Lose Weight, Not Power
The Aston Martin DBX707 stands out as an astounding exemplar of British (with a hint of German) ingenuity, which is why the firm ponders creating a version which is lighter and more assertive. While nothing has been officially announced, CarExpert had the chance to converse with Andy Tokley, Senior Vehicle Engineering Manager at Aston Martin Lagonda, who detected some captivating observations.
Upon the introduction of the DBX, we were certain that a more powerful version would be in the making soon; this kind of extravagant automobile cannot satisfy expectations. For this reason, reports of a further enhanced rendition do not surprise us, although we anticipate that nothing regarding such a variant will be conveyed until after the unveiling of their forthcoming sports vehicle range.
“We’ve certainly been considering something from the get-go,” Tokley remarked. “I can’t really say whether it’s part of the future plan for the car line, but it wouldn’t take much to get a good amount of mass out there quickly.”
This is in line with what Tokley declared to CarBuzz at the global unveiling of the DBX707, noting that the brand might attempt to set a record lap time on the Nurburgring for an SUV. He informed CarBuzz that it was no surprise the DBX707 had been glimpsed on the track, recommending that we pay close attention. Despite this, a record attempt has not taken place yet, leading one to suspect that maybe Aston Martin requires a smaller, more agile vehicle to achieve this goal.
Tokley stipulates that Aston Martin is mainly a luxury car manufacturer, and as a consequence, their vehicles are equipped with all the high-end features one would expect. Unfortunately, these features such as luxurious leather seating, glass rooves, and top-notch audio systems can add considerable weight, making them susceptible to removal if a lighter version went into production.
“Replacing a glass roof with a conventional one can make a big difference in terms of the car’s inertia,” said the expert. “You can take off as much as 55 lbs from the top end of the vehicle, which is a significant amount.”
“The Electronic Stability Program (ESP) is changing how the car reacts to certain movements in order to always account for the 220 lbs of roof load. This is a great way to improve the car’s performance, as ditching that weight means you don’t have to worry about compromising the ESP tuning.”
It may appear to be a relatively straightforward proposition for some of the prodigies at Aston Martin, considering how Alfa Romeo manufactures the Giulia GTA and its more exclusive variant, the GTAm. Perhaps it is time for Aston Martin to follow suit and craft an immensely powerful performance vehicle.
We are discussing the unrestrained utilization of carbon fiber in key spots such as the hood, rooftop, wheel arches, and drive shaft, alongside with lightweight aluminum for the engine, entryways, and suspension structure. Let’s go further by eliminating the back seats altogether and mounting a much bigger rear wing. Manufacture only a few hundreds of this, add an additional 150k to its cost, and prepare yourself to observe the money coming in.