Aston Martin has announced that “final preparations” are underway for a new-generation model in the “DB bloodline” which will debut on May 24.
Dubbed as a “stunning example of what’s to come”, it’s expected this model will be the successor to the DB11 potentially called the DB12. A camouflaged prototype has already been spied.
In the lead up to the reveal, Aston Martin has published three teaser images of the car that show parts of its exterior and interior design.
Exterior styling appears to be evolutionary, and the most major changes centre around the interior. There’s finally a touchscreen instead of the old Mercedes-Benz-sourced COMAND interface which uses a trackpad.
Other notable changes include a stubby gear selector, revised buttons and switches, and what appears to be a flat-bottom steering wheel.
It’s unclear if the DB11’s powertrains will carry over to this new model. It’s currently offered with either a Mercedes-AMG-sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 393kW and 675Nm, as well as a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 producing 470kW and 700Nm.
As previously reported, Aston Martin will launch eight new front-engine sports cars over the next two years.
“It feels like watching paint dry or grass grow, but after three years we’ve got our next generation of sports cars and will launch eight in the next 24 months,” said Aston Martin chairman Lawrence Stroll at the Financial Times’ Future of the Car summit, in remarks reported by Autocar.
“We will bring in new technology, have performance from our F1 team integrated into the business, and continue the great luxury [of cars today].”
In addition to replacements for the current Vantage, DB11 and DBS and their convertible variants – bringing the tally to six – Aston Martin hinted at a model that would be “above GT”.
“We’ve created a new sector above GT,” he said. “A true high level of luxury with a high level of performance. Something new.”
Such a model could be a variant of one of these existing lines.
Previously spied prototype
Mr Stroll also confirmed the company is on track to launch its first electric car in 2025, with more details to be revealed at its capital markets day on June 27.
“The software components have been decided, [and it will be done] mostly in house. We’ve hired several hundred people and brought lots of competency in house. It still has to be an Aston Martin experience with EV,” said Mr Stroll.
The automaker will also grow its mid-engined line-up beyond the Valkyrie and hybrid Valhalla.
Aston Martin has previously said customer deliveries of the sports cars will begin in the third quarter of this year, and the first of these is already in production.
Mr Stroll told Autocar last year the front-engined sports cars would be receiving updated suspension, engines and transmissions, along with heavily revised styling inside and out and fresher technology.
In short, Mr Stroll said the updates will make them “what those cars should have always felt like”.
Mr Stroll told reporters that externally, “there’s no similarity at all to the current cars” apart from “some carry-over” at the rear end.
MORE: Aston Martin readying fleet of new front-engine sports cars
