After a long wait, the covers have finally been whipped off the new Aston Martin DBX SUV, the brand’s first high-riding wagon in its 106-year history.
The DBX is scheduled to arrive in Australia next year priced from $357,000 plus on-road costs. It will give the British marque a rival to the SUVs like the Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne and Rolls Royce Cullinan.
Aston Martin had previously announced the DBX would be powered by the same AMG-sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8 that the brand has already deployed in the new Vantage.
The extra performance comes from a upgraded turbochargers, a different compression ratio and updated charge coolers. For context, in the Vantage the V8 develops 375kW and 685Nm.
Putting the power down is a nine-speed torque converter automatic transmission, connected to an all-wheel drive system with active differentials featuring an active central differential and an electronic rear limited-slip differential (eDiff). Torque can vary from a 47/53 per cent front/rear distribution, to sending “nearly” 100 per cent to the rear.
Aston Martin claims the 0-100km/h sprint takes 4.5 seconds while the top speed is listed at 291km/h.
The DBX uses 410 x 38mm discs with six-piston calipers up front, while the discs measure 390 x 32mm at the rear.
Size-wise, the DBX is 5039mm long, 2220mm wide (including mirrors), 1680mm high, with a 3060mm wheelbase. It weighs in at 2245kg.
In the unlikely event buyers want to get their DBX dirty, there’s a maximum approach angle of 25.7 degrees, departure angle of 27.1 degrees and a breakover angle of 18.8 degrees. Remarkably, the DBX has a wading depth rating of 500mm.
Underneath, the DBX rides on a new aluminium platform that uses cast aluminium suspension and subframe technology that features an independent double-wishbone set-up at the front and multi-link rear.
An adaptive air suspension system with variable ride height (can be raised by up to 45mm or lowered by 50mm) is standard. There’s also a 48v electric anti-roll control system (eARC) in place of regular anti-roll bars.
Design-wise, the DBX takes its cues from the latest Vantage and DBS, but it’s the cabin that steals the show. Full-grain leather trim sourced from Bridge of Weir, a headlining and electric roof blind covered in Alcantara (an industry first apparently), separate inboard armrests, ergonomic positioning of the car’s key control systems, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10.25-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay is included as standard.
Aston Martin’s first-ever full-size five-seat model packs 632 litres of boot space and features 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats.
The Aston Martin DBX is set to arrive locally in the second half of 2020 priced from $357,000 plus on-road costs.
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