For the first time in recent memory, the future looks bright at Aston Martin. The company finally has some desperately needed new products in the form of the gorgeous DB11; six new production cars are set to follow, and a limited-run hypercar designed by Red Bull F1 ace Adrian Newey is planned. The good news keeps on coming because Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer told our sister publication Car & Driver that the British legend will continue offering manual gearboxes for as long as possible.
"I've already gone on the record saying I want to be the last manufacturer in the world to offer a manual sports car," Palmer told Car & Driver. Palmer confirmed that the next Vantage, which is due in 2017, will offer both a manual and an automatic. While the DB11 features a twin-turbo V12 designed in-house, the next V8 Vantage will use an engine built in partnership with Mercedes-AMG.
What you won't see in a future Aston is a dual-clutch transmission: Palmer thinks they're too heavy and don't offer a considerable functional advantage over a conventional automatic. Frankly, Aston could put a CVT in its cars and we wouldn't care, so long as we could still get three pedals and a stick. Thankfully, Aston uses the excellent ZF 8-speed auto in its V12 cars, a top-notch alternative if you're not interested in the old way of shifting.
Aston Martins have always been about more than numbers, so it's great to see Palmer promise to continue this spirit into the 21st century with his declaration of allegiance to the manual gearbox. Keep fighting the good fight, Andy. We'll be right there with you.
A car enthusiast since childhood, Chris Perkins served as Road & Track's engineering nerd and Porsche apologist.
