GRAND IS NOT ENOUGH

Aston Martin's new DB12 more than lives up to its billing as the world's first "Super Tourer"

- JARED PALIL STERN

This year marks both Aston Martin’s 110th anniversary and 75 years of its iconic DB line, which includes the original James Bond DB5, as well as every Aston driven by the world’s most famous secret agent ever since. Perfect timing, in other words, to introduce the next vehicle to bear the legendary prefix, (in automotive terms) every bit as freighted as the famed double-O—the brand new DB12.

It arrives at a time when Aston Martin is enjoying one of the most dynamic runs in its century-plus history, thanks to the continued podium captures of its Formula 1 team this season. DB12 is also the first all-new sports car to be launched under the leadership of Lawrence Stroll, the Canadian billionaire who took over as Executive Chairman of Aston Martin Lagonda in 2020, and who has invested so wisely in the F1 program. And finally it is the marque’s first new vehicle for Aston Martin CEO Amedeo Felisa, the former CEO of Ferrari who assumed his new role last year.

With so much on the line, there was no question of making DB12 a “typical” GT. With 670 hp—more than its closest competitors, the Ferrari Roma, McLaren GT, and Bentley Continental GT—and 800NM of torque courtesy of its hand-built V8 Twin-Turbo, it’s a class-leader in every sense. In Aston’s words, “grand is not enough”; hence they have dubbed DB12 the world’s first “Super Tourer,” as well as the “most complete and accomplished” DB model in history—one that “shines with authenticity, capability and passion to deliver a driving experience that’s second to none.” And we were invited to the South of France recently to put those claims to the test.