Contrary to previous reports, Aston Martin has no plans of dropping an AMG-sourced inline six-cylinder engine into any of its new models. Those sentiments come straight from senior engineering executive Matt Becker, who admitted that his previous comments about the possibility of six-pots returning to Aston Martin models were phrased differently than he intended to. So if anyone out there is still excited about the prospects of a six-cylinder Aston Martin heading to market soon, here’s a bucket of ice-cold water to douse those expectations.

Matt Becker is taking the blame for this one. Aston Martin’s senior engineering exec admitted to Motoring that he might have inadvertently fed misinterpreted information on news about the British automaker sourcing AMG inline-six engines. “I fear that may have come out of one of my answers at Geneva ,” Becker said. “I was speaking in more general terms that we might have to one day look at downsizing engines.”

Becker’s explanation comes a few days after reports quoted him hinting that Aston Martin could use the inline-six cylinder engine that AMG developed for the Mercedes CLS 53 AMG. “With emissions regulations going where they’re going and getting harder and harder, we have to consider all powertrain options, and we are considering six-cylinders for the future,” Becker said. “Previous Astons have had six cylinders – a long time ago – but I think with CLS 53, the engine that has is a very complicated and clever engine and it’s something that could fit with the brand in the future.”

On some level, it’s easy to see where Becker’s words may have led on more than they should. But it’s also clear that he didn’t specifically confirm plans to use a fettled version of Mercedes’ 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that was used on the CLS 53 AMG. Given the history between Aston Martin and AMG — the latter has supplied engines for the British automaker — reading between the lines of Becker’s comments could have been interpreted as a sign that a new partnership between the two brands was in the works.

But alas, it’s not happening the way most of us thought it would. And if we bring in CEO Andy Palmer’s preference for using electrification to improve the efficiency of Aston Martin’s future models, it looks like the return of the inline-six cylinder on future Aston Martin models might still be wishful thinking on our part. Oh, well. At least we still have the DB7, the last Aston Martin to come with an inline-six engine, to remember.

References

Aston Martin Vantage

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