepted the inevitable and embraced the as ever dynamically gifted products.





The agreement signed referred to AMG technical data and mechanical configurations specifically. V8 engine formats were referred to exclusively. A future where DB9s waft down the street silently under the motivation of the turbo '12 lopped out of an SL is a vision born of frantic and irrational rumour. Contrary to the fear mongering, I see the newly acquired engine tech as much appreciated borrowed time for the faithful old mill.