BBC Top Gear Magazine

Aston Martin DBX

No new niches here: the gobby DBX is a Porsche Cayenne rival and proud of it

- OLLIE KEW

This is the new Welsh-built Aston Martin DBX. We can say that with certainty, because Aston has confirmed DBX is indeed the name it’s christenin­g its first SUV with. No Vulcan/ Valkyrie/Vantage alliterati­on here. It’s DBX. And it’s alive. Here we see the new five-door SUV – a stark contrast to the sleek two-door coupe DBX concept from 2016 – hard at work testing on the Sweet Lamb rally stage in Wales. And when we say hard at work, we obviously mean ‘pratting around sideways’. That’s Matt Becker, Gaydon’s chief engineer at the wheel. Working hard.

And the work will be continuing all over the world, says Aston Martin. “Though simulation is an essential part of the DBX’s early developmen­t phase, this first prototype drive in Wales signifies the start of ‘real world’ testing,” we’re told.

“The SUV will be subjected to a punishing regime that will ultimately see developmen­t prototypes of the all-new machine tackle the world’s harshest environmen­ts, from the frozen Arctic and scorching deserts of the Middle East to high Alpine passes and the high-speed demands of the German autobahn and Nürburgrin­g Nordschlei­fe.” Obviously. Right, who had testing at the ’Ring on their prototype bingo card?

As well as having to be good at cruising quietly and being thrown around like a sports car, Aston says the DBX’s boot camp will ensure it has impressive multi-terrain and towing capabiliti­es. You could well be looking at the Caravan Club’s 2020 Tow Car of the Year.

Aston won’t reveal the finished DBX until this time next year, by which time you’ll have been en able to digest the looks. This one is clearly missing ng production-spec rear lights and doorhandle­s, s, but does the giant frog gob work for you?

Mind you, it’s no more eye-assaulting than a Bentley Bentayga or Lamborghin­i Urus. Neither of which are struggling for sales, you’ll note.

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