Project Alligator: Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benz Collaboration
Posted by Admin on September 5, 2008 
The name alligator is an anglicized form of the Spanish “el lagarto”, meaning “the lizard”, a name which early Spanish explorers and settlers in Florida called the alligator. Currently, there are only two living alligator species: the American Alligator and the Chinese Alligator. Until now.
According to Car magazine, under a Project named Alligator, Aston Martin & Mercedes Benz are planing a wide-ranging tie-up to collaborate on engines, hybrids, transmissions and even entire platforms.
Here are the highlights of the so called Alligator project:
- Mercedes engines power future Aston Martins
- AMG’s 6.3 liter V8 would make its way into the Vantage models
- Diesels and Hybrids from Mercedes would be used in Astons
- Whole platforms to be shared by top-end models
- 8 speed automatic tranny for AM sports cars
- Maybach and Aston would be cooperating on future models
There is more info coming in CAR magazine’s September issue. For now however, we’ll just have patience and wait for more details on the Alligator Project.
Ok, and the benefit the Mercedes is….??
I can see where Aston benefits, but what does Aston do better than Mercedes? Astons are what they are because of their looks and their branding as a classy, sophisticated gentleman’s car, not because of engineering or technological success.
As far as I know, the only thing that Aston can contribute is styling, but then you’d have a Mercedes that looks like an Aston. Can something show me where Mercedes benefits in this?
Add A Comment