Cars Bond's new school-run motor: Aston Martin reveals its £158,000 DBX - the first SUV in the iconic British carmaker's 106-year history

Aston Martin has today unveiled its new 181mph DBX family sports utility vehicle – which it claims was built with wealthy women around the world in mind - with a simultaneous launch in its two biggest markets of China and the US.

The £158,000 five-door, five-seater, all-wheel-drive crossover has been designed from the ground up with input from a female advisory board – making it as fitting for Jane Bond as it is for James - while a panel of children were also enlisted to guide a family-friendly nature.

This had helped ensure there's a practical interior space for flexible modern lifestyles – including easy to use buttons and even a handy slot in the centre console to securely stow a handbag out of sight.

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The DBX is Aston Martin ' s first ever SUV and offers its premium and sporty heritage in a family-car package. So much is riding on the 181mph 4X4 To say that the legendary British car - maker has bet the house on the new £ 158 , 000 DBX - the marques first SUV in its 107 year history - is, if anything

LONDON/ BEIJING (Reuters) - James Bond ' s carmaker of choice Aston Martin took a first step into the lucrative SUV market on Wednesday with an The 106 - year old firm used an all-female advisory body to help design many of the features in the new vehicle which include greater leg room and a

In case that sounds a bit too sensible, Aston has also equipped the DBX with the most powerful version of its V8 engine that can take it from 0 to 62mph in 4.5 seconds.

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Bond's new school-run motor: Aston Martin has finally taken the covers off its new DBX SUV - a family-friendly model that will be built at its new factory in Wales

© Provided by Associated Newspapers Limited Big promises: Aston Martin has made some bold claims about the 2.25-tonne SUV, saying it will corner and stop as hard as its range-topping GT sportscars

Aston Martin describes the DBX as ‘an SUV with the soul of a sports car’. Super-rich potential customers of all shapes and sizes were tried out in the seats to ensure maximum all-round comfort, it said.

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It ’ s the first time Aston Martin have ever produced a SUV for the 106 - year -old luxury British marque. DBX is on sale now, with first deliveries scheduled to begin Q2 2020 and the new Aston Martin DBX has a recommended retail price starting from: £ 158 , 000 * in the UK (*includes 3 year’ s

Aston bets on the DBX to boost its fortunes. British sportscar company Aston Martin (AML.L) took the wraps off its first sports utility vehicle on Tuesday The Endurance is scheduled for delivery in the fall of 2021.Founded in 2018, Lordstown Motors went public earlier this year through a merger with a

And for a car that is likely to be used on school and family runs around the world, children were for the first time let loose on the prototype design to see what improvements could be made.

The main DBX unveiling took place in the Chinese capital Beijing – to capitalise on what is likely to be it biggest market.

However, a simultaneous unveiling also took place at the Los Angeles Motor Show in California to make a splash in the second largest market.

Bosses hope the new DBX – the firm’s first ever sports utility vehicle - will become its biggest seller and a big export earner to give a much-needed money-spinning boost to the 106-year-old UK luxury sports car-maker which has taken a battering on the stock market since floating last year.

The DBX is propelled by a more powerful version of 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine already used in the DB11 and V8 Vantage sports cars. Linked to a nine-speed automatic gearbox and developing 550 horsepower, it accelerates from rest to 62mph in just 4.5 seconds up to a top speed of 181mph.

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If we look back at its history , we will see that there were several foreign communities living in This resulted in the first professional football team in Russia which after the Revolution became the It is considered to be the longest running sci-fi show in the world, having celebrated its 50th anniversary

Aston Martin unveiled its first SUV Tuesday night joining a long list of brands, including Lamborghini, Bentley and Rolls-Royce, for JUST WATCHED. Aston Martin reveals its first SUV . The Aston Martin DBX is the British sports car brand' s first SUV . In the United States, prices for the DBX will

That makes it the highest performing eight-cylinder engine in the current Aston Martin range.

There are six driving modes – four including GT, Sport and Sport+ for on-road driving, and two for driving off-road. A specially tuned active exhaust system means the DBX ‘can sound refined one moment and exhilarating the next'.

It’s pretty nimble and flexible too with a wading depth of 500mm, a kerb-to-kerb turning circle of 12.4 metres and 190mm ground clearance which can rise by 45mm to 235mm, or drop by 50mm to 140mm.

