Aston Martin DBX: basic version with straight-six
The Aston Martin DBX crossover debuted two years ago and quickly became the company's bestseller. In the first three quarters of this year, 2,186 vehicles were sold, while all other Aston Martin models combined found 2,064 buyers. With the help of the crossover, overall sales are up 173% year-over-year! Until now, the DBX has only been offered with an AMG V8 4.0 biturbo engine, but now the range has expanded: the “junior” Aston Martin DBX Straight Six is introduced. However, for now, this version is only for China, where the presentation took place.
Aston Martin once again returned to inline six-cylinder engines. The company has been using such engines of its own design for a long time, but in 1973 it completely switched to V8 engines. The return of the “six” came in 1993 with the debut of the Aston Martin DB7 model, which saved the company, but the production of cars with such engines was stopped in 1999, when the V12 version appeared, arousing consumer interest. Since then, Aston Martin has produced cars with only V8 and V12 engines. The latest development of its twin-engined V6 engine was shut down during the prototype testing phase.
Since the DBX is built using the components and assemblies of the Mercedes GLE crossover (including the V8 engine), the new six-cylinder engine is also borrowed from Daimler. The same unit is installed on the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 model: the 3.0-liter in-line engine is equipped with two-way turbocharging and electric supercharging. Recoil – 435 hp and 520 Nm versus 550 hp and 700 Nm for the four-liter “eight”. In addition, the DBX Straight Six is the first Aston to feature a 48-volt starting alternator delivering up to 250 Nm to assist in the first few seconds of acceleration and function as part of the start-stop system.
The drivetrain and chassis are the same as the V8 crossover but have been visibly retuned. The DBX has a nine-speed automatic, all-wheel drive with a clutch on the front axle and an electronically controlled rear differential lock. The suspension is equipped with adaptive dampers, three-chamber air bellows and active stabilizers, driven by the same 48-volt electrical system as the electric compressor with starter-alternator. The maximum speed is 259 km / h, the acceleration time to “hundreds” is 5.4 s. The parameters of the version with the V8 engine are 291 km / h and 4.5 s, respectively.
Visually, the six-cylinder version can only be identified by the “Straight Six” badges on the front fenders and other air intakes on the hood. 21-inch wheels are also standard, but buyers can order 22-inch “bast shoes”, as in cars with V8 engines. There are no differences in the interior at all.
The price of the basic version in China is 298 thousand dollars against 360 thousand eight-cylinder DBX. It is not yet clear if the six-cylinder version will appear in other markets. But this is definitely not the last addition to the line of crossovers. A more powerful eight-cylinder DBX S is coming soon, with a full hybrid version scheduled to debut in 2025.