Aston Martin VH platform

The DB9 was the first car to use the VH platform.

The British carmaker Aston Martin developed the vertical–horizontal (VH) vehicle platform to serve as the basis of most of the mass-produced vehicles in its lineup manufactured between 2003 and 2016, comprising the DB9, followed by the Vantage, DBS, Rapide and Vanquish. The limited-production Virage, DB10 and Lagonda Taraf also used this platform.

Ulrich Bez was appointed chief executive officer and chairman of Aston Martin in July 2000.Template:Sfn At that time, the company had made significant investments in the V12 Vanquish's structural platform and determined that developing a separate platform for a single model would not be a prudent use of resources. In 2001, Bez initiated the development of a new versatile architecture intended to accompany automobiles of various sizes; most of the developments were done within that year.Template:Sfn Aston Martin implemented modifications to enhance assembly efficiency, aiming for thirty minutes per unit, compared to the four hours required for the V12 Vanquish.Template:Sfn The VH platform was developed to be flexible.<ref name="p605">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Every vehicle that uses it incorporates bonded and riveted aluminium to reduce weight.<ref name="u265">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The term "vertical" indicates that the platform can accommodate various applications and can be adjusted in size to meet the requirements of future models. The term "horizontal" signifies that components of the platform can be used across different models within the Aston Martin lineup.Template:Sfn

The first vehicle to use the VH platform was the DB9, which constituted the platform's first generation. The Vantage, introduced in 2005, used the second generation of the platform, along with the DBS and DB10, introduced in 2007 and 2014, respectively. The third generation of the platform was used by the Virage in 2011, the 2012 facelift of the DB9 and the 2012 Vanquish. The Rapide and Lagonda Taraf used the fourth generation, an extended version of the platform.Template:Sfn<ref name="s398">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The cars have since been discontinued. The Virage and DBS both ended production in 2012,<ref name="k771">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="s474">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> followed by the DB10 in 2015.<ref name="h825"/> The DB9 and Taraf were discontinued in 2016,<ref name="o476">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> while the Vantage and Vanquish ended production in 2018.<ref name="f270">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="y153">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Production of the Rapide ended in 2020.<ref name="c264"/>

Vehicles

Mass produced vehicles

Body style	Model					Template:Abbr
	Name	Image	Introduction (year)	Discontinuation (year)	Generation
Grand tourer	DB9		2004	2016	I (III after 2012 update)	Template:Sfn<ref name="q001">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="f147">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Sports car	Vantage		2005	2018	II	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="f441">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Grand tourer	DBS		2007	2012	II	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Executive car	Rapide		2010	2020	IV	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="l158">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="u358">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Grand tourer	Vanquish		2012	2018	III	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Limited-production vehicles

Body style	Model					Template:Abbr
	Name	Image	Introduction (year)	Discontinuation (year)	Generation
Grand tourer	Virage		2011	2012	III	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="c512">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news Template:Free access</ref>
Grand tourer	DB10	Error creating thumbnail:	2014	2015	II	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="q493">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Full-size luxury car	Lagonda Taraf	Front three-quarters view of a gold saloon on a race track	2015	2016	IV	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="s398"/>

References

Bibliography

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Template:Aston Martin timeline 2000 to date