DBX sheds some disguise

[RobDown]

Hybrid comes in 2022?

[Jon39]

I heard a comment recently, saying a considerable majority of hybrid owners, never bother to use their car's plug-in feature.
Does that therefore mean, they are actually driving an ordinary petrol car, except for the braking creating a small amount of electricity ?

[anonymous-user]

Bincenzo said:

Nice to see you back chap. Hope all’s well.

Only stopped by to do some fact checking . Personally I think the way DBX has gone down with the more traditional Aston enthusiasts, it speaks volumes about good a job was done. The most unlikely of platforms is the car that tugs at the heart strings for many, and I hadn't expected that.

Jon39 said:

I heard a comment recently, saying a considerable majority of hybrid owners, never bother to use their car's plug-in feature.
Does that therefore mean, they are actually driving an ordinary petrol car, except for the braking creating a small amount of electricity ?

Essentially yes, once the battery is depleted, its ability to carry some of the workload diminishes to near zero and the ICE does the bulk of the work. Most plug-ins have an element of regenerative braking, but it generally depletes much quicker than it recharges.

Fuel economy suffers a bit as a result (you're carting around a few hundred kg of weight in flat batteries), but the truth of it is that WLTP testing for hybrids is IMO every bit as dubious as VW used to be with their emissions on diesels. Quoted 100mpg+ from numerous car makers becomes a real world 50-60mpg, and that's with a full battery charge. In that respect, a full EV's quoted range is probably a more honest measure.

[George29]

Jon39 said:

I heard a comment recently, saying a considerable majority of hybrid owners, never bother to use their car's plug-in feature.
Does that therefore mean, they are actually driving an ordinary petrol car, except for the braking creating a small amount of electricity ?

Not to mention carrying around loads more weight, decreasing economy/emissions, making them pretty pointless. Mind you there’s so much like that one modern cars it’s no wonder they’re all so heavy!

[krisdelta]

hornbaek said:

Agree - apart from the fact that the Bentley has just been launched as a hybrid ( announced yesterday - what a co-incidence ) and whilst I am no great fan of the hybrids, I feel that this should have been the decisive factor of the DBX in order to set it apart from the rest of the petrol guzzlers and become “kind of” first mover rather than the last of a dying race.

Agree, it would have been nice - but there would have to be an equivalent AMG package to transplant I suspect, and the "AMG 53" is 200+ bhp off the mark currently,

[Westlondondriver]

I think the new 6 cylinder is supposed to be a hybrid so I suspect DBX will have to wait for that. Not clear if it is just a mild hybrid as it will be in the new Vanquish or a full PHEV version. I suspect once it is available either the V8 or V12 will gets dropped from all the models to simplify things and only run with 2 engines across the range. I guess the AM purists will want to see the V8 go and the environmentalists the V12!

[RL17]

Westlondondriver said:

I think the new 6 cylinder is supposed to be a hybrid so I suspect DBX will have to wait for that. Not clear if it is just a mild hybrid as it will be in the new Vanquish or a full PHEV version. I suspect once it is available either the V8 or V12 will gets dropped from all the models to simplify things and only run with 2 engines across the range. I guess the AM purists will want to see the V8 go and the environmentalists the V12!

V12 is just a recent interloper introduced by Ford compared to long i6 history and then V8's for 3 decades.

[DickyC]

RL17 said:

V12 is just a recent interloper introduced by Ford compared to long i6 history and then V8's for 3 decades.

Yeah, but, no, but, Aston's first straight six came with David Brown's purchase of Lagonda and Lagonda also had a V12. The V12 was used in a rather ungainly Lagonda version of the DB3S. So the V12 configuration is in the history of AML if not AM.

That was a bit geeky, wasn't it?

[DickyC]

ETA - Off Topic

[cayman-black]

AMVSVNick said:

Or that he's a weapons grade Bell End

[ashway]

Buster73 said:

james-witton said:

Buster elitist???? Ha ha ha
He’s a Mackem FFS.
They can’t even spell it never mind be one.

Now now James , I’ve been called many things in my life but not vile and elitist , today I’ve added another two names to a very big list.

All because I worded a question in such a way he misunderstood it .

I’ll gladly accept his apology though.

Apology, I fear you'll be waiting a while for that, I honestly can't see what made him vent his spleen. I've always found you careful and considered, well balanced and polite. For a mackem that's praise indeed especially from a smoggy

[RichB]

DickyC said:

RL17 said:

V12 is just a recent interloper introduced by Ford compared to long i6 history and then V8's for 3 decades.

Yeah, but, no, but, Aston's first straight six came with David Brown's purchase of Lagonda and Lagonda also had a V12. The V12 was used in a rather ungainly Lagonda version of the DB3S. So the V12 configuration is in the history of AML if not AM.

That was a bit geeky, wasn't it?

No, not to those of us with an interest in the "classic" Astons ;-)

[bananarob]

Jon39 said:

I heard a comment recently, saying a considerable majority of hybrid owners, never bother to use their car's plug-in feature.
Does that therefore mean, they are actually driving an ordinary petrol car, except for the braking creating a small amount of electricity ?

