Only a few years ago Aston Martin was still using its famed naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V12 and 4.7-liter V8 engines in the DB9 and Vantage, respectively. Today, however, the UK automaker has downsized. In place of those engines are a new twin-turbo 5.2-liter V12 in the DB11 and an AMG-developed twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 in the just launched all-new Vantage. Will this engine downsizing trend continue? Australia’s Motoring recently spoke with one of Aston Martin’s top engineers, Matt Becker, and he confirmed six-cylinder engines are not happening.
He admitted he sampled Mercedes AMG’s new mild hybrid turbo six in the new CLS 53 AMG and was rather impressed, but there’s a problem with it: “To be honest I don’t know whether the engine would fit (in our cars),” he said. Remember, Aston Martin’s partnership with Daimler-Benz is not solely limited to that new V8, as the German automaker is set to offer its assistance with additional technologies as well. Previously, Becker believes six-cylinder engine rumors got started because he was misquoted by another publication at Geneva earlier this month. “I was speaking in more general terms that we might have to one day look at downsizing engines,” he clarified.
It’s also worth mentioning that Aston Martin has a history with six-cylinder engines, most recently the 1994 DB7 and its 3.2-liter inline-six (it was later replaced by a V12 in 1999). So there is historical precedent Aston Martin can refer to if it decides to downsize engines even further. But for now, it’s not happening.
