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Aston Martin says its fleet will go all-hybrid

British luxury carmaker Aston Martin says it plans to convert its entire six-car lineup to hybrid powertrains, with CEO Dr. Andy Palmer telling the Financial Times (subscription required), "We will be 100 per cent hybrid by the middle of the 2020s" and that 25 percent of all Aston Martins will be fully electric "by the end of the next decade." In June, the company announced it will produce the RapidE, its first all-electric car, in 2019, with a limited production run of 155 cars. The Rapide S, the model it's ostensibly based on, starts around $204,000. "RapidE represents a sustainable future in which Aston Martin's values of seductive style and supreme performance don't merely co-exist alongside a new zero-emission powertrain, but are enhanced by it," Palmer said in the statement. "The internal combustion engine has been at the heart of Aston Martin for more than a century, and will continue to be for years to come. RapidE will showcase Aston Martin's vision, desire and capability to successfully embrace radical change, delivering a new breed of car that stays true to our ethos and delights our customers." Palmer also told FT that while the company plans to source battery cells from overseas, it will develop its electric systems in-house. It is working with Williams Advanced Engineering in England on EV systems integrations for the RapidE. Aston is just the latest of a long line of automakers to announce electrification plans. Notably, Volvo recently announced that it would add some form of electrification to its entire fleet by 2019. Related Video:

Aston Martin Vantage GTE race car revealed

Though Aston Martin had more than enough news in revealing the new V8 Vantage, it decided it needed to show one more thing: the Vantage GTE race car. Obviously the body work is based on the road car, but it's more aggressive. It has an even bigger version of the V8 Vantage's massive grille. The hood gets extra vents. The exhaust now exits out the front fenders. And, of course, it gets a huge wing and equally monster diffuser. The interior is quite a bit different, though, with the comfy seats and leather trim gone in favor of a roll cage and bare carbon fiber components. Under the skin, there are some similarities to the regular V8 Vantage. The main connection is the Vantage GTE's engine, which is a version of the same 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged AMG V8 found in the road car. It makes more power than the street version with at least 530 horsepower. Torque is roughly the same, though. Instead of an eight-speed automatic, the Vantage GTE uses a six-speed sequential manual transmission. Both cars use double-wishbone suspension front and rear, but the GTE gets adjustable anti-roll bars and Ohlins adjustable shocks. The brakes are also upgraded to six-piston front calipers and four-piston rear calipers from Alcon. It will start racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2018. Related Video:

Aston Martin DBS, Superleggera names resurrected for a new ‘Super GT’

Aston Martin has announced it's bringing back the time-honored DBS name. Originally used in the 1967-1972 GT car, the name was briefly resurrected for a DB9-related model made from 2008 to 2012, and then put back on the shelf. The new car, which Aston refers to a "flagship Super GT," will be introduced in June, as mentioned in a teaser video that somehow reminds us of the xenomorph creature in the "Alien" sci-fi movies. But it's not going to be a big, heavy bruiser, as Aston is also adorning it with a Superleggera badge, referring to super-lightweight construction and dating back to the classic Carrozzeria Touring days of the DB4, DB5 and DB6. Sources such as Autocar say the new, Vanquish-replacing model would have the turbocharged 5.2-liter V12 from the DB11, but tuned for considerably higher output than the DB11's 600 horsepower — perhaps 700 hp is in order. Official power figures have not yet been released, but June isn't that far away. Announcing the re-birth of an iconic name. A distinctive moniker, set to be proudly worn once again by Aston Martin's flagship Super GT. DBS Superleggera.https://t.co/W7Z6SuJFbW pic.twitter.com/1e4ePW84sl — Aston Martin (@astonmartin) April 17, 2018 Related Video: Aston Martin Luxury Performance dbs