What's the news?
We've had teasers on this already, but now that the Geneva Motor Show is here, Aston Martin has finally shown us the Lagonda All-Terrain Concept in all its glory.
This is a zero-emission, electric vehicle (EV) in grandiose SUV form, with the production version of the Lagonda All-Terrain Concept to be built at the St Athan facility in Wales - Aston's 'Home of Electrification' - from 2022 onwards, with the more conventional Aston Martin DBX SUV being the first vehicle to be put together at the factory.
For now, Aston Martin Lagonda is saying no more about the All-Terrain Concept's running gear than that it has an 'advanced battery-electric drivetrain', so this is just focusing on the look of the thing. And what a look it is. Aston goes so far as to say that the futuristic design is such that you could as easily imagine the All-Terrain Concept 'roaming the surface of Mars as a mountain in Scotland', but perhaps more pertinent is that some of the EV SUV's look is informed by styling language from the world of super-yachts. The stiffness of the All-Terrain Concept's structure comes from its battery packs being mounted in the floor, which means the designers could fit rear-hinged back doors to the vehicle, which couple to sections of the roof that open upwards to provide the All-Terrain Concept with some real street theatre, when it comes to the simple acts of ingress and egress.
At the back, the Lagonda All-Terrain Concept has a clamshell hatch, featuring a thin light strip that hides the source of its illumination. Light is beamed downwards and reflected out from LEDs that are hidden from the viewer, which makes the car look cleaner and more advanced. There's also a rear shelf that is flush with the bodywork when stowed but which slides out from the floor when required, allowing the owners to perch at the back of the car (when parked, obvs) and drink in the scenery.
Inside, it's suitably concept-y and lounge-like, with an emphasis on extreme comfort in all four seating positions. The front two chairs can be rotated to face the rear during the All-Terrain Concept's autonomous operation, allowing for a more convivial atmosphere between the car's occupants. But Aston fully expects that Lagonda customers will drive the All-Terrain Concept more than they will be driven by it, so this is more of a show feature than anything else. The interior treatment of the Geneva show car is darker and more 'nocturnal' than previous Lagonda concepts, in terms of its colour and trim choices, but with a massive glasshouse incorporating bits of the roof, the views out are expansive and wide-ranging.
The Lagonda All-Terrain Concept's cabin is also stuffed with technology, although much of it is hidden - you'll note there are few vents, grilles and speakers on show. However, how about this for a trick? Electromagnetic fields mean that the Lagonda's key will float when it is placed in position between the front seats - levitating itself to add to the magic and wonder of the All-Terrain Concept, and also reinforcing that the key is an 'important part of contact between the driver and the vehicle.'
Anything else?
Dr Andy Palmer, Aston Martin Lagonda president and group chief executive officer, said: "The Lagonda All-Terrain Concept adds a hugely exciting sense of adventure to the unique brand of luxury, emission-free vehicles that Lagonda is planning to produce. This is a car that would be at home whisking someone straight from a glamorous red-carpet event to a remote scientific research lab. It shows the bold possibilities for Lagonda and demonstrates how the company will push to expand horizons in every area, whether it be technology, design or scope of travel."
Marek Reichman, the EVP and chief creative officer of Aston Martin, added: "We imagined that the owner would be a sort of pioneering yet environmentally conscious person. They may well have a luxury villa in a remote place that acts as their sanctuary. As such, the Lagonda brand is unconstrained by the traditional values of current luxury products; it is not about wood and leather, we tried to design the interior to feel very calm and quiet with soft, natural materials like cashmere. Lagonda reflects a future that is full of unique materials that are not set in the past.
"We wanted the technology in the Lagonda All-Terrain Concept to bring a sense of personality to the vehicle. Just as with the materials and the exterior design, the technology should be warm and involving rather than cold and impersonal. This is the future and it should be something that people are inspired and delighted by, rather than perplexed and frightened by."