ASTON MARTIN DB12
Autocar UK|January 03, 2024
Upgraded DB11 is the first big play from Aston Martin in the Lawrence Stroll era
MATT SAUNDERS
ASTON MARTIN DB12

TESTED 12.12.23, DURHAM ON SALE NOW

Might this be the most significant facelift that any grand touring sports car has ever had? The Aston Martin DB12, which we first sampled in France last year, isn't quite all-new, but what it represents is quite easy to overlook.

This is really the first of Aston's major model introductions since Lawrence Stroll bought control of the company. The DBX SUV is really still an Andy Palmerera model. While there have been other low-volume, special-series cars since, the DB12 is the first big-ticket Aston to be designed and developed entirely under the Canadian's ownership - and also since the arrival of Ferrari expats Amedeo Felisa and Roberto Fedeli into their leading CEO and CTO roles at Gaydon. So this car should tell us exactly how and where 'the new Aston' really wants to progress and do things differently than it has previously.

Twelve follows (DB) eleven, then, in all ways but figuratively, with the number of cylinders under that newly pinched and ridged bonnet. Whereas the DB11 could be had with either 4.0-litre V8 or 5.2-litre V12 turbo power, Aston has concentrated its engineering effort this time on a revised version of that V8 from Mercedes-AMG, which develops significantly more than even the old DB11 AMR's V12 managed: 671bhp at 6000rpm and a healthy 15% more torque of 5901b ft from 2750rpm.

A redesign of key components within the bonded aluminium monocoque has brought a 7% improvement to torsional rigidity and, allowing for the weight saved under the bonnet, delivers an 85kg weight saving overall compared with the launch-spec DB11 V12, in a car that's slightly shorter but wider.

Denne historien er fra January 03, 2024-utgaven av Autocar UK.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra January 03, 2024-utgaven av Autocar UK.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA AUTOCAR UKSe alt
The venomous nature of the Cobra
Autocar UK

The venomous nature of the Cobra

Last week, Matt Prior drove a totally new kind of AC Cobra. This is a car with one of the strongest allures of all - but also an incredibly complex and controversial history.

time-read
3 mins  |
October 23, 2024
SKODA KAMIQ
Autocar UK

SKODA KAMIQ

A long getting-to-know-you trip to Spain reveals all

time-read
2 mins  |
October 23, 2024
THE SEVEN-YEAR TITCH
Autocar UK

THE SEVEN-YEAR TITCH

Outgoing baby Jag is plush, practical and now eminently affordable

time-read
2 mins  |
October 23, 2024
'Our time has come'
Autocar UK

'Our time has come'

Honda may be late to the EV party, but a barrage of bold new battery-powered cars is on the way. JAMES ATTWOOD speaks to boss Toshihiro Mibe at its R&D base to find out what's in store

time-read
8 mins  |
October 23, 2024
Lion kings
Autocar UK

Lion kings

Plush, powerful four-door cars are an endangered species - and now Peugeot has called time on its latest, the 508 PSE. STEPHEN DOBIE compares it with its most significant ancestor, the 505 GTI

time-read
6 mins  |
October 23, 2024
VOLKSWAGEN GOLF
Autocar UK

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

Wolfsburg gives the lesser-known Golf PHEV a big-impact refresh

time-read
7 mins  |
October 23, 2024
PORSCHE PANAMERA GTS
Autocar UK

PORSCHE PANAMERA GTS

Stuttgart's latest 'bahnstormer targets driver appeal over outright punch

time-read
2 mins  |
October 23, 2024
MERCEDES-AMG GT 63 PRO
Autocar UK

MERCEDES-AMG GT 63 PRO

Hardcore variant of V8 sports car engineered with track days in mind

time-read
3 mins  |
October 23, 2024
TESLA REVEALS ROBOTAXI
Autocar UK

TESLA REVEALS ROBOTAXI

Firm unveils Cybercab coupé and 20-seat Robovan in autonomy push

time-read
2 mins  |
October 23, 2024
DACIA PLOTS AMBITIOUS EXPANDED EURO LINE-UP
Autocar UK

DACIA PLOTS AMBITIOUS EXPANDED EURO LINE-UP

Firm teases something different’ ahead of impending C-segment reveal

time-read
2 mins  |
October 23, 2024