The DBX brings trademark Aston Martin handling and performance to the SUV class for the very first time, in a package so capable on all surfaces that driving it is the only way to understand just how impressive it is. Aston Martin Cheltenham and Aston Martin Reading invited their clients and friends to the legendary Millbrook Proving Ground for a behind-the-wheel experience with DBX, ably assisted by W Series World Champion racer, Jamie Chadwick.
An ambassador of Aston Martin Cheltenham (local to where she grew up) and an Aston Martin driver herself, Jamie was on-hand to show guests exactly what the DBX was capable of on some of the tight and twisting bends of Millbrook. With double wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension, unique Bilstein dampers and three-chamber air suspension, the DBX has been designed from the ground-up to perform as well as dedicated sports cars like the Vantage.
Powered by a 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 engine, the DBX can accelerate from 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds and on to a top speed of 181mph. The four-wheel-drive system can send 100 per cent of power to the rear wheels, or as much as 47 per cent to the front, delivering versatile performance in all conditions.
Jamie said: “An SUV like the DBX is a hugely ambitious project for Aston Martin, seeking to deliver all the performance agility of their low-slung lightweight sports cars in a more capable and spacious body. What the team from Gaydon has delivered is absolutely sensational – it genuinely feels like the Vantage I drive. Quick changes of direction are near-instantaneous and there’s a lightness-of-foot and an adaptability to the chassis that you expect from a lightweight rear-wheel-drive sports car, not a four-wheel-drive SUV. I loved showing potential customers what it could do, as well as handing out a few driving tips to the guests, too!”
Aston Martin Reading and Cheltenham guests spent the day with DBX, putting it through its paces on the different tracks and surfaces available at the Proving Ground, exploring its enormous breadth of ability. Throughout, they had exclusive use of the on-site Aston Martin Clubhouse for food and refreshments.
