An agreement for Mercedes-Benz’s AMG to supply Aston Martin with engines and components was signed back in July this year, but no one knows the time scale that this will actually take place in. Speaking at the Frankfurt International Motor Show, Mercedes CEO, Dr Dieter Zetsche, believes the full extent of the cooperation is still three to four years away.
With timing still up for debate, it’s no wonder the details of the collaboration are still unknown but it doesn’t take an expert to realise Aston Martin will be the big winners in this AMG-Mercedes-Benz sharing exercise. The AMG deal will spell the end of a long-standing relationship with Ford, who currently supplies the ageing V8 and V12 engines from its Cologne plant. Aston Martin has always lacked the financial backing to develop the complex sports car componentry all by itself and it needed a tie-up with a like-minded entity.
Conjecture says AMG will supply Aston Martin with a much-needed Bi-Turbo V8 engine; as well as gearboxes and electrical componentry. These will find their way into the next Aston Martin DB9 and Aston Martin V8 Vantage replacement. The current V8 used in the Aston Martin V8 Vantage lacks direct injection and has a good thirst for petrol. Transmissions have been an Aston Martin Achilles Heel too and an AMG dual-clutch gearbox or even a multiple-plate automatic MCT will be an improvement on the current Aston cog-swappers.
There’s also the realm of electronics and crash safety. Mercedes-Benz and VW-Group offerings like Porsche and Bentley are chock full of technology like adaptive LED headlights, radar guided cruise control, pre-collision safety, multi-mode stability control, and internet connectivity. Being able to plunder the Mercedes-Benz technology cupboard will almost certainly be beneficial to Aston Martin. What’s in it for Mercedes-Benz-AMG? Well, we’re guessing a big pay cheque but let’s hope it’s not too big or it’ll put Aston Martin back where they started – counting their coins.
