Aston Martin is getting ready to dip its feet into the SUV market for the first time with the upcoming DBX. The high-riding crossover is currently conducting its final stages of testing, with a prototype test car spied at the Nurburgring earlier this week.
Dressed in the familiar camouflage with red lips and stickers, the DBX was put through its paces on the demanding track. It looked and sounded fast and it should up the ante for other performance-oriented SUVs out there.
The list of rivals is long and includes many models, from the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio to the Lamborghini Urus, Bentley Bentayga and upcoming Ferrari Purosangue.
Also Read: 2020 Aston Martin DBX: Looks, Engines And Everything Else We Know About The SUV
Photo Rendering Copyright Carscoops / Josh Byrnes
To power the DBX, Aston Martin has turned, once again, to Mercedes-AMG, with the rumor mill pointing towards the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, coupled to an 8-speed auto. If the initial estimates are correct, then expect as much as 510 PS (503 hp / 375 kW) and 685 Nm (505 lb-ft) of torque. You know, like in the Vantage.
To better understand that output in an SUV, let’s remind ourselves that the AMG GLC 63 S’s V8 has an identical power figure and 15 Nm (11 lb-ft) of torque more, needs 3.8 seconds to sprint to 100 km/h (62 mph) and has a top speed electronically capped at 250 km/h (155 mph).
The British automaker will pull the veils off the DBX in the coming month, with production expected to start next year.