RAY MASSEY: Aston Martin has the female factor with an inspirational US boss and its 181mph DBX family SUV

Women are firmly in the driving seat of Aston Martin's new 181mph DBX family SUV - which I suspect will be on the Christmas and New Year wish lists of many female motorists. But at £158,000 and above, this five-door, five-seat, all-wheel-drive beauty designed with input from Aston's female advisory board will remain a dream for many.

There's plenty of space for a family’s luggage with 632 litres capacity plus up to 62 litres underfloor storage.

Aston Martin DBX: Will it fit in my garage?

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Price: £158,000 (including 3 years’ service and warranty)

Built: St Athan, Wales

First deliveries: Spring 2020

Seats: 5

Doors: 5

Length: 5,039mm

Width (body): 1,998mm

Width (folded mirrors): 2,050mm

Width: (with mirrors): 2,220mm

Height: 1,680mm

Wheelbase: 3,060mm

Weight: 2,245kg

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 Twin Turbo.

Power: 550bhp

Gears: 9-speed automatic (with manual override paddles)

Top speed: 181mph

0-60mph: 4.3 seconds

0-62mph (100km/h): 4.5 seconds

Average fuel economy: 19.73mpg

CO2 emissions: 325g/km (WLTP).

Wheels: 22-inch alloy

Wading depth: 500mm

Fuel tank: 85 litres

Luggage capacity: 632 litres (plus up to 62 litres underfloor storage)

Ground clearance: 190mm

Turning circle: 12.4m (kerb to kerb)

Towing weight: 2,700kg.

But while Bond might be seen using it to save the world, don’t expect to save the planet if you buy one.

Riding on vast 22-inch alloy wheels, this gas-guzzling SUV, weighing a hefty 2,245kg, manages a miserly average fuel efficiency figure of just 19.7mpg with CO2 emissions of 325g/km, though it can deactivate cylinders in town to improve fuel economy and reduce pollutants in built-up areas.

2020 Aston Martin DBX prototype drive review

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Prices across the globe include £158,000 in the UK and $189,900 in the US.

Aston Martin said it had combined intensive customer research and Aston Martin’s expertise in hand-crafted interiors to ensure owners feel instantly at home from the moment they enter the spacious cabin.

That included making sure the interior was fit for all sizes and shapes of driver and passenger who might buy the SUV.

‘DBX has been created to meet the needs of the 99th percentile male to the 5th percentile female; an incredibly broad set of requirements,' the marketing info stats.

But it has also been built with well-heeled women in mind – and with touches to make it as practical for business or for everyday use, the school run and shopping outings as cruising down to the Cote D’Azur.

Aston Martin stressed: ‘Each button and dial has been carefully positioned following extensive testing from external counsel, including the brand’s Female Advisory Board.’

It added: ‘Small touches throughout, including separate central armrests, glovebox design, and the ergonomic positioning of the car’s key control systems, have been guided carefully by the input of the brand’s Female Advisory Board, dealership feedback, and a variety of private focus groups held worldwide.’

Cabin storage is prioritised with a bridged floating centre console that offers storage space below 'for larger items such as a handbag', noting: ‘This feature keeps valuables close to hand while not occupying the passenger seat and away from dirt on the car’s floor mats.'

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The firm has also run customer clinics with 'high net-worth individuals' from a variety of demographic background to ensure that the cabin feels as familiar has a set of Aston slippers.

A spokesman for the manufacturer said: ’We do intend to make this car much more female-friendly. Until now our customer base has been predominantly male. Except for China where it is 50:50.

‘We want to broaden that out. We’re not talking about making cars only for women, but rather to make our cars more practical for women and families, as well as men.'

The DBX is set to become the company’s biggest seller with around 5,000 sales a year by 2021 with the UK, USA and China among the key markets.

Development tests have shown cornering speeds in the substantial SUV are equal to the firm’s Vantage sports car.

A 48-volt electric anti-roll system helps maintain stability at speed.

Even braking performance beats the marque’s DBS Superleggera grand tourer.

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With sales failing to meet expectations after the landmark decision to float on the stock market, Aston Martin has now pinned hopes on the DBX to turn around fortunes at the iconic car company.

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With SUV sales on the rise across the sector, numerous sports car makers have either taken first steps into the crossover market or established a growing range of sports utility vehicles.

Lamborghini and Bentley - brands synonymous with speed and performance - both have large Chelsea Tractors, Ferrari is due to launch one into its own blossoming vehicle range next year and Porsche now has three 4x4s under its banner.

But Aston's decision is about more than merely keeping up with the car-making Joneses as it goes in search for business stability.

