By Tycho de Feijter for 6th Gear Automotive Solutions.
Haarlem, November 2019.
Aston Martin has unveiled their new DBX, the first SUV for the famous British sports car maker. The launch party was in Beijing, the capital of China and the capital of expensive SUVs. Aston Martin hopes to sell most DBX’ in China, the United States and the Middle East. The DBX had a long time coming. Aston Martin started thinking about an SUV all the way back in 2009 with the Lagonda SUV Concept. Ten years and several concept cars later the DBX is finally here, so it has a lot to prove. It certainly looks impressive and expensive; with an aggressive stance, an ultra-wide grille, and the widest tires that would fit.
The power train is impressive too. The engine is sourced from Mercedes-AMG. It is a twin-turbocharged 4.0 liter V8, mated to a nine-speed automatic, sending power to all four wheels. Output of the engine is 550 hp and 700 Nm. Aston Martin claims the DBX sprints from 0 to 100 in 4.5 seconds, with a top speed of 291 kilometers per hour.
To bring all these horses to the road the DBX stands on Pirelli P Zero tires, 28.5 centimeters wide front and a massive 35 centimeters wide at the back! Diameter of the alloy wheels is 22 inch. A powerful car like the Aston Martin DBX needs proper braking power too. The DBX is fitted with an advanced braking system, including emergency-brake assist (EBA).
The brakes themselves are gigantic too. The DBX has ventilated steel discs, but future performance version will use carbon-ceramic discs. Diameter of the front brake discs is 41 centimeters with 6-piston calipers. At the rear, diameter of the brake disc is 39 centimeter, with sliding-piston aluminum calipers. The front brakes get extra cooling via the air ducts on each side of the front bumper.
Aston Martin says the DBX is perfectly capable off-road, with adjustable air suspension and an advanced brake-based torque vectoring system. Naturally, in the real world most DBX’ will never leave the city, but it is always nice to know it can go up a rocky mountain if it really needs to. It is also nice to know the DBX will always be able to brake and stop, anytime it has to.