Just as Ferrari insists the Purosangue is the first “Ferrari utility vehicle” rather than an SUV, Aston Martin calls the DB12 “the world’s first super tourer”, not a grand tourer like the DB11 it replaces. .
Whatever its name – and whether the “ST division” makes its way into the automotive world – the debut of the DB12 comes at a good time for the brand, which is currently celebrating its 110th anniversary. The phrase ‘Aston Martin’ is more relevant than ever, as the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team is enjoying its best season since the marque’s official return to motorsport in 2021.
This success is due to the killer F1 car – the AMR23, which inspired this special edition of the DBX707 SUV – as well as the finishing touches to the podium from driver Fernando Alonso, who has just achieved his best result of the season so far. Now with a second-place finish at the Monaco GP in a rainy and unpredictable.
F1 performances and the positive press that accompanies them may have been key factors in the sale of the first Aston Martin DB12. At a gala and auction at the Cannes Film Festival for the Foundation for AIDS Research, the DB12 Launch Edition adorned with an “iridescent emerald” flower fetched $1.6 million, According to Engine 1, preliminary estimates have skyrocketed.
While the DB12’s MSRP hasn’t been revealed – the cost is presumed to be close to the previous DB11’s $217,000 price tag – there are quite a few details to chew on.
Power comes from a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 from Mercedes-AMG, but has been “tuned by Aston engineers” to send 671 horsepower (at 6,000 rpm) and 590 pound-feet of torque via an eight-speed automatic transmission and an electronic differential. . It’s the first time a DB-branded Aston has used an electronic differential capable of locking in milliseconds, like Automatic Week Pointing.
The engine’s added dynamism is due to larger turbines, better compression ratios and increased cooling, allowing a time of 3.5 seconds to 60 mph and a top speed of 202 mph.
This commendable performance shouldn’t bite the driver. Aston says it has taken great care to keep the DB12 as drivable as possible with “underbody components, engine crossmember, front and rear lower struts, front crossbar and new rear mudguard”. Like the power, the dynamic is called “class leader”.
The DB12 also features the first OEM application of Michelin Pilot Sport 5 S tires, which feature noise-cancelling polyurethane foam inserts to reduce noise transmitted to the interior by up to 20%. The wheels are wrapped in standard five-spoke, optional multi-spoke or optional Y-spoke wheels available in a host of eye-catching finishes ranging from black to gunmetal and platinum.
The interior is also completely new. Passengers will be seated below the vehicle’s shoulder line with a raised center console and keypad, which includes a combination of reasonably sized touchscreens and physical switches to operate gear selection, drive mode selection and climate controls, as well as override switches for chassis, electronic stability control, exhaust and other functions.
The DB12 also heralds a new premium audio partner – Bowers & Wilkins – which has introduced a dual 15-driver speaker system that has been “acoustically matched to the DB12’s internal size and shape to deliver truly amazing listening experience”.
“The DB12 is our design definition of a supertourer. Historically, the GT icon among most modern enthusiasts has signified a semblance of comfort, speed and refinement,” Aston Martin executive vice president and chief creative officer Marek Reichmann said in a statement.
“But because the Aston Martin customer is no ordinary driver and we no longer just design things ourselves, we’ve fused everything into the DB12 – handling, dynamics, powertrain, feeling of space, design – and we did. to the fullest extent with technology to deliver this new class of performance design driving experience.
