Shock! Astons to get new platform

Aston Martin has confirmed an entirely new platform upon which its next generation of sports cars will be based.

Hanno Kirner, Aston's chief financial officer, made the statement during a report on the company's financial health, announcing that last year Aston Martin's revenue jumped 13 per cent to £519 million. The Gaydon firm sold some 4200 cars in 2013, up 11 per cent on the previous year.

Which means the company has a little more cash on which to build a new platform for future Astons, all of which currently sit on the ageing ‘VH' archictecture, now well over ten years old. Don't forget, new Astons will also benefit from Mercedes-Benz V8 engines following a deal between the two companies.

"We are engineering a completely new architecture and technologies to ensure our next generation of sports cars is at the forefront of design, performance and technology," Hanno said.

"The strategic partnership with Daimler AG will bring with it cutting edge electrical and electronic expertise, and the shared development of world-class bespoke V8 powertrains."

Though AMG boss Tobias Moers told TopGear.com that without Daimler's help, Aston would have disappeared, he confirmed that he was in no way considering a complete takeover of the marque.

"No one has the time to discuss any more involvement than [engines and electronics] for now," he told us.

Good news for Aston, but can they really hope to mix it with the big boys - Ferrari, Porsche and the rest - without, in the words of Moers, a ‘sugar daddy'? Here's hoping so...