All-Electric Aston Martin DBX Crossover Concept: Geneva Surprise

James Bond would probably like this one, for its silent speed and rough-terrain capability.

And it's even an Aston Martin.

At today's Geneva Motor Show, the British sports-car maker unveiled a surprise concept: a sporty crossover utility vehicle with an all-electric powertrain.

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Given that Aston hasn't mentioned electric propulsion thus far, the concept came as a surprise both for its electric power and its crossover shape.

The Aston Martin DBX Concept takes the body of a GT coupe and pairs it with the taller ride height and all-wheel-drive system of a sport-utility vehicle, similar to a recent Audi concept.

In its presentation, the company explains that the DBX concept widens the appeal of the iconic British brand and lets it reach out to a more diverse global audience.

That essentially means luxury buyers in markets like China, Russia, and Brazil, where poor roads outside the major cities make its low-riding traditional sports cars impractical.

It's the same reason that Porsche created its Cayenne SUV.

Not only did they appeal to wealthy North Americans with families, but they specifically allowed Chinese buyers who wanted to travel outside Beijing and Shanghai to consider buying a Porsche.

While the company had shown a Lagonda concept at the Geneva Motor Show fully six years ago, that large SUV never sent into production.

But now the company has new financial backing, new executives, and a new direction--and clearly it intends to make an impression on Geneva show-goers.

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