Aston Martin Tipped To Use ‘Varekai’ Name For Its First-Ever SUV

Aston Martin has been hard at work developing its entry in the premium SUV arena – and, when launched in production guise next year, it won’t carry the DBX name that adorned the concept.

According to Autocar, the 2019 SUV will be called the Varekai. The British publication cites trademark applications as evidence for the name, which would follow the same nomenclature tradition as the Vantage, Vanquish and Vulcan (to name just a few) instead of the DB moniker currently upheld by the DB11. The name, shared by a former Cirque de Soleil production, is derived from the Roma word for “wherever,” and it is a clear referrence to its go-anywhere capability.

CEO Andy Palmer says that he ordered work on the SUV project to start on the fourth day after he assumed his position. “When you are talking about running a company like Aston Martin, you talk through your ideas with the owners before you are hired,” Palmer said. “My message was simple: if Aston Martin wants to survive, it must do a SUV.”

Regardless of the name, we can expect certain things to carry over from the concept (and other Astons) and others to change. Whereas the show car was a two-door, the production version will definitely sprout four and while the former had a low-snug stance, the roofline of the final version will obviously be higher. In any case, though, Palmer insists that customers will instantly recognize DBX styling cues on the Varekai.

Another significant change concerns the powertrain: the concept was purely electric, but the production SUV is expected to be offered with an array of options.

Twin-turbo units, namely the AMG-derived V8 and and the V12, should poor over from the DB11, but we’re also anticipating some electrified versions to follow as well. That could include a hybrid and a fully electric model, but not a plug-in hybrid.

Contrary to what Porsche and Bentley believe, Palmer doesn’t think the PHEV experience is premium enough for Aston’s customers. Autocar figures the hybrid version could borrow its tech from either the Valkyrie hypercar or the four-door Mercedes-AMG GT Concept with its 800hp powertrain.

With four proper doors and a higher roofline, the Varekai will look different from the DBX and be more practical as well, and it’ll be easier to get in and out of than Aston’s typically low-slung GTs and sports cars. One demographic the automaker is particularly interested in pursuing is female drivers, who have apparently accounted for only 3,500 of the 70,000 vehicles the company has sold in its entire history. If the example of the Lamborghini Urus is any indication, with the Varekai the number of Aston’s female clients will increase significantly.