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The DBX will Put Aston Martin’s Sleek Styling on Stilts in 2019

By Miles Branman Jan 2, 2020 8:13 PM

It’s been a few years since Aston Martin showed off its DBX Concept – a preview of the UK luxury manufacturer’s first crossover model. After securing almost $275 million in funding, we’ve been awaiting news of the vehicle’s production date. At last, we have it: 2019.

In addition to announcing the DBX on sale date, Aston Martin revealed more details about the vehicle in an interview with Autocar. CEO Andy Palmer says that in contrast to the upcoming super-lux crossovers from Rolls-Royce and Lamborghini, and the already released Bentley Bentayga, the production DBX, “has not sacrificed any beauty to achieve its practicality or performance.”

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A crossover has been on Palmer’s mind since the moment he joined Aston Martin in 2014, and he’s been in a hurry to get the high rider to production. Compared to the concept, the road going model will reportedly take on a four-door body, have a higher roof-line, and will tone down some of the front-end drama.

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Based on the DB11’s aluminum architecture, the DBX will be powered by a choice of twin-turbocharged engines. Entry level DBX crossovers will use Mercedes-AMG’s 4.0-liter V8 good for 503 horsepower and 498 pound-feet of torque. Upscale DBX models will gain Aston Martin’s new 5.2-liter V12 pumping out 600hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are shared with the DB9-replacing grand tourer.

In addition to the high-output motors will be a hybrid mill, reportedly pairing the AMG V8 with one to three electric motors for a total of up to 800hp. Though the DBX will gain a bit of weight from the batteries, the hybrid version should be the quickest configuration.

The DBX will arrive in conjunction with several new and updated Aston Martin vehicles – all due before 2020. Among the new models will be a redesigned Vantage sports car. To maintain exclusivity, Aston Martin will cap model production to 7,000 units per year.

Miles Branman doesn’t need sustenance; he needs cars. While the gearhead gene wasn’t strong in his own family, Miles… Read Full Bio

Cadillac celebrates 125 years with the Escalade-V

cadillac celebrates 125 years with the escalade v my27 collector img 1620

The Cadillac Escalade has been a symbol for decades. When you think about those who made it out of the neighborhood and into the more affluent parts of your home, you think of them in a Caddy. The Cadillac image has always been the go-to for those who want to showcase their success and their ability to rise above the average. The Escalade became the harbinger of wealth when it became the status symbol of the urban and hip hop cultures.

Now the Escalade is the vessel Cadillac is using to celebrate 125 years with the Escalade-V.

Porsche wants to teach you how actually to drive their cars

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A Porsche is one of the most recognizable cars on the road. You always know when you are looking at one. So, it stands to reason that people love them, right? Of course they do. But loving a car and knowing how to drive one are very different. What is it that Ja Rule said in The Fast and the Furious? “We know a few things. And one of the things we knows is, it isn’t how you stand by your car, it is how to drive your car. You better learn that.” How do you learn to drive a Porsche? At the Porsche Track Experience, which has offered programs on everything from a single-day basics class up to a three-day advanced course.

Now, the team behind PTX is expanding into new offerings for the car.

The next evolution of the sports car: Porsche redesigns an icon

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Authenticity. It is what we are looking for nowadays as consumers. Thirty years ago, we looked for brand names. We strived for status and letting all those around us see that what we wore, where we lived, where we dined, and finally, what we drove, symbolized our success in life. Then all of that started to stumble, and every industry felt the recession. Of course, the recession was temporary, but the effects of it were not. What we started to look for after that was something real. We realized that stuff…was just stuff. Now, when I look at cars, or suits, or restaurants, I ask myself: What is this going to make me feel?

That is what the new Porsche Mission S does; it makes me feel like vintage New York and the upstate escape.