Aston Martin DBX will not be Merc GL in drag, says boss

British supercar maker Aston Martin’s boss Andy Palmer has ruled out using the Mercedes GLS (GL) SUV as a potential platform to build its first ever SUV.

Speaking at a media event yesterday, Palmer denied reports the big DBX will share Mercedes’ big SUV platform.

Mercedes SUVs “clearly sit in a very different space to the one we want to go to. They are very much an SUV and we don't want an SUV,” he told  newswire Automotive News.

Instead, Aston’s CEO wants the DBX to reflect the brand’s sporting heritage and for the new SUV to be perceived as more of a sporting crossover.

To back this up, Palmer has confirmed the new DBX will be based on Aston Martin’s new sports car architecture that will underpin the next-generation DB9 coupe that’s due in 2016.

The new lightweight platform is said to be state-of-the-art and made out of extruded and cast aluminium.

At the media event Palmer confirmed there will be some parts-sharing with Mercedes for the DBX SUV following Daimler’s purchase of a five per cent stake in Aston Martin.

“I don't exclude the possibility of using some [Mercedes’] parts, but I would say very much the primary route is our platform”, said the Aston boss.