Aston Martin's CEO, Adrian Hallmark, has announced that the company may have fewer models in the future, but with more variants. This decision comes after the company has struggled with sliding sales and mounting losses. Hallmark stated that when he first arrived at the company, he thought they could fix the issues within 18 months, but now believes it will take around 24 months.
The company has reduced its production volumes to improve profits, with a goal of making around 6,500 cars per year. Hallmark believes that this will make the business stronger and more sustainable. He also stated that having three front-engined, two-door cars can be confusing, even for the company, and that they may consider reducing the number of models in the future.
View Price on AmazonOne of the models that may be at risk is the DB12, which sits in the middle of the Vantage and Vanquish in terms of size and price. However, Hallmark reassured that Aston's V-12 engine, currently only fitted to the Vanquish, has a long-term future. He stated that engines are a differentiator and that they are committed to the 12-cylinder engine until at least 2035.
Aston Martin has already begun introducing new variants, such as the S versions of the Vantage, DB12, and DBX SUV. Hallmark stated that they will continue to take their core products in a more sporty direction, but also offer more luxurious derivatives. He mentioned that they will show one of these luxurious derivatives by the end of the year, which will have a different suspension system and more sound insulation.
Another possible change is the introduction of all-wheel drive on some of Aston's GT cars. Hallmark mentioned that the Vanquish is "hilarious" and that they are at the limit of two-wheel drive. He did not confirm or deny the introduction of all-wheel drive, but stated that they want to be more powerful and that all-wheel drive could be an option.
Source: roadandtrack.com
