Ever since the first Aston Martin hit the streets in 1915, the marque has been celebrated for its understated elegance, exceptional performance, and the sensuous connection it creates between car and driver. Rather than resting on its laurels, Aston Martin has continually strived to improve, producing better and more exciting cars for its customers.
The next generation of Aston Martin vehicles reflects over a century of experience and the collaborative effort of all teams within the marque, working together from conception to delivery to create automotive wonders.
It all starts with a brief from the Product Marketing team, which is communicated to various departments involved. Leighanne Earley, Creative Director of Interiors at Aston Martin, explains: “We all get in a room together and start discussing what we can and can’t do. By sharing, we know the constraints from the beginning and we can spend more time on what the customer gets at the end. It is about innovation and quality.”
Over the years, the stars have aligned with one result being the dramatic evolution in the design and quality of the interiors in the DB12, DBX, new Vantage and new Vanquish. “Most of us are part of the old Aston Martin generation. We’ve all grown and evolved together,” Leighanne explains, referring to her colleagues in the exterior and interior design, engineering, and UX teams, which now operate almost as a ‘hive mind’. By the time they began working on the DB12, they had become a well-oiled machine, with ideas flowing freely and contributions from everyone. “As the relationship between us grew closer and stronger, it showed in the final product. With the new generation of cars – of which the DB12 was the first – we were able to truly express our vision.”
Steve Platt, Senior Specialist of Interior Design, who works side-by-side with Leighanne, notes, “One of the greatest differences with previous generations of Aston Martin cars is the architecture of the interiors, which is now much more structured, horizontal and slimmer.”
Explaining the reasoning behind this evolution, Andy Tokley, Chief Engineer, adds, “As Aston Martin became much more focused on performance and luxury so the language of the interior had to step up to match the overall. The interior design themes that we see in the new generation of cars flow from the outside in and continue in the drive and performance. The whole thing knits together really cohesively.”
Guy Harrup, Head of Interior Trim, elaborates. “We want to deliver the aesthetic that the designers want, but at the same time be sure that we provide a feeling of solidness and overall luxury quality. So getting into the car opens a world of possibilities. Once you close the door, you feel safe, cosseted into the cabin, ready to start the thrilling experience of driving it.”
Investing in the latest technology has also played a crucial role in upgrading Aston Martin cars, especially regarding HMI (Human–Machine Interface). It is here that UX Expert Maria Chiara Palli and her team shine, demonstrating how this technology, which combines UI (User Interface) and UX (User Experience), can ultimately be put at the service of the Aston Martin customer. Maria explains that her team has to work with all the others in order to deliver a product that fulfils their high expectations. At the same time, she realises that, in her field, less is often more. Instead of continuing to add extra digital features and screens to the new cars – as many other brands do – Maria concentrates on delivering the latest HMI advances while maintaining a sensorial experience in the cabin.
Although the client always comes first for Aston Martin, provenance and sustainability are also key priorities. The choice of materials is made with careful consideration, focusing on durability, lightness and the highest quality to meet customer expectations. Guy explains, “Many of our customers are repeat clients, so they expect a certain level in the finishing and in the materials we use.”
Aston Martin is also exploring the use of recycled carbon from Formula 1, linking sustainability with high-performance innovation. This synergy extends to the design philosophy, as Andy explains, “Among the learnings from F1 are being optimal with the whole package of the car, making it more efficient from all perspectives while ensuring it remains beautiful, which is at the very core of what we do at Aston Martin.”
Valhalla, Aston Martin’s first hybrid supercar is a perfect example of a car as close as it gets to F1. This unprecedented machine took some to-and-fro between the teams, as Leighanne candidly shares. “Our initial requests as designers were steered by the feedback of the engineering team, who made us aware of what could and could not be done, and often we had to go back to the drawing board.”
“The mass of Valhalla was a challenge,” Guy explains, “It became quite difficult to balance various attributes with the available package space.” The uniqueness of this futuristic machine meant that some elements, such as the HVAC system, had to be done specifically for Valhalla as nothing in the market would fit. The choice of materials became particularly difficult as they had to be ultralight but also maintain the luxurious feel expected from Aston Martin. At some points, compromises had to be made.
When asked about what the toughest part is of making a new Aston, Guy doesn’t hesitate, “Timing”. For the Vantage, there was a compressed time frame from the initial sketch to the moment it rolled off the production line, yet the quality and attention to detail remained uncompromised.
Guy thought that the only way they could meet such a tight deadline was if all of them met every single morning, making sure everyone was on the same page.
Being here in Gaydon, listening to all of them talking about the work they do together, I realise how much passion and emotion goes into the making of an Aston Martin. Leighanne smiles and comments, “Well, we are making ultraluxury products. Emotion is always there.”
There is also pressure. “Cars are not like fashion,” Leighanne adds, “where if something doesn’t work, it is easy to replace for something else within weeks. We can’t do that with cars. Furthermore, at Aston Martin, we are custodians of a 110-year old brand, so every line we design, every material we choose, we have to make sure it honours its heritage. So we need to be brave with our work, but never arrogant or egotistical.”
I imagine that when they are presenting a new car to a customer, they must feel like proud parents, so I wonder how they feel when they get feedback about any of the design elements, exterior or interior. “Everything is subjective and that’s why there is such a wide range of personalisation available within our new cars. We listen to what the client wants and do our best to make it happen,” Steve says. Leighanne concludes, “At the end of the day, it is their car, their experience, and sometimes we learn from their choices.”
With true team spirit, before we go, Guy adds, “There is true talent within the engineering and design teams. They are the ones who do the clever stuff, the ones that realise the ideas. Those are the people who should be acknowledged.”
It does indeed, take a whole village to raise an Aston.
