New Car Preview: Aston Martin DB12 S Turns the Super Tourer Dial Up A Notch

Aston Martin has a new flagship for the DB family and it is aimed squarely at drivers who want more edge without sacrificing the velvet touch. Meet the DB12 S, a sharpened evolution of the DB12 that adds power, aero attitude, and a suite of chassis upgrades while keeping the brand’s signature polish intact.

The numbers set the tone. The hand assembled 4.0 liter twin turbo V8 now delivers an estimated 690 hp and 590 lb ft of torque, good for a claimed 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and a 202 mph top speed. Engineers retuned launch control and cut shift times by more than half, then mapped a new throttle calibration that feels more progressive as you roll into the pedal. The soundtrack gets a makeover too. A new quad tailpipe stainless system adds depth and presence, while an optional titanium exhaust trims 11.7 kg and nudges volume by 1.5 dB for a more assertive cold start.

Chassis work is extensive and focused. Software for the Bilstein DTX dampers tightens roll and pitch control, a stiffer rear anti roll bar complements revised camber, toe, and caster settings, and steering plus the electronic rear differential are tuned for more natural build up and response right off center. The result is a car that invites earlier throttle on corner exit without giving up that long legged stability the best grand tourers are known for.

Standard carbon ceramic brakes seal the dynamic deal. Massive 410 mm front and 360 mm rear rotors bring stronger, more fade resistant stopping while pulling 27 kg of unsprung weight from the car. The lighter hardware helps ride quality and steering texture, and it pairs with next generation corner braking control that blends brake slip management with vehicle control logic. The system is predictive when you trail brake into a bend, using more rear brake authority to hold a tight line from entry to apex and providing clean torque vectoring across the rear axle.

The design reads like a visual summary of the performance brief. A dual element front splitter and functional bonnet louvres clean up airflow and help extract heat from the hot V. Gloss black sill extensions tie the stance together along the flanks. At the rear, a fixed spoiler and broader diffuser frame stacked pairs of exhaust finishers. Discreet S badges on the fenders signal the halo status without shouting.

Open the door and the S specific treatment continues. A red anodised drive mode controller sits proudly on the center console and sets the color theme for seatbelts, contrast welts, stitching, and headrest embroidery. Buyers can choose Accelerate leather and Alcantara, Inspire S semi aniline leather and Alcantara, or Inspire S full semi aniline leather, each with distinctive quilting and an Alcantara headliner. Sixteen way Sport Plus seats are standard, with a Carbon Fibre Performance seat on the options list. Detail lovers will appreciate the available Alcantara heated steering wheel and the Aston Martin wings rendered on the headrests using a novel emboss and deboss technique for crisp depth.

The DB12 S also strengthens the brand’s growing roster of high performance S models alongside the DBX S and the latest Vantage S, reviving a tradition that traces back to the DB3S. This one just happens to wrap modern electronics, serious braking, and a more vocal V8 in a shape that looks perfectly at home outside a five star hotel or idling at the pit lane.

Orders are open now in both Coupe and Volante with first deliveries slated for the first quarter of 2026. If the DB12 was the statement that Aston Martin could redefine the Super Tourer for a new generation, the DB12 S is the exclamation point that brings the dynamic bandwidth and character to match its presence.

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