Aston Martin DB12 S review: New £205,000 super tourer is S club heaven to drive, says RAY MASSEY

How’s that for Aston Martin, the new flagship with real ‘S’ appeal?

I’m driving the new DB12 S ‘super Tourer’, which promises customers more assertive looks and performance, power and, most importantly, natural ride comfort than the standard DB12 it effectively replaces.

The addition of the ‘S’ suffix indicates that it is the highest performance version of an established model; It joins the top of the ‘S’ club, which currently includes the DBX S and Vantage S. Aston Martin says that from now on, around 95 percent of future DB12 sales are expected to be the ‘S’ version.

Available as both a two-door 2-plus-2 hardtop coupe and a Volante convertible, the halo DB12 S is the grandest of truly grand touring cars that feels more engaging, fun and natural to drive despite the increase in horsepower.

Prices currently on sale start from £205,000 for the Coupe and rise to £218,000 for the Volante.

Tweaks to the exterior ‘S’ design make the vehicle look and drive more aerodynamic and assertive; It offers more liveliness than faster lanes can offer.

more power

At the beating heart of the DB12 S is an even more powerful version of the Aston Martin 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, boosted to 700 hp, an increase of 20 hp over the standard version.

For the coupe I drove around Provence in the south of France, this cuts the 0-to-60 mph time by 0.1 second to just 3.4 seconds (3.5 seconds for the Volante cabriolet) and achieves a top speed of 202 mph, complete with a distinctive new exhaust note.

There are five driving modes: Wet for inclement weather, GT for big touring trips; Sport and Sport+ for more exhilarating performance and Individual to set your own preferences. I spent most of my time in the two Sport modes, but found them harmonious and not intimidating at all.

That’s because Aston engineers have introduced a range of comprehensive chassis improvements to increase agility, precision and road connectivity without compromising comfort or refinement.

Powering down winding mountain roads was the perfect environment to experience how the new throttle calibration and reduced shift speeds (reduced by more than 50 percent) deliver sharper response and driver engagement. Software changes also help make driving easier.

With 700 horsepower produced by the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine under the hood, the Aston Martin DB12 S is not lacking in power.

Despite the added power, the DB12 S is surprisingly drivable, says Ray

Aston Martin engineers have introduced a more progressive throttle feel with the new S-specific ‘ride-by-wire’ throttle, offering the driver a more natural and intuitive feel with a greater sense of connection and control.

So when I pressed the throttle hard, it continued to accelerate quickly but smoothly, with a mature sense of speed devoid of jarring jumps or neck-breaking explosions. It also proved very agile on the tightest mountain bends.

Its increased stability inspires confidence and rewards pleasure, especially when cornering.

The steering wheel also self-centers more naturally. This is definitely a grand tourer designed for adult racers, not boy racers. You might even call it ‘S’ club heaven.

Carbon brakes as standard

To cope with the increased horsepower, an increase in stopping power is needed.

That’s why Aston fits carbon ceramic brakes as standard; they also reduce weight by 27 kg compared to steel brakes. They also help provide a consistent feel when applied, which benefits ride quality, steering and dynamic handling.

The new predictive cornering braking control system maintains optimum stability when braking into a corner by using more of the rear braking performance to maintain a tighter line from corner entry to the apex.

Aston explained: ‘This system allows the driver to brake later and with better stability.

‘It ensures predictable, precise and consistent cornering behavior in all driving environments, from winding country roads, high-speed motorway junction exits or racing track driving’.

Sporty new stainless steel oval quad tailpipes are tuned for more depth, bass and power.

The optional titanium exhaust system amplifies this music by further boosting the bass, mid and treble frequencies and increasing the sound level by 1.5dB.

The titanium system also reduces weight by 11.7 kg compared to the standard stainless steel version.

With so much power available, Aston Martin engineers felt it was necessary to fit carbon ceramic brake discs as standard to improve stopping performance

The DB12 S certainly looks menacing, with its new dual-element front splitter and vented carbon fiber hood that vents hot air from the massive engine underneath.

you look good

Visual adjustments on the exterior have both aesthetic and practical roles. These include a new dual-element front splitter that lowers and widens the DB12 S’s appearance to create a more assertive appearance, while also generating downforce and directing airflow around the front wheel arches to create stability and further reduce lift.

Hood louvers (finished in gloss black or optional twill carbon fibre) help remove hot air from the V8 engine while also contributing to the car’s more aggressive front fascia.

The glossy black sills on the sides further strengthen the ground-hugging stance of the DB12 S.

The bold, wide yet aerodynamic rear end of the DB12 S has a practical reason but is also an emphatic design statement.

Underneath is a new rear diffuser, which reduces lift and provides space for the DB12 S’s stacked pairs of quad exhaust pipes, while being framed within a larger rear bumper for maximum visual impact.

The ‘S’ version of the DB12 has been mechanically tuned with a slight increase in power, stronger brakes and fine-tuning of the electronic accelerator setup.

Acceleration time from 0 to 60 mph for the coupe that Ray drives around Provence in southern France is just 3.4 seconds.

Customers have the opportunity to choose from three leather and non-leather interior options, with opulent Alcantara touches throughout the cabin.

Joining the ‘S’ club also means displaying S badges in key locations, including hand-crafted versions in bright or dark chrome finished with red glass enamel on the fenders just below each side cladding.

Inside the car, the DB12 S comes with three leather and non-leather interior trim options: Accelerate leather and Alcantara; Inspire S semi-aniline leather; and Alcantara and Inspire S full semi-aniline leather. Both Inspire S packages include micro-perforated herringbone quilting and Alcantara headliner.

‘S’ interior features include the red anodised finish of the serrated metal drive mode rotary controller.

Red is also used to highlight seat belts, contrast seat striping, contrast stitching and headrest embroidery.

Attractive options that will push the hefty base bill even higher include: Alcantara heated sports steering wheel; and the iconic Aston Martin wings with sculptural depth have been applied to the headrests.

The DB12 now joins the Vantage sports car and DBX SUV in ‘S’ versions. Ray says this might be the best of the bunch

sitting nice

Flexible, extremely comfortable and comfortable, the 16-way Sport Plus power front seats are equipped as standard with the sportier racing-inspired carbon fiber performance seat option.

Aston Martin’s director of vehicle performance, Simon Newton, said: ‘With the DB12 S we have carefully designed a series of detailed changes that maintain signature levels of refinement, enhancing vehicle performance and increasing driver involvement.

‘We believe this elevates the Super Tourer ethos to an exciting new level.’

The new DB12 S joins the DBX S and Vantage S to extend Aston Martin’s revival of high-performance ‘S’ models, with more on the way.

The ‘S’ tradition began in 1953 with the DB3S road racer.

More recent examples include the first- and second-generation Vanquish S launched in 2004 and 2016 respectively, the V8 and V12 Vantage S models launched in 2011 and 2013, and the four-seat Rapide S also launched in 2013.