Aston Martin DB12 S praised
- MotorTrend’s May 5 first drive said the 2026 Aston Martin DB12 S doesn’t just add speed — it meaningfully sharpens the DB12’s steering, ride, and responses. - The headline changes are 700 PS from the twin-turbo V8, revised dampers and geometry, and up to 50 kg trimmed with optional carbon bits. - That matters because Aston is pushing the DB12 S above a normal GT — toward a faster, more tactile “super tourer” niche.
Aston Martin’s DB12 S matters because it shows what the company thinks a modern grand tourer has to be now. Not just fast. Not just pretty. It has to feel more alive than the standard car without turning into a brittle track special. That’s the gap Aston set out to close with the 2026 DB12 S, and the early drives last week were unusually clear on the result — reviewers liked it a lot. ### What actually changed? The big mechanical change is the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. Aston Martin pushed output to 700 PS and 800 Nm, a modest bump on paper, but the company also reworked throttle mapping, transmission behavior, and the exhaust. Top speed is listed at 202 mph, and the whole point is not just a bigger number — it’s stronger response across the rev range. (motortrend.com) ### Why are people focusing on handling? Because that seems to be where the car got meaningfully better. The DB12 S gets suspension and steering revisions aimed at making the front end feel more keyed in and the body better controlled, but without ruining the long-distance comfort that defines this kind of car. MotorTrend’s takeaway was basically that Aston found more precision and more ride compliance at the same time, which is the hard version of this trick. (media.astonmartin.com) ### Isn’t this just a louder trim package? Turns out, no. Aston also cut weight — up to 50 kg depending on spec — with options like a carbon-fiber roof and lighter components. That does two jobs at once. It improves raw performance, but it also makes directional changes feel cleaner, which matters more in a GT than a tiny 0-60 bragging-rights gain. (motortrend.com) ### What did reviewers actually like? The pattern across first drives is pretty consistent. MotorTrend called it a new benchmark for what a grand tourer should be. Other outlets landed in a similar place — sharper, quicker, more tactile, but still plush and expensive-feeling in the right Aston Martin way. That overlap matters because first-drive reviews can vary wildly when a car is all theater and no substance. This one seems to have delivered both. (msn.com) ### Why not just buy a Vantage? Because the DB12 S is chasing a different brief. The Vantage is the more obvious sports car. The DB12 S is trying to be the car that feels special on a mountain road and on a 300-mile highway run. Basically, Aston wants the extra edge of an S-badge car without giving up the cabin richness and relaxed stride that make the DB line the DB line. (motortrend.com) ### Where does this fit in Aston’s lineup? It sits at the top of the DB12 range and follows the same recent logic Aston has used with Vantage S and DBX S. The company is reviving the old “S” formula — more power, more attitude, more focus — but applying it to cars that still need to work as luxury flagships, not stripped-out specials. (media.astonmartin.com) ### So what’s the real takeaway? The real story is not that Aston Martin added 20 PS. Lots of brands can do that. The story is that the DB12 S seems to have fixed the classic fast-GT compromise — more aggression usually makes these cars worse to live with. Early reviews suggest Aston moved the car in both directions at once. If that holds up beyond launch drives, the DB12 S could end up being one of the clearest expressions yet of what a high-end grand tourer should feel like in 2026. (media.astonmartin.com) (motortrend.com)
