Aston Martin shelves plans for pure-electric DBX

Aston Martin's first-ever SUV will only be available with petrol power, despite originally being conceived as the pure-electric DBX concept at the 2015 Geneva motor show.

Set to be launched in 2019 and reportedly renamed the Varekai, the Aston crossover will also grow an extra set of doors to help it rival other luxury five-door SUVs like the Bentley Bentayga and the Lamborghini Urus.

The news that Aston Martin has dropped its plans to introduce a pure-electric version was revealed by its CEO Andy Palmer in an interview with Automotive News.

Ruling out both a battery-powered and a plug-in version, Palmer suggested the car-maker's EV technology would be reserved for the ultra-luxury Lagonda brand that was revived at this year's Geneva motor show.

In its place, Aston Martin is set to offer the Varekai SUV with the Mercedes-AMG-sourced 375kW 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 and its own flagship 447kW biturbo 5.2-litre V12.

Also absent in the range will be a diesel version that dominates sales of the equivalent Range Rover.

Palmer explains: "My belief for a long time is that diesel's life is limited. Ultimately, it's dead," he told the newswire.

Plug-in hybrid technology, meanwhile, was ruled out over the added complexity. "You've got the [extra] weight and cost of two technologies. It's probably a convenient stepping stone but it's not one we need," Palmer said.

It's thought the decision to rule out diesel will mirror both Rolls-Royce and Lamborghini, which are both unlikely to offer an oil-burner for both the soon-to-be-revealed Cullinan and the recently launched Urus.

The production version of the DBX will be built in Aston Martin's all-new manufacturing facility in south Wales.