Dr Andy Palmer, group chief executive, has put the brand's 'Second Century Plan' in place with the aim of getting Aston's head above water following a number of turbulent years for Bond's choice vehicle maker.

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The British manufacturer has gone bankrupt seven times in its 106-year history and experienced a variety of owners in the last century, including some time under the tenure of Ford.

The strategy Palmer has put place includes a number of objectives, from establishing a second production facility - the new factory in St Athan, Wales, where the DBX will be assembled - to launching seven core new models between 2018 and 2022.

However, with sales on the slip, pressure has mounted on Aston's first family SUV to be a rampaging success.

Now largely owned by Kuwaiti and Italian private equity groups, the manufacturer made the bold decision to list in October last year at £19 per share.

But sliding demand in Europe and the lackluster sales performance of its Vantage models has since seen it plunge by around 75 per cent.

The firm reported a pre-tax loss of £92 million ($118 million) in the first nine months of the year and is in serious need of a pick-me-up.

Speaking to Reuters earlier this month, Palmer admitted the DBX would be a key vehicle for the legendary British brand.

'We're essentially holding the cost of a complete factory right now without the benefit of the revenues coming in ... so from that point of view of course it's a really important model,' he said.

Aston hopes the bid to encourage more women buyers with its new offering will help increase sales.

'If our volumes are slightly north of 6,000 this year, obviously you're adding another ultimately 4 or 5,000, so it's a big chunk of volume for us,' Palmer added.

Other features features include a power tailgate, folding rear seats, sports pedals, 64-colour ambient lighting, keyless energy, sports steering wheel, and a wide selection of optional interior luxury trims.

Safety features include electronic stability, traction and hill-descent control, emergency brake assist, blind-spot warning, lane departure and change warning, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, traffic sign recognition, and tyre pressure monitoring.

And for those with an active lifestyle it can tow trailers, caravans, or horse-boxes up to 2,700kg.

Aston Martin also added that the needs of children were also 'considered extensively', with a group of kids even being invited to provide their feedback on the rear seats.

The new Aston Martin comes complete with 11 optional accessory packs for the DBX including: a pet pack comprising a partition and a bumper protector, as well as a dog shower to stop your hound creating muddy puddles in the boot of the hatchback; a snow pack with a portable ski-boot warner and roof-top ski rack; an event pack for picnic hampers; and a gun cabinet.

The first 500 cars will be personally inspected and signed off by CEO Dr Andy Palmer who said: ’DBX is a car that will give many people their first experience of Aston Martin ownership.

‘We have delivered this model both through our expertise, but also by garnering invaluable experience and knowledge from external counsel, including our Female Advisory board.

‘To have produced such a beautiful, hand-built, yet technologically advanced car is a proud moment. This is a real landmark for this great British brand.’

The female-friendly features specifically built into DBX

by Ray Massey for Mail Online and This is Money

Aston Martin’s new £158,000 five-door five seater all-wheel-drive crossover has been designed from the ground-up with input from a female advisory board.

Here are some of the key women-friendly features that have been included as a result to make Aston Martin cars less macho and more inclusive for a wider range of drivers and owners:

- A place to slot a handbag in the middle of the car (rather than on a seat where it may be the target for smash and grab thieves when stationary.) This feature keeps valuables close to hand while not occupying the passenger seat and away from dirt on the car’s floor mats.

- A large 6-litre glovebox in which to store handbags and other items out of sight.

- Ensuring interior is fit for all sizes and shapes of driver and passenger including the tallest men and the shortest women. A high commanding driving seat, DBX has been created to meet the needs of the 99th percentile male to the 5th percentile female.

- Rear of car can be lowered by 50mm to help when loading and unloading.

- If you share the driving with your partner, your individual key can recognise your driving set-ups from your personal profile. So each time you get in the car knows it’s ‘you’. Seating and steering wheel positions can be similarly programmed and pre-set.

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- A full set of customised baby, toddler and child seats for growing families in the move.

- Softer and more tactile fabrics. As an alternative to leather, customers have a choice of an 80-percent wool fabric seat back (20 per cent polyester).

- Ease of entry and exit – The specially designed door-surround is cunningly shaped to ensure clothes remain clean on entry and exit in both front and rear, and don’t rub up against a mucky rim. The flat floor in the front and the siting far back of the rear wheel means passengers don’t have to climb around rear wheel arch to sit in the back seat.

Aston Martin stresses: 'We’re not talking about making cars only for women, but rather to make our cars more practical for women and families, as well as men.'