After first announcing plans for an ultra-luxurious SUV last summer, newly-established British firm Eterniti Motors unveiled a concept version of its new SUV, the Hemera, at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show.

Unfortunately, the concept looked just a little too much like the vehicle it was based on, a Porsche Cayenne Turbo, so the design was quickly updated to make it look unique.

The finished product is the new 2012 Eterniti Artemis SUV, which made its world debut today in front of audiences at the 2012 Beijing Auto Show.

Like the previous concept, the production version is powered by the Cayenne Turbo’s twin-turbocharged 4.8-liter V-8 engine but tuned to deliver a healthier 600 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. The company promises 0-60 mph acceleration of around 4.5 seconds and a top speed in excess of 180 mph for the Artemis.

Performance and handling have been developed by a race-bred British engineering team led by Alastair Macqueen. Macqueen previously developed to production the Jaguar XJ220 and has engineered three outright Le Mans 24 Hour race wins for Jaguar and Bentley. Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert is also playing a role in its development.

Inside, the quality is a match for any Bentley or Maserati, two firms also in the race to launch ultra-luxurious SUVs. Every surface is lavishly handcrafted, with a specification also including the finest leathers, quilted undercarpets and boot trim, lambswool rugs, veneers including natural woods, piano black and carbon fiber, a choice of sunroofs and starlight roof lining, and a state-of-the-art audio system.

Production of the Artemis will start this summer, with the first deliveries scheduled to roll out by fall. Note, the vehicles on display in Beijing are running prototypes so do not represent the final finish quality of the production version, though they do closely reflect the definitive interior and exterior styling. Pricing starts at £210,000 (approximately $338,000)

Eterniti is currently establishing a network of wholly-owned showrooms in key cities around the globe, starting in London, Taipei and Hong Kong. Its headquarters are based in London and has an atelier and a build facility where vehicles can be created and hand-built on-site to any specification. Further down the track the company is planning more models, including a bespoke supercar.

2012 Eterniti Artemis SUV

2012 Eterniti Artemis SUV