Be interesting to understand the background of that comment, I’ve just taken delivery (5 weeks ago) of a new cayenne hybrid. Given I am doing 1-2 short 6-8 mile trips into town each day, nursery, supermarket, gym, it’s brilliant, I just it every night. Get around 17-20 miles (rather than an indicated 25-27) but that’s all need. Have done over 600 miles in that time (including a 200ish mile drive to St Athan this week) and still and yet to use the tank the car came with. Have about 90 miles left. I’m sold on plug in hybrid so for me it’s a shame that isn’t an option on the DBX yet. Still want one though and would happily trade the hybrid in for one!

[oilit]

bananarob said:

Jon39 said:

I heard a comment recently, saying a considerable majority of hybrid owners, never bother to use their car's plug-in feature.
Does that therefore mean, they are actually driving an ordinary petrol car, except for the braking creating a small amount of electricity ?

Be interesting to understand the background of that comment, I’ve just taken delivery (5 weeks ago) of a new cayenne hybrid. Given I am doing 1-2 short 6-8 mile trips into town each day, nursery, supermarket, gym, it’s brilliant, I just it every night. Get around 17-20 miles (rather than an indicated 25-27) but that’s all need. Have done over 600 miles in that time (including a 200ish mile drive to St Athan this week) and still and yet to use the tank the car came with. Have about 90 miles left. I’m sold on plug in hybrid so for me it’s a shame that isn’t an option on the DBX yet. Still want one though and would happily trade the hybrid in for one!

The big culprit I 'believe' is the BIK on company car drivers. A hybrid plug in means less tax paid by the driver (or certainly it did - it may have changed recently as I don't keep track of these things), so they take the plug in hybrid but drive it as a normal ICE car.

The number of BMW's, and Mercedes that I know are driven this way is criminal - but the law is an ass as they say and if you implement blunt tax rules you get blunt results.

I have seen 2 & 3 year old plug in hybrids with 60000 miles at auction with the cable still in it's unopened bag.

Oh, and I have a neighbour who has one of the said Mercedes - and as he says, why should I use my electric at home to charge a company car - they pay the fuel but not my electricity bill.......

Edited by oilit on Thursday 21st November 17:36

[Jon39]

George29 said:

Jon39 said:

I heard a comment recently, saying a considerable majority of hybrid owners, never bother to use their car's plug-in feature.
Does that therefore mean, they are actually driving an ordinary petrol car, except for the braking creating a small amount of electricity ?

Not to mention carrying around loads more weight, decreasing economy/emissions, making them pretty pointless. Mind you there’s so much like that one modern cars it’s no wonder they’re all so heavy!

Greetings George. Good to hear again from a knowledgeable engineer.
Yes, I had wondered whether the reality of hybrid cars, is more about impressing neighbours, rather than saving the planet.
Had forgotten about the employers car tax situation mentioned in the post above, but it appears that a significant proportion of hybrid car users never bother to plug in the supplied charging cable, so they are just driving a petrol powered car.

Do you still have your DB9 ?

I saw somewhere on the internet, that you have joined a different racing team.
They have improved suddenly. Would have had a first podium appearance for a long time, if the stewards had acted faster.
It is repeatedly said to be a collective team sport, but your arrival seems to have suddenly made a big difference. - Well done.

Edited by Jon39 on Thursday 21st November 18:29

[james-witton]

ashway said:

Buster73 said:

james-witton said:

Buster elitist???? Ha ha ha
He’s a Mackem FFS.
They can’t even spell it never mind be one.

Now now James , I’ve been called many things in my life but not vile and elitist , today I’ve added another two names to a very big list.

All because I worded a question in such a way he misunderstood it .

I’ll gladly accept his apology though.

Apology, I fear you'll be waiting a while for that, I honestly can't see what made him vent his spleen. I've always found you careful and considered, well balanced and polite. For a mackem that's praise indeed especially from a smoggy

Oi! Wot ya doing on the AM forum? The SEAT one is over there 🤣

[ashway]

james-witton said:

Oi! Wot ya doing on the AM forum? The SEAT one is over there ??

SEAT wash your mouth out!!!!still on here I’ve got some Vantage goodies to sell, winter wheels, cc exhaust remote and an indoor cover. Go on you know you want to

[Buster73]

ashway said:

Apology, I fear you'll be waiting a while for that, I honestly can't see what made him vent his spleen. I've always found you careful and considered, well balanced and polite. For a mackem that's praise indeed especially from a smoggy

Vile and elitist is growing on me now though, I think it’s almost a feather in my cap to get that sort of response.

I’ll not hold my breath for an apology though.....

[james-witton]

Buster73 said:

ashway said:

Apology, I fear you'll be waiting a while for that, I honestly can't see what made him vent his spleen. I've always found you careful and considered, well balanced and polite. For a mackem that's praise indeed especially from a smoggy

Vile and elitist is growing on me now though, I think it’s almost a feather in my cap to get that sort of response.

I’ll not hold my breath for an apology though.....

Maybe you could have those words embroidered on your AM jacket.

[RL17]

DickyC said:

RL17 said:

V12 is just a recent interloper introduced by Ford compared to long i6 history and then V8's for 3 decades.

Yeah, but, no, but, Aston's first straight six came with David Brown's purchase of Lagonda and Lagonda also had a V12. The V12 was used in a rather ungainly Lagonda version of the DB3S. So the V12 configuration is in the history of AML if not AM.

That was a bit geeky, wasn't it?

Not seen that one . Any pictures? Know they had a Rapide winning Le Mans (top class) when AM were still in the 1.5 litre class and a WO Bentley V12 pre-war. And there's 1960's Rapide in local club.