Aston Martin Begins Testing Of Its First Ever SUV, The DBX

The development prototype of Aston Martin’s first ever SUV, now officially confirmed as being named DBX, is currently being tested along a demanding Welsh Rally stage.

According to Aston Martin, this first prototype drive in Wales signifies the start of ‘real world’ testing, in which the SUV will be subjected to a punishing regime that will ultimately see development prototypes of the all-new machine tackle harsh environments.

After the Welsh Rally, the DBX will have to endure the Arctic, the deserts of the Middle East, the high Alpine passes, and also the high-speed demands of the German autobahn and Nürburgring Nordschleife.

Speaking of his drive in the DBX development prototype, Aston Martin Chief Engineer, Matt Becker, said, “We have already developed and tuned DBX in the driving simulator, which has enabled us to make excellent progress in advance of the first physical prototype cars being available.”

“Still, it’s always a big day when you get to put the first actual miles on an early prototype and I’m delighted with the near perfect correlation between the simulator and this prototype. As an engineer, it’s genuinely exciting to get a feel for the car you’re working to create. DBX is a very different kind of Aston Martin, but we will be testing it in all conditions and across all terrains to ensure it delivers a driving experience worthy of the wings badge.”

The DBX is scheduled to be unveiled in the last quarter of 2019 and will be built at Aston Martin Lagonda’s St Athan facility, which will ultimately become the ‘Home of Electrification’ when the marque’s fully-EV models enter production.

Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group Chief Executive Officer, Andy Palmer said, “Seeing a DBX development prototype in action is a momentous chapter in the story of our first SUV, for it is the moment it really comes alive. The DBX is so much more than ‘just’ an SUV; it will be the first model built at our brand-new facility in St Athan. As such, it is very much the start of a bold new era in the company’s long history.”