Skip to main content

The unsung hero of Aston Martin, the Lagonda sedan may be making a comeback

unsung hero aston martin lagonda sedan may making comeback 99
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Aston Martin Lagonda is a bit of an ugly duckling, but it may be the most important car Aston has ever made.

The luxury four-door sedan was first built in 1976 out of financial necessity: Aston Martin was facing potential bankruptcy at the time. Up to that point, Aston had primarily focused on 2+2 sports cars, but the British manufacturer bit the bullet and commissioned the Lagonda in hopes that a more practical vehicle would bolster its finances. Luckily, the Lagonda came through, selling well enough to keep Aston from going under.   

Recommended Videos

Without the Lagonda, there may never have been a V8 Vantage, DB9, or Vanquish Volante. Can you imagine a modern car world without Aston Martin? More importantly, what would James Bond have to drive?

Was the Lagonda a great car? No, quite the opposite. It was awkward and stretched in its appearance, and its impressive array of technology, which included the world’s first touch-sensitive digital dashboard, rarely worked. In fact, Time Magazine included the Lagonda on its “50 Worst Cars of All Time” list. Ouch.

Despite its reputation, Autoblog reports that the Lagonda may be making a comeback, and it may boost Aston’s financials yet again. Despite having a successful 2013, Aston suffered a $39.3 million pre-tax loss in 2012 and is still in a fragile economic state. 

The new Lagonda will not be an SUV as previously reported. It appears to be based on the current Rapide S, although on a larger wheelbase. Like the Rapide, the Lagonda will house a version of Aston’s AM11 V12, which produces 550 horsepower.

In other news, Aston Martin recently announced a new marriage with Mercedes, in which it will gain twin-turbo V8’s, transmission, and electronics from the Germans. There’s also a brand new sports car platform on the way, so maybe things are looking up after all.

Andrew Hard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
Never mind slowing sales, 57% of drivers will likely have an EV in 10 years

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) have slowed globally over the past few years. But should EV makers cater more to the mainstream, it’s likely that 57% of drivers will have an EV in 10 years, consulting firm Accenture says.

Last year, nearly 14 million EVs were sold globally, representing a 35% year-on-year increase. But it was much slower than the 55% sales growth recorded in 2022 and the 121% growth in 2021.

Read more
I spent a week with an EV and it completely changed my mind about them
The Cupra Born VZ seen from the front.

After spending a week with an electric car as my main vehicle, opinions I’d formed about them prior to spending so much time with one have changed — and some quite dramatically.

I learned that while I now know I could easily live with one, which I wasn’t sure was the case before, I also found out that I still wouldn’t want to, but for a very different reason than I expected.
Quiet and effortless

Read more
Trade group says EV tax incentive helps U.S. industry compete versus China
ev group support tax incentive 201 seer credit eligibility

The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), a trade group with members including the likes of Tesla, Waymo, Rivian, and Uber, is coming out in support of tax incentives for both the production and sale of electric vehicles (EVs).

Domestic manufacturers of EVs and their components, such as batteries, have received tax incentives that have driven job opportunities in states like Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, and Georgia, the group says.

Read more