With the first Aston Martin DBX having driven off the production line of ST. Athan in Wales this summer, deliveries of highly anticipated SUV to the middle east will commence in October 2020.
“The response to the DBX from both existing and new customers has been tremendously positive, as has the feedback from across the world following first drives. With extensive pre-orders and continuous enquiries, we have no doubt the DBX will arrive in a flurry of excitement for enthusiasts who have been patiently awaiting its touchdown,”
Said Dan Balmer, President – Aston Martin Lagonda UK, Middle East, Africa.
While the Bentayga is huge, the Aston martin dbx is slightly smaller, lighter, and more coupe-like. Its designers have tried hard to disguise its five-meter length, with a grille similar to Aston Martin’s low-slung sports cars. The extra height beneath its headlights is broken up by rounded LED daytime running lights, while its tail features large exhaust pipes and a ducktail spoiler and lights inspired by the Aston Martin Vantage.
As well as being lighter than some of its rivals, at around 2.2 tonnes, the way the Aston Martin dbx handles is down to its clever chassis. Not only is it fitted with highly adaptable three-chamber air suspension, but there are also adaptive dampers and a 48-volt system that controls how much the car rolls in corners. Called eARC, it can deploy 1,400Nm of force at each axle to combat the effects of physics as the car tackles corners.
Power comes from a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 sourced from AMG thanks to the partnership between Mercedes and Aston Martin. It’s less bassy than it is in Mercedes-AMG models, but there are some crackles on the overrun to remind you this isn’t a Tesla. The engine certainly isn’t lacking power, with 543bhp and 700Nm of pulling power getting this SUV from 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 181mph
It’s hard to imagine anyone seriously off-roading in an Aston Martin dbx, but do so with the suspension raised by 45mm and it’s possible to wade through floods at a depth of up to 500mm. Suffice to say, it can handle most situations a driver is likely to encounter, like snow and grassy car parks with one caveat – like its rivals, the DBX is fitted with high-performance road tyres.
Access is made easy by a 50mm drop in ride height with the air suspension lowered, and frameless doors are a cool touch. Once inside, it’s clear the Aston Martin dbx is intended to feel more sporty than the Bentayga, but the quality isn’t a match for the Bentley, regardless of the overall aesthetic.
The Aston Martin dbx interior certainly isn’t lacking in character but not everyone will love the elaborate instrument binnacle or the two large pads that cover the dashboard. Unlike most of the latest models, numerous small buttons can be fiddly until you learn where they are all located, but these may at least age better than the digital controls in many new cars.
Materials used throughout the interior are of high quality, with glass, metal and wood all adding to the upmarket ambience, while Alcantara covers the headlining and panoramic roof blind.
The 10.25-inch infotainment display is a generation behind the MBUX system in the latest Mercedes models, so while it has Apple CarPlay you’ll need to operate it using a control wheel or the steering wheel, rather than prodding the screen. There’s also a large 12.3-inch digital instrument panel for the driver.
We doubt many owners will complain about the space on offer as the Aston martin dbx can easily accommodate four adults in comfort, with enough luggage for a long holiday. It will also seat five for shorter jaunts, and visibility is surprisingly good for a car with so much emphasis on its exterior design. A true Aston martin dbx captures the very spirit of the brand as a beautiful hand-built, yet technologically advanced car. The starting price is AED 848,000/USD 231,000.
