Aston Martin will partner with the Lucid Group as it finally ‘hits the accelerator’ on its electrification strategy. The Californian-based startup – led by British engineer, Peter Rawlinson – has entered into a supply agreement with Gaydon that includes access to its ‘current and future powertrain and battery technology’.
That technology will be used to power an all-new, in-house-designed BEV platform. Aston confirmed that the forthcoming modular architecture will form the basis of the firm’s entire future EV range, said to include everything from ‘hypercars to sports cars, GTs and SUVs’. The first of these is targeted for launch in 2025 as the manufacturer plans to fully electrify its ‘core range’ by 2030.
Lawrence Stroll, Executive Chairman of Aston Martin, explained: “The supply agreement with Lucid is a game changer for the future EV-led growth of Aston Martin. Based on our strategy and requirements, we selected Lucid, gaining access to the industry’s highest performance and most innovative technologies for our future BEV products.
“We will not only leverage the significant investments Lucid has made to develop its world-class technologies, but will also further enhance and differentiate the drive experience through the work Roberto Fedeli and his teams are already developing, aligned with our ultra-luxury, high-performance strategy.”
Lucid itself only produces the Air, a saloon not yet available in Europe, though it plans to launch an SUV called ‘Gravity’ in the US next year. Nevertheless, its first model received rave reviews and was notable for both its long range - up to 516 miles, according to the EPA - and impressively large power outputs. In tri-motor format, the Air comes with 1,200hp, and even the dual-motor version offers 1,050hp.
Evidently, it is this level of powertrain technology - Aston’s CTO calls it ‘industry-leading’ - which appeals to Gaydon, as it seeks to hone a future model lineup ‘honed to deliver the optimum blend of scintillating class-leading performance and brilliantly resolved vehicle dynamics’. Unsurprisingly, the brand points to the ‘precise control of power delivery to each wheel’ as a gamechanger for its engineers, and one that will help it provide a ‘distinct dynamic fingerprint’ for each of its future BEV models.
Of course, if that thought leaves you cold, Aston also confirmed that its current relationship with Mercedes - the one that provides rousing internal combustion engines alongside all manner of electronic systems - will continue for the foreseeable future. On the basis that Gaydon plans to offer an ‘electrified powertrain option’ to every model line by 2026, you can be sure that its hybrid technology will feature soon enough.
Aston says its electrification strategy makes up a pillar of the broader ‘Racing. Green’ roadmap, which is funded by a £2bn investment. Its success depends upon numerous other partnerships, with the support of Brembo (in the form of new brake-by-wire technology) and Pirelli (via its sensor-fed ‘Cyber Tyre’) noted as it attempts to ‘raise the bar’ for future performance and efficiency.
Thanks to its burgeoning relationship with Geely - which recently increased its shareholding to 17 per cent - Aston also has access to its components, though evidently it has decided that Lucid offers a more compelling solution to the immediate challenge of developing its first full EV. Its first plug-in hybrid, the mid-engined Valhalla, is finally due for launch next year.
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