The almost unmitigated failure that was the Lagonda SUV Concept, unveiled earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show, has, despite its public rejection, paved the way for Aston Martin to revive the Lagonda brand with reports today suggesting these may take the form of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class based offering from the famous name.

Expected to arrive in mid-2012, the Lagonda sedan is expected to feature a hybrid powertrain and W222 platform underpinnings, much like the next Maybach super-sedan, and will borrow heavily from the S-Class in terms of high-tech features that will include, amongst other things, a forward-scanning predictive suspension system.

The hybrid system will most likely be based on that recently unveiled in the S400 Hybrid, itself a result of a joint project with Chrysler, General Motors and BMW.

It is most likely the conventional petrol engine component will be that of a Mercedes-Benz sourced 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12.

All other design work, including that of the body shell, will be left to Aston Martin.