Autocar September 05, 2018

ASTON MARTIN’S DECISION to float in part on the Stock Exchange will reward its shareholders handsomely. The flotation value of £4-5 billion is extraordinary for a company that Ford sold for £479 million 11 years ago and which has made a loss for most of the years since. That dramatic increase in value is credit to the work of boss Andy Palmer, who has galvanised the company behind his ‘Second Century’ plan. The first three models to emerge from it, the DB11, Vantage and DBS, have been outstanding, but for the final four cars Aston is entering uncharted territory by launching models with no direct predecessor, starting with next year’s DBX SUV (p6). The idea of an Aston SUV is no longer as alien as it once was, yet much of the…

ASTON MARTIN’S DECISION to float in part on the Stock Exchange will reward its shareholders handsomely. The flotation value of £4-5 billion is extraordinary for a company that Ford sold for £479 million 11 years ago and which has made a loss for most of the years since. That dramatic increase in value is credit to the work of boss Andy Palmer, who has galvanised the company behind his ‘Second Century’ plan. The first three models to emerge from it, the DB11, Vantage and DBS, have been outstanding, but for the final four cars Aston is entering uncharted territory by launching models with no direct predecessor, starting with next year’s DBX SUV (p6). The idea of an Aston SUV is no longer as alien as it once was, yet much…

“The DBX’s development is now nearly complete ahead of a world debut in around a year’s time” Aston Martin’s comeback is to be crowned by the most radical model in its illustrious history and the flagstone of its expansion: the DBX SUV. First previewed as a concept in 2015, the DBX’s development is now nearly complete ahead of a planned world debut in around a year’s time, with sales due to start in early 2020. The DBX — which will compete against the likes of the Lamborghini Urus, Bentley Bentayga, Rolls-Royce Cullinan and upcoming Ferrari SUV — breaks new ground for Aston in several areas. It’s the firm’s first SUV, the most controversial of body types for such a brand but also potentially the bestselling and most profitable. Indeed, so significant is the…

DB11, 2016 First new-era Aston was an instant hit but has already been replaced by the more honed DB11 AMR. The range recently expanded with an open-top Volante. Vantage, 2017 Far more overtly a sports car than its forebear, it will take the fight to the Porsche 911 with a series of spin-offs including a Volante and a V12 version. DBS Superleggera, 2018 Latest Aston Martin is a full-blown front-engined supercar rival to the Ferrari 812 Superfast. An Autocar road test of the model is due in the autumn. DBX, 2019 Aston’s second century plan enters its next phase with the first all-new model with no direct predecessor: the radical four-door, four-seat SUV. Vanquish, 2020 The name will return to an Aston in the form of a new mid-engined supercar. Its development is taking place at a special Aston…

“The DBX’s development is now nearly complete ahead of a world debut in around a year’s time” Aston Martin’s comeback is to be crowned by the most radical model in its illustrious history and the flagstone of its expansion: the DBX SUV. First previewed as a concept in 2015, the DBX’s development is now nearly complete ahead of a planned world debut in around a year’s time, with sales due to start in early 2020. The DBX — which will compete against the likes of the Lamborghini Urus, Bentley Bentayga, Rolls-Royce Cullinan and upcoming Ferrari SUV — breaks new ground for Aston in several areas. It’s the firm’s first SUV, the most controversial of body types for such a brand but also potentially the bestselling and most profitable. Indeed, so…

DB11, 2016 First new-era Aston was an instant hit but has already been replaced by the more honed DB11 AMR. The range recently expanded with an open-top Volante. Vantage, 2017 Far more overtly a sports car than its forebear, it will take the fight to the Porsche 911 with a series of spin-offs including a Volante and a V12 version. DBS Superleggera, 2018 Latest Aston Martin is a full-blown front-engined supercar rival to the Ferrari 812 Superfast. An Autocar road test of the model is due in the autumn. DBX, 2019 Aston’s second century plan enters its next phase with the first all-new model with no direct predecessor: the radical four-door, four-seat SUV. Vanquish, 2020 The name will return to an Aston in the form of a new mid-engined supercar.…