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Aston Martin has unveiled a striking new military-inspired off-roader as a virtual concept created for the latest Call of Duty video game – but Autocar has already had the chance to see the real-life version up close.

Debuting at a gaming convention in New York, the Aston Martin Dreadnought takes its name from a pioneering British battleship from the early 20th century. The name suits its rugged, functional design and combat-ready stance perfectly.

At just under five metres long and 2.1 metres wide, the Dreadnought is slightly smaller in overall size than the DBX SUV but has a much more commanding presence on the road.

In its virtual form, the Dreadnought is powered by the same 824bhp twin-turbocharged V12 engine found in the Vanquish GT. While Aston Martin has not disclosed performance figures, the vehicle’s massive JCB tyres, Dakar-style dual-shock suspension system and elevated ride height suggest that it would be capable of maintaining supercar-like speeds across even the toughest terrains.

The design draws subtle inspiration from other Aston Martin models. It features a Valhalla-style quad-exit exhaust system, a Valour-inspired rear deck, and brake lights similar to those on the Valkyrie hypercar. The concept is finished in Chiltern Green – a signature Aston Martin colour that has been offered since the launch of the DB7 in 1994 – and also incorporates fog lamps within the front grille, reminiscent of the original V8 Vantage.

Unique to the Dreadnought concept are the twin tow hooks, LED light bars and exterior grab handles, which allow the two-seat off-roader to transport additional personnel when required.

Autocar has learned that, although the Dreadnought’s design team was not limited by real-world regulations, they kept practicality in mind. This means that Aston Martin’s bespoke division could, in theory, produce a real version of the Dreadnought upon special customer request – much like the one-off Victor supercar introduced in 2020.

Since the Dreadnought is designed for a digital battlefield, its interior is far more utilitarian than any production Aston Martin. Functionality takes priority over luxury. A large display provides information such as speed, direction, pitch, and roll – and, given its role in Call of Duty, it also shows how many virtual opponents the driver has defeated. Naturally, this feature is unlikely to appear in any real-world Aston Martin model.

Reflecting the wider automotive trend towards physical controls, the Dreadnought’s cabin replaces touchscreens with a series of toggle switches and buttons providing quick access to essential features – including raising the vehicle’s bulletproof shield, arming external weapons, and even calling in airstrikes.

Inside the doors, there is dedicated storage for assault rifles, while the traditional cup holders in the centre console have been replaced with a rack for grenades – further enhancing its combat-themed interior layout.

Although the Dreadnought is not intended for production, Aston Martin – along with several other automakers – has long used video games as a testing ground for future design directions. The company previously teased the Valkyrie hypercar through the DP100 concept racer, which debuted in the Gran Turismo series in 2014.

The idea of a high-performance off-road Aston Martin is not as far-fetched as it may seem. In 2024, Autocar reported that the brand was considering a powerful 4x4 model to compete directly with the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. That internal project was said to carry the codename Project Rambo.