Aston Martin’s first-ever SUV rolls off production line

If there’s a perfect indication that the SUV is king nowadays, look no further than sports car maker Aston Martin finally building its first crossover, the DBX.

A little over four years since Aston Martin unveiled its Wales manufacturing facility, the first DBX finally drives off the new site’s production line, marking two major ‘firsts’ for the British marque. Aside from being the first Aston Martin SUV, it’s also the first to be “Made in Wales,” for the brand.

The first DBX possesses all that have been told about the vehicle last November, beginning with the 4.0-liter twin turbocharged V8 engine that makes around 542hp and 700Nm of torque and mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. The powerful engine also boasts a towing capacity of up to 2.7 tons, something no other Aston Martin model is capable of.

The DBX also has some very impressive numbers to match its much sleeker saloon siblings: a 0-100km/h time of about 4.5 seconds, and gravity-defying top speed of 290 km/h.

An all-wheel drive system is thrown in for good measure, a feature that Aston Martin hopes will allow the company to increase its foothold in markets where perhaps the weather or terrain is less forgiving to rear-wheel drive sports cars.

The clear emphasis on a spacious and luxurious cabin – whether seated in the front or back – will also allow Aston Martin to better reach customers who prefer to be driven rather than drive. The leather-lined interior fitted with wood trim and metal accents ensures every occupant is draped in sheer elegance. The rear seats can be folded down in a 40:20:40 configuration for convenient storage.

A 10.25 inch infotainment screen sits at the center dash, while a 12.3 inch screen in the gauge cluster provides trip info. Standard features include Apple CarPlay, a 360-degree camera, and a 64-color interior cabin lighting.

Despite it being a departure from the British brand’s usual fanfare, the carmaker promises that the DBX is an Aston Martin through and through. Around 80 percent of production is destined for overseas markets, underlining the DBX’s importance to Aston Martin with regards to the brand’s profitability goals.

“We are incredibly proud of our first SUV, which is as much of an Aston Martin as any one of our sports cars,” mentioned Marek Reichman, Aston Martin Executive Vice President & Chief Creative Officer. “From my design team to the engineers, the vehicle dynamics team and all the experts who hand-craft this beautiful car, here at St Athan, the DBX has become the car that will drive Aston Martin into a bold new era.”

Aston Martin reveals that there have been 2,000 orders for the DBX so far, and first deliveries of the vehicle to customers will commence later this month, right on schedule.

No word yet on when the SUV will begin delivering to our shores. Aston Martin PH currently has four models in its local lineup: the Vantage, DB11, DBS Superleggera, and Rapide S.

Photos from Aston Martin

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