Aston Martin wants to defend its independence by squeezing profits out of aging technology

Aston Martin needs to license "real" performance technology from the big boys, whether it's BMW or VW/Porsche. Tweak the Porsche V8, the most efficient naturally aspirated V8 in production.

Yeah your wrong there, the Porsche V8 is by no means the most efficient V8 engine not even sure why you would make that up

The good thing is people don't buy them solely for performance and this is a problem that can be easily fixed. They still will carry a name that is unrivaled when it comes to buyers perception and that won't change. Aston Martin has nothing to worry about.

AM also needs to update their styling a bit.. this current design is a getting bit old...

Rediculous article, you can make a LONG list of cars that are on "improved or updated" versions of an old platform. They are trashing a small ultra luxury car company for doing the same as the large companys who have the resources to produce new platform and technology makes no sense.

Old technology is ok if their is available R & D to tweek and make it better. Just look at Chrysler with the 300 platform. Based on an older Mercedes E class platform it has been tweeked enough that there is very little in common if at all with the old platform these days.In Aston Martins case their potential achilles heal is their engine technology.Since they compete against Ferrari,Porsche,Lamborghini,
Bentley,etc. their performance is held to a certain standard that would otherwise not be the case. 510 HP out of a 6 liter V12 is ok but a N/A Ferrari V8 and a Lambo V10 make over 560HP from a smaller V8 and V10 respectively. So it remains a challenge to either figure a way to tweek the engine or get significant weight out of it's car in order to maintain its competativeness.So it's a must that some R & D money must be their to allow A/M to make it's existing components better. Otherwise they risk becoming Aston Martin of the early 90's or somthing like Bristol.