Aston Martin says goodbye to the combustion engine

At the time, he confirmed that the British company intends to launch its first purely electric car in 2025: This is likely to be a successor to the DB11. Then, in mid-February of this year, came the message that only electric or hybrid cars would be sold within four years. Pure combustion engines were no longer an option.

The sports car manufacturer, like the entire car industry, is in the process of breaking away from its dependence on pure combustion engines and switching more and more to petrol-electric hybrid drives first. The current range of front-engined sports cars, including popular models such as the Vantage and DB11, will be completely converted to all-electric models with the next generation, he said. Lawrence Stroll, chief executive of the luxury carmaker, said the group was "on a journey" and moving "at the pace our customers want", with plans to introduce plug-in hybrid models in two years and all-electric models by the middle of the decade.

Stroll also indicated that the brand would be fully electrified by 2026. Unlike competitors such as Bentley, which plan to sell only e-cars by 2030, he did not give a specific date for the final farewell to the internal combustion engine. Aston Martin itself is driven by the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in its transition to a purely electric car brand. However, they don't seem to be entirely convinced of the electric car alternative either: "I can't tell you that 100 per cent of Aston Martin customers want an electric car. People still want the smell, the noise. We will gradually move towards the electric car, but we will continue to offer both [electric and hybrid vehicles]," Stroll continued

Part of Stroll's strategy is to expand the brand's range from sports cars and the new DBX off-roader to mid-engined supercars that rival Ferrari. He added: "By 2025 or 2026, while we will have electrified every model, front-engine, mid-engine, SUV, we will continue to offer hybrid versions for sale as long as there is customer demand."

Aston Martin can rely on Daimler's expertise in its electrification plans after the German carmaker agreed last year to share its technology with the Brits in exchange for a stake of up to 20 per cent. The plug-in hybrid V-8 powertrain in the Valhalla, for example, is supplied by Mercedes performance brand AMG.

Aston Martin is also hoping for an increase in sales from electrification. The all-electric SUV in particular is expected to drive up sales figures. Currently, the British company sells a good 6000 vehicles per year. In the future, it should be more than 10,000.