Aston Martin is preparing to launch serial production of its first crossover, the DBX, as early as December. Production will be set up at a new plant in Wales, in St Athan, where more than 200 jobs have already been created. This information is reported by Autocar, citing an informed source. In the future, the same site is planned to produce electric Aston Martin models, as well as exclusive cars under the Lagonda brand.
The new model will compete with the Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne, and Maserati Levante. Order books for the crossover will open in August 2019 during the Concours d'Elegance, which will take place in Pebble Beach, USA. It is possible that the official presentation of the model will also take place there. First customer deliveries are expected in the first half of next year.
According to unofficial information, the base version of the SUV will get a four-liter twin-turbo V8 from Mercedes-AMG, with power of about 600 horsepower. The top modification will feature a 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12 engine developing approximately 750 horsepower.
The concept that foreshadowed the Aston Martin DBX was presented in spring 2015 at the Geneva Motor Show. The production version, unlike the two-door show car, will have a four-door body. Testing of prototypes on Welsh roads began last year. After that, tests were conducted in various regions of the world, including areas beyond the Arctic Circle and the Nürburgring Nordschleife track.
