RE: Aston Martin 'not lazy' - official

RE: Aston Martin 'not lazy' - official

Monday 15th October 2012

Aston Martin 'not lazy' - official

Why Aston Martin's 'vertical horizontal' tech is far more than spinning endless variations of the same platform



Aston Martin VH (vertical horizontal) is an engineering methodology, not a platform. That's us told, then. Seems we have it all wrong in assuming Aston's 2004-vintage underpinnings link V8 Vantage to DBS in the same way a SEAT Leon is a VW Golf in a Flamenco dress. It's more granular than that, as Aston Martin director of product development Ian Minards explains.

VH started with the Vanquish - has it moved on?
VH started with the Vanquish - has it moved on?
What IS VH, then? "The 'V' vertical bit signifies shared body construction principles across all models, while 'H' signifies systems shared horizontally through the cars - components such as front and rear suspension units, engines and dashboards," Minards says.

"It's like fine dining. We can take the best ingredients and cook to different flavours."

Hard to swallow
Something that many of us might take with a pinch of gourmet rock salt. But Minards continues. Being so modular means Aston rolls out all-new systems easily, as they become available rather than at model change time - both in-house core competencies and ones developed with engineering partners such as ZF, Recaro, Cosworth and Continental.

Aston  Martin's Ian Minards: VH is not a platform
Aston Martin's Ian Minards: VH is not a platform
Everything is an individual system (an 'H') and can be developed or replaced independently of others - something that can't be done with a regular platform-based architecture. It also means Aston can push boundaries with cars like the One-77, then roll out its tech on series production cars once proven: see the variable valve timing or all-carbon fibre body on the new Vanquish.

Still to be convinced Vanquish product manager Andy Haslam picks up the story. And goes back to basics: VH is, um, not a platform. Because it's a bonded monocoque of die-cast, extruded and stamped aluminium components - think of it like McLaren's carbon fibre MonoCell - to which different components can (or will be) attached. Or, Lotus' bonded aluminium chassis principle, which creates different cars from a shared central core.

Original DB9 is considered 'VH 1'
Original DB9 is considered 'VH 1'
The Lotus link is appropriate. It helped develop the original Vanquish platform, which was the precursor to Aston's in-house VH architecture. Dr Ulrich Bez himself convinced cost-conscious Ford to green light because of the sheer flexibility designed into it, thus neatly avoiding the risk of any Ford-derived Astons. Shudder. The Vanquish is now generally regarded as 'VH 0'.

Tuning in to VH 1 ... 2, 3 and 4
VH generation 1 was the 2004 DB9. The V8 Vantage was also derived from this chassis. "It established our foundation," says Minards.

Generation 2 arrived with the DBS and, later, the V12 Vantage. "On V, it introduced carbon fibre, for H, it brought in adaptive damping and carbon brakes." Rapide, with its stretched wheelbase, was generation 3, "with better sealing, laminated glass and isolated subframes". Vantage S and Virage were also derived from this iteration.

All-carbon new Vanquish represents  VH 4
All-carbon new Vanquish represents VH 4
Now, we have VH 4 in Vanquish: all-carbon fibre body, AM11 engine that's more than three-quarters different, new infotainment systems and centre console structure, all-new front crash structure, an engine 19mm lower, even bigger footwells and a full carbon fibre end that means the boot is 60 per cent larger. Three stages on from the original DB9, then, picking up all the systems improvements along the way ("we don't simply throw learning away" says Haslam) and adding a generation's worth of its own.

Aston's VH mistake
Where it's failed in recent years, it seems, is to almost use the VH methodology cynically to create 'new' cars. Witness the identikit DB9, DBS and Virage. That's over, it seems. Now, we have DB9, Vanquish, and clear water between them. The methodology will be used to improve the core cars rather than spin off new ones. Lesson learnt for Aston: now it's over to us to see the true benefits of VH.

One-77 takes the VH concept to extremes
One-77 takes the VH concept to extremes
Basically, it seems Aston has actually been ahead of the game for the past decade. For validation, take Volkswagen. It's making a fuss about its new MQB platform, which underpins the Golf and which is flexible enough to form the basis of all VW Group's mid-range cars in the future. It's far more modular than the old PQ35 platform - but MQB is only doing what VH has done since the launch of the DB9...

 

 

 

 

Author
Discussion

ghibbett

Original Poster:

1,900 posts

184 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
It's not about being 'lazy' but about making the most out of something with as little investment as possible.

