Aston Martin DBX hybrid spotted testing

The Aston Martin DBX luxury SUV is set to get a plug-in hybrid drivetrain by 2024, turning it into a direct rival for the Bentley Bentayga Hybrid.

Although no official announcement of the model's launch has been made, spy photographers at the Nurburgring race circuit in Germany have snapped a prototype version undergoing testing, with a yellow windscreen decal indicating it has an electrified powertrain.

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With Aston Martin now part-owned by Mercedes-Benz, it follows that the car is most likely to use one of the German brand's petrol-electric engines – perhaps even the same setup as the recently unveiled Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance. That car has a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, electric motor and battery, giving it a maximum power output of 831bhp, a 0-62mph time of 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 196mph.

Other high-performance plug-in hybrid SUVs that could rival the DBX include the Audi Q7 TFSI e, Porsche Cayenne and Cayenne Coupe hybrids.