Electric, autonomous and V12s all part of Aston's future

An all-electric Aston Martin with more than 1000 Newton-metres of torque and a 0-100km/h sprint time in the three-second range is the next target for the British brand.

As it unleashes its $2.5 million Vulcan road racer at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, company chief Andy Palmer reveals to Carsguide that a zero-emission car is vital to Aston's future.

"You really need a zero. I do believe we'll be there," Palmer says. "I see it as a strong possibility. It would be mighty fast to 100km/h. If you look at a Telsa it's a pretty elegant car, but an Aston Rapide is more elegant.

"It's more than a pipe dream. (But) Do I have a project that's fully funded and fully signed-off, no we're not there."

The Aston Martin Vulcan is more than halfway to a sellout of its 24-car production run.

But Palmer says the Vulcan, which is intended for Aston drivers who want a race-style track car at their disposal, is more than halfway to a sellout of its 24-car production run.

"I've got more than half of them sold. I've got considerably more than 24 people that the industry calls 'hot leads'."

Palmer is only recently into the hot seat at Aston Martin but has clear feelings on the brand and what it needs for new-model development, following a deal which allows it to tap into Daimler for technology.

"As long as legislation lets me, and I'm sitting in this seat with a beating heart, we'll have a V12 engine. With idle stop and cylinder deactivation you can make it work."

He is also keeping a close eye on development of self-driving cars. "I quite like the idea of a button that says 'drift'," he laughs.

But he concedes that autonomous driving could be a bonus to Aston Martin, as people split their driving between chores and enjoyment.

"An Aston is a driver's car and always should be. Almost never is an Aston the only car in the garage. 

"I'm an advocate of the technology. I think Aston won't be on the leading edge of that technology, although we could be because we take the Daimler electrical architecture.

"I think we'll adopt it at the level of convenience. I think self parking is extraordinarily relevant to the brand. It's extremely interesting."