Aston Martin DB12 S gains power, handling

Aston Martin’s new DB12 S is a familiar kind of car story — take the already fast grand tourer, turn the dial up, and promise it still knows how to do long-distance luxury. But this one is a little more interesting than the usual “more power, black trim, done” exercise. The DB12 S gets real hardware and software changes, not just a badge. And the whole point is clear: Aston wants the DB12 to feel more alive without turning it into a stripped-out track special. ### What is the DB12 S, exactly? It’s the hotter version of the DB12 coupe — still a front-engine, rear-drive V8 grand tourer, still aimed at people who want speed and theater with actual road-trip manners. Aston is calling it a “super tourer,” which is marketing-speak, sure, but the underlying idea is simple: more edge than the standard car, without losing the plushness that makes a DB car a DB car. (astonmartin.com) ### How much more power are we talking? The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 now makes 690 hp and 590 lb-ft. That’s enough for 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds and a 202-mph top speed. The gearbox is still an eight-speed automatic, but Aston says it has been recalibrated for faster, more aggressive 120-millisecond shifts. Basically, the DB12 S is not a reinvention of the formula — it’s the formula with sharper elbows. (motortrend.com) ### What changed in the chassis? This is the part that matters more than the horsepower bump. Aston says the DB12 S gets revised damper software, changes to the electronic differential, and a thicker rear anti-roll bar. Standard carbon-ceramic brakes cut unsprung mass while improving stopping power. That combination should make turn-in crisper and body control tighter, which is exactly what reviewers noticed on first drives — more composure, more response, less of the slight softness you tolerate in a big GT. (astonmartin.com) ### Does it still feel like a luxury car? Yes — and Aston seems very aware that this is the line it can’t cross. The DB12 S keeps the rich cabin, the dramatic shape, and the sense that the car is supposed to be an event even when you’re just heading to dinner. Reviewers keep coming back to the same point: it’s louder and more focused, but not harsher in the way a junior supercar can be. That balance is the whole sell. (astonmartin.com) ### What about the design? The visual changes are subtle but deliberate. There’s an “S” badge, a more assertive look, and a new quad-exhaust setup in stainless steel with active valves. Aston also offers an optional titanium exhaust for buyers who want even more drama. This is not a body-kit special. It’s more like tailoring — same suit, cleaner shoulders, louder shoes. (cars.com) ### Who is Aston chasing here? Think Bentley Continental GT Speed buyers, plus anyone who likes the idea of a Ferrari-adjacent grand tourer but wants something less extroverted and more old-world. The DB12 already sat between pure GT and sports car. The S pushes it further toward the sports-car side without giving up the long-legged, high-luxury identity that separates Aston from more clinical rivals. That matters because the premium performance market is crowded, and “beautiful but slightly soft” is not enough anymore. (astonmartin.com) ### Is this a big deal or a neat trim update? It’s somewhere in between. The DB12 S doesn’t rewrite Aston Martin’s lineup, but it does tighten the case for the DB12 as the company’s core front-engine performance car. More important, it shows Aston understands where the segment has moved: buyers still want comfort, but they also expect immediacy. The old compromise — gorgeous car, slightly lazy dynamics — is getting harder to defend. (topgear.com) ### Bottom line The DB12 S looks like Aston Martin fixing the exact things enthusiasts would have asked for — a little more power, a little more control, a little more menace. That sounds incremental. But in this class, incremental is often the whole game. (astonmartin.com) (motortrend.com)