Meet the DB12, or as Aston Martin themselves say: ‘the world’s first Super Tourer’. But, what exactly does that mean? And isn’t the Aston Martin DB12 just a facelifted DB11?
Aston Martin presents the successor to the DB11 presented in 2016 and now seven years old. Where DB9 successor DB11 skipped a number in naming due to the DB10 produced for the James Bond film Spectre, the DB12 does connect neatly to its predecessor. And not just in terms of name. Anyone who has the DB11 on the retina will see a lot of that car in the DB12. That’s not that crazy. Although Aston Martin presents the DB12 with such fanfare that you almost expect it to be a completely new model, we are actually dealing with a facelift here. But a thorough one.
To start with the lesser news: the DB12, unlike the car it replaces, seems to have to do without V12. Is that a huge loss? No doubt in terms of sound and experience, but the V8 in the DB11, again sourced from Mercedes-AMG, is considerably more powerful than before and makes Aston’s ‘Super Tourer’ almost as fast as the V12 version. First the design, because there is both much and little to say about it.
Aston Martin DB12: especially a lot of DB11
Evolution
Whoever peeks through his eyelashes at the DB12, probably sees ‘just’ the DB11. In fact, that is also true. The silhouette of the two cars is identical and the rear is also virtually unchanged. The DB12 does have a new front, complete with a larger grille, new headlights with LED matrix technology and new LED daytime running lights. Various aerodynamic parts are shaped differently, the bumper work differs from that of the DB11 and Aston Martin sticks its updated logos on the DB12. In addition, the side mirrors of the DB12 are smaller than those of the DB11 and so cut through the wind more efficiently. Aston Martin gives the DB12 new fully recessed door handles that ‘electronically present themselves’ and thus automatically lift out of the door.
The track width of the DB12 is 0.6 centimeters wider at the front than on the DB11, and the widening at the rear is 2.2 centimeters. The Aston Martin is also on new 21-inch light metal.
Aston Martin DB12
Interior
As relatively modestly different as the DB12’s exterior is from that of the Aston Martin DB11, so is its interior. Aston Martin renews every bolt, nut, screw and seam here. It is done with the center tunnel that optically extends high into the dashboard. Instead, Aston Martin gives the DB12 an interior with a higher center tunnel that flows smoothly into the cockpit. Behind the new steering wheel is a new and larger digital instrument panel and the center console also has a large display. The infotainment system can handle Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wirelessly and conjures up its skills on a 10.25-inch display.
Aston Martin does not shy away from using buttons and litters the center tunnel with push and turn buttons. According to the Aston Martin, it “understands the balance between the touchscreen and physical buttons.” In 2023 quite refreshing. Striking is the very small selector lever to control the automatic transmission. Of course, the interior of the Aston Martin DB12 can be fully adapted to taste. Aston Martin speaks of the use of leather, alcantara and stitching, which are available in various colours, types and compositions.
Technology
The Aston Martin DB12 is currently only available with a 4.0 biturbo V8, which again comes from the shelves of Mercedes-AMG. That machine delivers 680 hp and 800 Nm of torque this time. This makes it almost 35 percent more powerful than the eight-cylinder in the DB11, which kicked it up to 535 hp. This extra power comes from, among other things, larger turbos and a completely new cooling system. The DB12 sprints from a standstill to a speed of 97 km/h (60 mph) in 3.6 seconds and has a top speed of 325 km/h.
Switching is done via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, a gearbox that sends the horsepower of the DB12 to the rear wheels via an electronically controlled differential. The DB12 has shorter gear ratios. In addition, the car must be up to 7 percent stiffer than its predecessor. It also gets new dampers, stiffer anti-roll bars and revised active and passive safety systems
The first Aston Martin DB12 will be delivered to customers in the third quarter of this year. Whether and when the DB12 Volante will arrive is not yet known.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl