DOUBLE G AND I
BBC TopGear India|December 2023
It's not just McLaren mixing things up. Ferrari and Aston also approach the maximum GT thing from very different directions...
DOUBLE G AND I

If cars did internet dating, the Ferrari 812 Superfast and Aston Martin DBS Superleggera would be swiping right hard enough to crack a phone screen. They come from similarly aristocratic backgrounds, have similar outlooks on life and even similar hobbies – hobbies that centre around being head-swivel noisy, making people stare, and accelerating fast enough to edit distance in a jump-cut. A short film featuring painfully compressed vertebrae and anime-wide eyes. High end? Both cost more than normal people can afford to spend on something they can’t live in.

If you want to be less metaphorical about it, both are front mid-engine V12s, both have horsepower figures that start with a seven, although the 812’s number is dangerously close to starting with an eight. Both are two-door grand tourers, both weigh between 1,600 and 1,700kg. Both have a top speed of 211mph, and both manage to get to 100mph in less time than a hot hatch gets to 62. 

This story is from the December 2023 edition of BBC TopGear India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the December 2023 edition of BBC TopGear India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BBC TOPGEAR INDIAView All
Mi5 SILENT, POSH AND LETHAL!
BBC TopGear India

Mi5 SILENT, POSH AND LETHAL!

With its reimagined design language, BMW has done what it does best-divided opinion with the kind of fervour usually reserved for debates about pineapple on pizza.

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2024
A VIRAL ESCAPE
BBC TopGear India

A VIRAL ESCAPE

The last time I visited Hampi in Karnataka was back in 2021, just as the world began to shake off the COVID-19 travel bans.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024
FROM UNDERDOG TO CHAMPION
BBC TopGear India

FROM UNDERDOG TO CHAMPION

Thierry Neuville's Journey to WRC Glory

time-read
1 min  |
December 2024
Max Verstappen: FOUR-TIME CHAMP UNDER THE VEGAS LIGHTS
BBC TopGear India

Max Verstappen: FOUR-TIME CHAMP UNDER THE VEGAS LIGHTS

From dominance to resilience, Verstappen cements his legacy while Mercedes shines in Sin

time-read
1 min  |
December 2024
VOLKSWAGEN VIRTUS GT PLUS SPORT: SEXY+SPORT
BBC TopGear India

VOLKSWAGEN VIRTUS GT PLUS SPORT: SEXY+SPORT

Volkswagen has a knack for keeping their loyal and enthusiastic customers grinning from ear to ear. The German manufacturer has almost become synonymous with build quality, safety and performance.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
BE GE AND XEV 9E  Sexy and Ballsy!
BBC TopGear India

BE GE AND XEV 9E Sexy and Ballsy!

Starting a review can be quite a challenge, especially when it's hard to pinpoint the flaws!

time-read
8 mins  |
December 2024
CAPTURING THE ESSENCE
BBC TopGear India

CAPTURING THE ESSENCE

Chilly, cold mornings and Mumbai is a rare combination that we seldom see in this part of our beautiful country.

time-read
8 mins  |
December 2024
BATTLE OF TWO GOLIATHS
BBC TopGear India

BATTLE OF TWO GOLIATHS

When Luxury Meets Performance, Who Takes the Crown?

time-read
8 mins  |
December 2024
THE E-MPV THAT DARES TO DREAM BIG
BBC TopGear India

THE E-MPV THAT DARES TO DREAM BIG

The MPV market, dominated for aeons by Toyota's Innova, has always felt like a rather predictable place. It's the type of vehicle you buy not out of passion but practicality-like a pair of orthopaedic shoes.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2024
IMPRACTICAL YET IRRESISTIBLE
BBC TopGear India

IMPRACTICAL YET IRRESISTIBLE

Exactly ten years ago, I took my first international trip. It was to Bahrain, a country of endless desert and skyscrapers, where my aunt and uncle lived. Among their friends and neighbours, one particular gentleman, upon learning I was a budding petrolhead, took an entire day off work to take me around the city’s showrooms to see some “normal” Middle East traffic.

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2024