One of my favorite brands being produced today is Aston Martin. While they too have their issues, I have to say that, on the whole, they're killer vehicles.
And I forget every single time, until I get to experience one again. It's like a rejuvenation.
That's because once you slide behind the steering wheel, smell the sumptuous leather, touch the real metal and hear its exhaust that you remember what makes this British marque so special. This is why I am newly excited about its all-new DBX sport-utility vehicle.
Having just had wheel time with the all-new Vantage, I can reconfirm that this company is doing it right through its partnership with Mercedes-AMG. This gives Aston the 4.0-liter V8, and the use of its electronics and technology.
Today, Aston's revealed the DBX's interior for the very first time. If you like what it's been doing with the DB11 and Vantage, you'll like its work here.
In addition, a base price has been set. $189,900*. That's what the all-new DBX will set you back, at minimum.
*Pricing does not include title, taxes and fees.
What do YOU make of that, Spies? Is this in line with your expectations?
Aston Martin's press release follows:
ASTON MARTIN OPENS DOOR TO INTERIOR DETAILS & PRICING OF DBX
- Aston Martin DBX’s interior showcased for first time delivering class-leading interior space and a range of luxurious materials
- Pricing confirmed: £158,000* in the UK, €193,500 in Germany, JPY 22,995,000 in Japan and $189,900 in the USA.
- Brand’s first SUV set for unveil in Beijing, China on Wednesday 20 November
Wednesday 6 November, Gaydon: With the global unveil of the company’s first SUV set for Wednesday 20 November 2019 in Beijing, China, the luxury British marque has today released the first image showcasing the finely crafted cabin of the Aston Martin DBX. Furthermore, the landmark model’s Recommended Retail Price has been confirmed at £158,000* in the UK, €193,500 in Germany, JPY 22,995,000 in Japan and $189,900 in the USA.
Combining the results of intensive customer research and Aston Martin’s expertise in hand-crafted interiors, DBX has been designed inside out to ensure owners feel instantly at home from the moment they enter the spacious cabin. Matching class-leading materials with carefully considered ergonomics, DBX has been created to meet the needs of the 99th percentile male to the 5th percentile female; an incredibly broad set of requirements.
The decision to use a bespoke chassis allowed Aston Martin’s design team – led by Executive Vice President & Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman – to tailor the interior space to the specific needs of DBX’s customers. The length between the wheels allowed the design team to optimise cabin space while maintaining a sleek, low roofline.
Over six months were spent solely focused on defining the position of the driver within the vehicle, with enough movement in the driver’s seat and steering column to allow clear visibility of all controls, screens and through windows. Crucially, the seating position also delivers a clear view of the bonnet to give confidence when in tight proximity to other cars.
Superior visibility is key to an SUV when inspiring driving confidence and DBX fulfils this demand with an enhanced feeling of sitting within the car, bringing a greater sense of safety and a familiar Aston Martin sporting feel. Fundamentally, DBX offers a cabin that gives the driver an instant and relaxed confidence, yet offers the promise of dynamic performance to reward the most discerning driver.
While the driver has been placed at the forefront of DBX’s interior philosophy, key details throughout have been carefully considered to ensure the model delivers on all elements of the design team’s initial brief.
The dashboard accentuates the feeling of space and luxury in DBX. Each button and dial has been carefully positioned following extensive testing from external counsel, including the brand’s Female Advisory Board and multiple customer clinics with HNWIs of mixed demographic, ensuring the cabin develops a feeling of instant familiarity. Into this broad sweep of dash-board the new TFT screens are integrated seamlessly, so that, despite their impressive size, the technology doesn’t interrupt the elegant overall flow of the interior design. Cabin storage, a necessity in an SUV, can also be difficult to incorporate harmoniously, but in DBX, Aston Martin’s designers have managed to create one of the interior’s standout features - a bridged centre console - creating an elegant, floating aesthetic that offers storage space below for larger items such as a handbag or large 1.5-litre water bottles. This feature keeps valuables close to hand while not occupying the passenger seat and away from dirt on the car’s floor mats.
The rear passengers were central to the design process. The design team wanted an inclusive feeling for those in the rear of the car, but without the sense that the rear occupants were leaning over those in the front of the vehicle, which can sometimes be the result of so-called ‘stadium’ seating arrangements. The needs of children were also considered extensively and, in a new exercise for Aston Martin, a group of children were invited to share their experience of ingress and egress and sitting in an ergonomic assessment model at the company’s design studio.
The result of all this research and development has ensured class-leading front & rear legroom and a fantastic feeling of airiness thanks to the full-length panoramic glass roof and expansive side windows. Sports car packaging methodologies and technical solutions have enabled significant benefits to DBX. The approaches learned through extensive experience of making space efficient sports car interiors means there is more knee and foot space for rear passengers than is typically found in rival SUVs. Wherever you sit in DBX, there is a sense of space and lightness with encapsulating views of the world you’re exploring.
With the model set to be unveiled on Wednesday 20 November, order books will open from this date onwards.
* Includes 3-years servicing