LagondaConcept

Aston Martin May Build Hybrid Lagonda SUV, Electric Cygnet

Aston Martin Lagonda Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Are hybrid drivetrains befitting of a premium luxury and performance brand? Well, that depends on who you ask. According to such diverse automakers as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Rolls-Royce and even Ferrari and Lamborghini, the answer is 'yes'. Aston Martin CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez, though, reportedly believes otherwise. "The current hybrid technologies are not suited to the character of Aston Martin sports cars," explains Bez.

We're not so sure we agree, especially since Aston's long-planned Lagonda revival – which may or may not come wrapped in an ungainly SUV package – is rumored to be equipped with a hybrid powertrain. After all, the torque-rich nature of electric motors certainly wouldn't be a bad thing for a luxury tourer.

A few branches up on the green tree, Aston Martin's tiny Toyota iQ-based Cygnet minicar could quite possibly get a fully electric drivetrain, which would seem to make sense given that car's stated mission as an urban runabout for those times when a V12 Vanquish could be considered overkill. Beautiful, sonorous, splendid overkill...

Gallery: Lagonda Concept

[Source: Autotelegraaf.nl via Motor Authority]

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Aston Martin Takes Another Look at the Lagonda Concept

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Ever meet a pair of siblings and notice one excels at everything and the other's a bit of a deadbeat? That's Aston Martin Lagonda Limited. If you're wondering what the Lagonda part is for, you're on the right track. It forms the full name of the company best known for producing James Bond's automobile of choice, but while Aston Martins are some of the most beautiful and successful sportscars on the road or track, Lagonda is considerably less so.

The automotive marque originally founded in 1906 was acquired by Aston Martin in 1947, and though Aston's tried at several intervals to revitalize its sister brand, not much good has ever come from it. Most recently, the company announced the rebirth of Lagonda, unveiling the concept car you see above at the 2009 Geneva auto show. It was supposed to be a luxurious crossover, based on the Mercedes GL-Class and powered by a V12 engine. Reception was rather cold, and Aston pulled the concept after the first day. But now it's back, courtesy of a new batch of photos released by Aston Martin's PR department. What they're up to – and why they've brought the one project that failed back to light – is beyond us, but you can have a look for yourself in the fresh gallery below.

Gallery: Lagonda Concept

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Aston Martin Reportedly Cancels the Lagonda SUV

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Kids growing too big for the back seat of your Aston Martin DB9? Fortunately the company's Rapide four-door model is just around the corner. But if you were holding out for something a little bigger, you may be waiting a little while longer, or else be advised to look elsewhere. Reports indicate that the British purveyor of luxury GTs has put its plans to relaunch the Lagonda marque with a new crossover utility model on indefinite hold.

The Lagonda name is part of Aston's corporate identity, but has remained dormant for years. A few months back at the Geneva auto salon, Aston Martin shocked members of the press with an ungainly crossover concept. Reaction was so cold that the company took it off the show stand by the second day, keeping it away from the public. Now the company's chief executive has reportedly confirmed that the model has been postponed indefinitely, meaning that it could come back in another form or it could never come back at all. Considering that Aston is known for more beautiful design work than it exhibited with the Lagonda concept, we're hard-pressed to mourn its passing.

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Aston Martin Revives Lagonda Marque in Geneva with Quirky Crossover Concept

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

For such a small company, or by any measure, really, Aston Martin certainly had its hands full preparing for this year's Geneva Motor Show. The company currently offers essentially two model lines, but at the Swiss show revealed four new models that didn't step on each other's toes. In addition to the V12 Vantage, the DBS Volante and the seven-figure One-77 supercar, Aston also took the opportunity to revive the long-dormant Lagonda marque. Now celebrating its 100th anniversary, Lagonda has been out of commission for decades, but is now poised to make a comeback. Unfortunately the concept which Aston unveiled to kick off Lagonda's return disappointed what could have been an elegant affair.

Instead of showing a limousine as expected to take on the likes of Bentley, Rolls-Royce and Maybach, the Lagonda Concept is an awkwardly-styled crossover with a huge gaping mouth and unattractive shape, especially in the presence of such classically beautiful Aston sportscars. Company executives hope the production version, whenever it rolls around, will help them expand into new markets like the Middle East, China, India and Russia where luxury SUVs are even more the rage than they are in the U.S. But while this beast may strike a chord with those who have more money than taste, we would have expected a little more from Aston Martin. See for yourself in the gallery of photographs below.