CEO's Respect On The Track May Lead To Toyota Supplying Aston Martin With New Engines

Just a few days back, we brought you news that Aston Martin is seriously considering downsizing engines in its product range. The trick, it seems, is balancing power with fuel efficiency and lower emissions, while not “undermining the exclusivity” that makes an Aston Martin an Aston Martin.

Now comes word from De Telegraaf that Aston Martin may be looking to Toyota for engines, with particular interest in the V8s used by Lexus. The British luxury automaker may even have its sights on the 4.8-liter V-10 that Toyota builds exclusively for the Lexus LFA, although we’re not sure how interested Toyota would be in sharing this hand-built engine.
Read Article

Designer1 - 8/2/2012 11:48:33 AM

+2 Boost

Good for you Toyota. They build great engines, they just need to improve their driving dynamics.

Agent009 - 8/2/2012 12:21:17 PM

+2 Boost

Partnerships like this can only help. The alliances you form due to mutual respect will define the future.

quizz - 8/2/2012 3:42:36 PM

+1 Boost

Unless it's Ferrari, how do you expect a niche luxury automaker to have the resources and $$ for development of cutting edge engines? Lambo and Bentley are owned by Audi, and thus have some pretty great engines. Jaguar had help from Ford. Rover's best engines were developed when they were owned by BMW. Wake up.

Short of being acquired, how do you expect AM to develop engine technology without some sort of partnership? It's the reality, deal with it.

chewy - 8/2/2012 3:53:19 PM

+1 Boost

The Aston V12 is falling behind in tech but the LFA V10 doesn't fit a GT so not sure which Toyota engine they would be interested in.

MorePower - 8/2/2012 4:32:15 PM

+2 Boost

As long as Aston agrees to keep the little "chrome" L on the engine cover, Toyota will be very happy to sell the LFA's engine to Aston.

lexworld - 8/2/2012 7:28:23 PM

+3 Boost

.....I doubt very seriously that Mr. Akio Toyoda would do such an unwise thing, such as sell it's exclusive nearly 100k hand built LFA V10 engine to anyone! Period!

MorePower - 8/2/2012 7:36:10 PM

+1 Boost

Really, because it would be an amazing marketing coup. So in your mind, BMW making the V10 for McLaren, AMG/MB making the engines for Pagani, Porsche designing engines for Harley Davidson, and Yamaha making engines for Ford and Volvo were all bad ideas?

Lexus, if you are listening:

Don't listen to small-minded, short-sighted individuals such as this. Aston Martin is a very reputable luxury and performance manufacturer. You should be honored by the opportunity to supply them with your engines.

lexworld - 8/2/2012 7:33:14 PM

+1 Boost

...If some of the world top automakers can give Toyota the respect it earns so can the rest of us, who only know half jack of what the CEO's and engineers know about excellence in automotive manufacturing. Good respect examples from these types of high achieving individuals.

wins555 - 8/3/2012 1:57:43 AM

+2 Boost

Question, Why would Toyota sell the LFA engine to AM when Toyota is "capable" of building a better car than AM? Of course Toyota can build an AM competitor but without the British Gentleman's GT in its description.

IMO, Toyota will sell the engine to AM if it makes sense volume wise to make the economies of scale it turn to lower the cost of the engine in its future sporty models.