Aston Martin 'not lazy' - official
Why Aston Martin's 'vertical horizontal' tech is far more than spinning endless variations of the same platform
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
[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
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?
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