Aston's EVS to pack Lucid tech starting with 2025 SUV

New deal with US start-up secures tech for EVs including an SUV, a GT and sports cars

- MARK TISSHAW

Aston Martin's electric era will begin with a new SUV in late 2025, followed by a new GT by the end of the decade.

The new models will be built on a bespoke modular architecture that is able to underpin everything from sports cars lower than the current Vantage to SUVs the size of the DBX and beyond.

The cars will be powered by motors and battery technology sourced from US start-up Lucid. The EVs will sit alongside Aston's existing range of internal-combustion-engined models rather than replace them, because the company has not yet committed to a sole power source for all of its future models.

Technical chief Roberto Fedeli hopes to have the first electric Aston drivetrain working on a test bench by the end of the year and the first mule running on roads by the start of 2024.

The architecture in which the powertrain will be used will be a "fully flexible BEV platform, modular in height and wheelbase", according to Fedeli, who said the platform is being designed to last well into the 2030s.

Aston will be able to make a sports car 2cm lower than the current 1273cm-tall Vantage, something enabled by the compact size and design of the Lucid cells.

"The most important one is the lowest one," said Fedeli, in reference to the need for Aston to continue to make low sports cars.

However, the first Aston EV will not be a sports car but an SUV, previewed by the company in a highly conceptual sketch, from which Autocar's artist's rendering is derived. An electric GT is set to follow by 2030 but sports car models are less likely for now.

"If you look at the [EV] market evolution between now and 2030, the growth is in GT and SUV," said Aston's chief brand and commercial officer, Marco Mattiacci. "We've established a good foothold in SUVs with DBX and have been doing GTs for 110 years. [We'll] look at those segments first.