This is how Aston Martin’s first SUV is shaping up

ASTON Martin said its first SUV, called DBX, is now on its closing stages of its development — the most comprehensive testing any Aston Martin is going through.

The carmaker’s chief engineer, Matt Becker, said the model is undergoing extensive real-world driving and high-performance track evaluation at various locations worldwide, including the brand’s engineering centers at Silverstone, England and the Nurburgring, Germany.

Durability testing at the Nurburgring saw the DBX achieving cornering speeds on a par with the brand’s Vantage sports car and braking figures greater than the DBS Superleggera’s, according to Aston Martin. It added its engineers have regularly posted sub-eight-minute Nordschleife lap times with the DBX during regular testing.

The DBX will come with a 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8 that makes 542hp and 700Nm. High-speed testing has already proven the model can repeatedly exceed 180mph (290km/h), with final top speed and acceleration figures being set within the closing stages of the testing process.

“We have concentrated our work to ensure that the calibration and tune of this 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 delivers both the everyday usability and refinement expected by SUV owners. However, we have also focused heavily on matching that with the engaging driving dynamics that are commanded by our brand and inherent in every Aston Martin and early indications of the car’s overall performance have been incredibly promising,” Becker said.

Aston Martin said it targets to release the DBX in December.