The company is developing its own aluminum spaceframe for the new model, which will be outfitted with an aluminum body, chief executive Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes recently told Automotive News Europe.
Previous rumors suggested the luxury brand had penned a supply agreement with BMW to utilize the same platform that will underpin the upcoming X7 crossover, potentially borrowing the Blue Roundel’s 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8.
It is unclear if Mueller-Oetvoes’ comments also rule out the downsized BMW engine. A gigantic V12 powerplant — consistent with the rest of the lineup — is still viewed as a possibility, and the company could also be considering a plug-in hybrid edition.
“We are finalizing the design and will do the first test mules in the next months,” Mueller-Oetvoes added.
The as-yet-unnamed utility vehicle is expected to arrive on the market in 2018, competing amid an influx of expected high-end SUVs from Bentley, Aston Martin and Lamborghini.
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