SUV back on the cards for Aston Martin?

ASTON Martin is reportedly in talks with future engine partner Mercedes-Benz to build an SUV as a way to expand its existing line-up and boost global sales by about 50 per cent by 2016.

Citing people “familiar with the matter” Bloomberg says that the British sportscar-maker is holding talks with Benz now, which indicates that any future high-riding Aston wagon could share its underpinnings with the next-generation GL-Class due in 2018.

The report quoted the source as saying the talks are still at an early stage, with Aston still weighing up whether to use its own technology to develop the SUV. It said should it get the green light it would not come to market for “another three years”.

Aston Martin signed a deal in December last year with Mercedes' performance arm AMG that gave the Daimler-owned brand a five per cent stake in Aston, alongside a number of investors including Italian equity firm Investindustrial and Kuwaiti companies Investment Dar and Adeem Investment Co.

As a part of the deal, Aston Martin gained access to AMG's V8 powertrains and electronics systems, which will replace the current family of V8 and V10 engines sourced from former owner Ford.

Aston Martin flagged its intention to add a full-size SUV to its range when it debuted the Lagonda concept at the 2009 Geneva motor show, but by the end of that year the company had shelved its plans thanks to the impact of the global financial crisis.

If the Aston SUV becomes a reality, it will give the 100-year-old brand some much needed ammunition against a number of its competitors that already have well-progressed plans for performance-focussed SUVs.

Maserati launches the Levante next year, while Bentley launches a new SUV in 2016, potentially along with Lamborghini. Fellow luxury marque Porsche recently upped its SUV family to two models, with the new Macan and the existing Cayenne set to make up the bulk of its overall sales.

Reports have suggested that Bentley and Lamborghini's SUV will both share a platform with the next-generation Audi Q7 due next year and the Cayenne.

Aston Martin has eyed a boost in sales to 7000 units in 2016 from the close to 4000 vehicles it sold in 2013, thanks largely to growth in Asia and North America. 47