--- title: "Aston Martin Will Keep V12s Alive, If Only Barely: TDS" date: "2026-07-08" modified: "2026-07-08" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/aston-martin-will-keep-v12s-alive-if-only-barely-tds" categories: - "News" - "The Downshift" tags: - "Aston Martin" - "luxury" - "Supercar" --- # Aston Martin Will Keep V12s Alive, If Only Barely: TDS ![Aston Martin V12]() *\Aston Martin\* Good morning and welcome to *[The Downshift]()*, or TDS for short, *The Drive*β€˜s news roundup that gathers the biggest automotive headlines from around the globe. *The Downshift* summarizes stories into a couple of sentences and provides a link for those seeking more information. Here's your bulletin for Wednesday, July 8, 2026. πŸ”Š The latest episode of *[The Drivecast]()*, *The Drive’s* weekly podcast, will go live later today on [Apple Podcasts](), [Spotify](), and wherever you get your podcasts. πŸͺ½ Aston Martin has a plan to keep its V12s in production for as long as possible, though it comes with a caveat. "We've done some work to make the V12 compliant to European and US \[regulations\]," Adrian Hallmark, CEO of the brand, recently said in an interview. "If we keep our V12 sales under 1,000 per year, then we're exempt from legislation until 2035 at least." That puts a pretty hard cap on the company's output, though it's not like volume was really ever Aston's bag. *\[[Auto Express]()\]* πŸ“‰ Mercedes-Benz's Q2 2026 results are in, and they're down 8% on the year prior. The automaker attributed the slide to stiff competition in China. (Where else?) *\[[Reuters]()\]* πŸ“Ή Honda is recalling over 325,000 Odyssey minivans, model years 2018-2020, for faulty rearview cameras that could allow water to seep in and damage the system. *\[[Reuters]()\]* πŸ’΅ If you're interested in a 2026 Lucid Air or Gravity, the EV maker is offering some sizable discounts this month, including $10,000 in credit for those paying in cash, an extra $3,000 for trade-ins, and another $3,000 for returning Lucid customers. *\[[InsideEVs]()\]* πŸ‘” BYD reportedly wanted to purchase a stake in Renault twice over the last few years but was shot down on both occasions, according to a report from a French paper. *\[[Automotive News]()\]* 🐭 You know the Fiat Topolino, which is now available in North America? Apparently, the company is considering a hot Abarth version. I hope it has more than ropes for doors. *\[[Autocar]()\]* *Got a tip or feedback for TDS? Reach out to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()