Aston Martin Wants To Build An Off-Road DBX
It’s not hard to imagine a world in which Aston Martin cashes in on the off-road trend in the auto industry.
With high-end brands doing off-road the way Lamborghini and Porsche have been, that could lead one to think of an off-road Vantage or similar. Yet an Autocar report suggests Aston Martin is eyeing a more traditional off-road experience for its customers. Allegedly, “Project Rambo” will be a 4x4 with supercar performance on any surface. Yet, given Aston’s tight finances, it’s no surprise to hear that Lawrence Stroll, the automaker’s fancier, won’t give the off-road DBX a green light without a strong business case.
It can be argued that, at a glance, one exists. Mercedes’ super-luxe G-Wagen has been going strong for decades now and offers both a V8 and an electric powertrain at the moment. But even the G-Wagen looks to be a little too mainstream, and the Autocar report says a limited run as low as 2,500 cars will be built to keep the product exclusive. The DBX seems the most likely base for this, what with its AMG-derived V8 which currently finds a home in the G-Class, though an electrified Aston off-roader is unlikely after the brand’s recent shift towards maintaining an ICE-powered lineup.
Still, though it could be based heavily on the DBX, this supposed off-roader will need one thing Aston has little to no experience with — a true four-wheel drive system. Autocar’s sources don’t provide a timeframe, but given the company is occupied with products like the Valhalla and its upcoming EV, “soon” isn’t in the cards.
Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.
Chase is an automotive journalist with years of experience in the industry. He writes for outlets like Edmunds and AutoGuide, among many others. When not writing, Chase is in front of the camera over at The Overrun, his YouTube channel run alongside his friend and co-host Jobe Teehan. If he's not writing reviews of the latest in cars or producing industry coverage, Chase is at home in the driver's seat of his own (usually German) sports cars.
More by Chase Bierenkoven
Comments
Join the conversation
The overall shape reminds me somewhat of a Porsche, but the front end is gorgeous.