New Aston Martin DBX model to be launched in 2021.

SUVs are all the rage right now, so much so that even ultra-luxury car brands like Bentley and Lamborghini have SUVs accounting for nearly 50% of their sales.

Aston Martin is just about to enter the fray with the 2021 DBX, which will begin deliveries this summer. According to new chairman Laurence Strohl, only one version of the mid-size SUV has been announced, but strong early demand has led Aston Martin to prepare for the introduction of additional derivatives starting in 2021.

"We are very pleased that the DBX is on track for summer deliveries and we are receiving strong orders through 2021," said new Chairman Stroll at Aston Martin's first quarter earnings announcement last month." Based on these successful initial orders for the DBX, we plan to launch future derivatives beginning in 2021."

Aston Martin has already racked up more than 2,000 orders for the DBX, enough to keep its new SUV plant in St. Athan, Wales, busy for the next 12 months. And what's most impressive is that half of the orders are from customers new to the brand.

It is not clear whether Stroll means additional powertrain derivatives like the planned hybrid option, a new concept like the seven-passenger DBX, or a coupe-like version. Marek Reichman, executive vice president and chief creative officer of Aston Martin, hinted at this to GoAuto in a March interview when asked about the possibility of a second SUV.

"It's not going to be smaller [in size]. 'It won't necessarily go up, but maybe the capacity will go down. The wheelbase might stay the same, but the box might get a little smaller."

By adding the DBX body style, Aston Martin could take a big piece of the SUV pie for far less investment than launching a second SUV line. Aston Martin has posted huge losses for the past two quarters and announced last week that it would cut up to 500 jobs.

The DBX will be delivered to U.S. dealers in late 2020, powered by a twin-turbo 542-horsepower 4.0-liter V-8, and will start at $189,900.