Six-cylinder power looms for Aston Martin DBX

Aston Martin could introduce six-cylinder power with its first SUV, the DBX, which will enter production by late 2019.

Speaking with Australian media last week, Aston’s chief creative officer, Marek Reichmann, hinted it would be possible to incorporate a six-cylinder Mercedes-Benz engine into the pioneering crossover under a deal struck with parent company Daimler.

“It could [use a Mercedes-sourced six-cylinder], because that would be a pretty good engine and combination. Potentially,” said Reichmann.

The senior executive’s admission means Aston could potentially access Benz’s new M256 turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol inline six, which pairs with a 48-volt mild hybrid system to develop up to 285kW and 750Nm.

Aston’s first crossover, the 2020 DBX is set to debut hybridisation in a series-production Aston Martin model, Reichmann confirmed. And despite reports that a pure-electric version would not be produced, there is also scope for a BEV spin-off, too.

However, one thing Aston doesn’t plan on dabbling in is diesel. In fact, Reichmann vehemently opposed the idea.

“Never, ever, ever, ever, never, ever, ever. Never. Never! No diesels,” he laughed.

Aston Martin’s engine portfolio will soon be broadened beyond the current line-up of V12s and Mercedes-derived V8s.

Next year, the British marque will launch its first electric vehicle, the Rapide-E, which will be strictly limited to 155 units.

“Why are we doing the Rapide-E? To understand what our customers want from electrification because Aston Martins are not typically, everyday-use cars. We want to know what’s most important through feedback from the consumer,” Reichmann said.

“It gives you an idea of where the company’s going with electrification, particularly because we’ve announced that [Aston sub brand] Lagonda is all-BEV, and Lagondas will be built in the same factory as DBX, so you can put two and two together there and figure out how and where DBX will go in the future.”

Reichmann said the DBX would accentuate the ‘S’ in SUV with a strong sporting premise. It will also depart significantly from the design first debuted on the concept car shown in 2015.

“The concept that we showed in 2015 was a two-door coupe and it was there to announce the fact that we would be doing our version of an SUV,” he said.

“The key descriptor in SUV is Sports, and since we’re pretty good at sports cars and lightweight structures and dynamic capability of cars, it is very much a Sports Utility Vehicle.

“It is and will be a true five-door car, as a competitor to Cayenne, Bentayga, Urus and Cullinan effectively. But our take on that kind of car — and given our seven cars in seven years — the understanding of what that customer wants within that segment of car.

“The first concept was there to tease the world but not give too much away about the visual language of the car. One of the things that I will say is that, from the front, side and rear, you will recognise the car as an Aston Martin; without a doubt.”