MycroftWard

5,983 posts

212 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
This is all very well but when are Aston going to wow us with a new looking car? The DB9 was and is a beautiful car, 8 years on and this new Vanquish looks like a DB9 with some cheesey OTT body additions.

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
MycroftWard said:
This is all very well but when are Aston going to wow us with a new looking car? The DB9 was and is a beautiful car, 8 years on and this new Vanquish looks like a DB9 with some cheesey OTT body additions.
No no, it's FAR too fussy and over styled to be a mere cheesy bodykit!

VeeDub Geezer

461 posts

153 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
Article said:
Generation 2 arrived with the DBS and, later, the V12 Vantage. "On V, it introduced carbon fibre, for H, it bought in adaptive damping and carbon brakes."
Isn't it supposed to "brought"?

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
VeeDub Geezer said:
Isn't it supposed to "brought"?
Possibly, but I imagine either is technically correct in this case wink

g3org3y

20,606 posts

190 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
Far too fussy at the front. The splitter looks like such an afterthought. Very inelegant.


tommy vercetti

11,486 posts

162 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
That white Vanquish looks so pretty, and has aged beautifully

MrTappets

881 posts

190 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
Not lazy, eh? How about skint. That would similarly explain why it's variations on the same engine, same interior and same body.

sisu

2,576 posts

172 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
g3org3y said:
Far too fussy at the front. The splitter looks like such an afterthought. Very inelegant.

That splitter is looking like a fat guy with a chin curtain goatee



PhilJames

234 posts

192 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
"The Lotus link is appropriate. It helped develop the original Vanquish platform, which was the precursor to Aston's in-house VH architecture.

Basically, it seems Aston has actually been ahead of the game for the past decade. "

It seems Lotus is actually ahead of the game then.

bennyboydurham

1,617 posts

173 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
IMHO the DB9 still looks better than the others, 8 years on. That's the true sign of a great design.

McSam

6,753 posts

174 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
No st, anyone who paid attention to Aston knew that VH was their entire company model, not simply a chassis platform...

Kong

1,503 posts

170 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
Interesting I thought the Vanquish was from the old DB7/XK8/XJS lineage, every day is a school day!

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
Surely this is the man that AML need as a "spokesperson"??





[very poor comic iraqi accent]

"No, no, all our cars a competely different and new, and no parts, engines or designs are shared between platforms, in fact, they aren't even platforms, oh no, they are, let me see, yes, they are like shining mirages in the desert, like full lipped alluring dancing women. They might lift their veil if you ask nicely............, but no, not the same, not the same at all"

[/very poor iraqi accent]


Dan Trent

1,866 posts

167 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
dme123 said:
VeeDub Geezer said:
Isn't it supposed to "brought"?
Possibly, but I imagine either is technically correct in this case wink
Haha, very good! But, yes, 'brought' as it now is.

Dan

jbforce10

509 posts

174 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
Dan Trent said:
dme123 said:
VeeDub Geezer said:
Isn't it supposed to "brought"?
Possibly, but I imagine either is technically correct in this case wink
Haha, very good! But, yes, 'brought' as it now is.

Dan
Might just have been an accidental slip and admitted that they bought in the adaptive damping and carbon brakes from a 3rd party!

Dave Hedgehog

14,541 posts

203 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
VH more like UB

utter bollo....

infradig

978 posts

206 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
I went past the new dealership on the old factory site last week and glanced across at the 15 or 20 grey generic Astons lined up and was surprised to see half a dozen in bright colours all 62 reg. it was only when I was following one on the way back out of Newport that I realised they were Vanquishes. Seems the only way they can make the launch models stand out is to paint them like Cygnets.

The Pits

4,289 posts

239 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
Drives me mad the hypocrisy and double standards of the motoring press when it comes to Aston Martin.

Porsche churn out the same old recipe and styling since the '60's and they can do no wrong. Suddenly the new 991 is 'mostly' aluminium and is pronounced the second coming of the messiah. By 'mostly aluminium' you can read, not yet up to where Aston Martin were ten years ago. Or the Lotus Elise from 16 years ago.

Not even the pig ugly Panamerde or deeply cynical Cayenne receive much in the way of criticism to my continued astonishment.

What do Aston have to do to get a break? All this groundless scoffing and mis-information for the sake of a story is under mining confidence in one of the truly wonderful and life-affirming car makers. To what end?

If there's one thing that's lazy it's automotive journalism when it comes to Aston Martin. Please will somebody change the record?

WillBrumBrum

607 posts

197 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
Maybe His Royal Highness Danny Bahar should go and work at Aston Martin next because it can't get much worse...?! ;-)