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The first car to be produced under Aston Martin’s revival of Lagonda could be based on a Mercedes S-class, if a proposed partnership between Aston and Mercedes goes ahead.
Due in 2012, the car (a large luxury saloon) would be conceived, developed and produced alongside the next-gen Maybach, which will also use the W222 platform from the next Mercedes S-class.
The new Lagonda will be engineered to support advanced new hybrid drive systems and new pre-scan suspension technology. The platform has been described as the German car maker’s most advanced system to date.
While Mercedes is set to deliver the platform, the engineering of bodyshells for the two marques would be handled by Aston Martin. By joining forces in such a way, development time and overall costs would be slashed.
At the same time, the two car makers could look forward to increased economies of scale in the longer term, an important factor with models that are likely to sell in very low numbers.
The proposed co-operation is being headed by Aston Martin Lagonda boss Ulrich Bez and Mercedes chairman Dieter Zetsche.
It builds on a parts-sharing deal in which upcoming Aston Martin models will use engine and driveline combinations from Mercedes-Benz. The deal includes a development of the petrol-electric hybrid system recently unveiled in the new S400 Hybrid, and a reworked version of the Maybach’s twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre V12 engine.
For details of the other projects that Mercedes and Aston are working on, see the 5 November issue of Autocar.
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