The times are changing, and Aston Martin has to change what they do in order to survive in the years to come. They’ve reportedly confirmed a production commitment for the high-riding DBX crossover by 2019. Following suit with many other automakers, Aston Martin’s plans may put them in a good spot with the surge of popularity of CUVs.
CEO Andy Palmer knew even before he was with the company, it needed an SUV or larger vehicle. Upon starting in 2014, he ordered designers to have a DBX concept ready for the Geneva Auto Show the following year. Initially, it was a two-door presentation with in-wheel electric motors at each corner and a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS). The production model is promised to maintain the concept’s design language, but it will have two additional doors and a significantly higher roofline.
The DBX will be equipped with an Aston in-house 5.2-liter V12 engine and lesser packages with an AMG-sourced twin turbo V8. The crossover will also be available with all-wheel drive. Aston Martin is still planning on creating a hybrid powertrain for the DBX, eventually leading to an all-electric edition, without the need of a plug-in hybrid to bridge the gap between them. We can expect a production ready model sometime in 2019.
