Aston Martin has introduced the DB12 S, a new version of its grand tourer with a 690-horsepower twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8. Simon Newton, the company’s director of vehicle performance and attributes, described the car as being all about “engagement.”
The DB12 S adds 19 horsepower over the standard DB12, which makes 671 horsepower, and Aston Martin says the S model carries a claimed tenth-of-a-second improvement to 60 mph. The car is estimated to reach 60 mph in 3.2 seconds and has a top speed of 202 mph.
Simon Newton on engagement
Newton said the S moniker signals elevated performance and handling, and he called that approach “holistic.” The DB12 S uses the Mercedes-AMG-sourced twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 with more boost pressure, along with a rear-mounted eight-speed automatic transaxle that gets an S-specific retune.
The powertrain changes sit alongside revisions meant to change how the car feels on road. Aston Martin fitted a slightly firmer damper tune than the regular DB12, increased the rear anti-roll bar diameter by 0.5-mm and gave the electronic differential an S setting that is freer at turn-in and locks sooner when powering out of corners.
DB12 S exhaust and brakes
Aston Martin also changed the car’s exhaust and brake hardware. The DB12 S gets stacked exhausts on each side, which make room for a broader rear diffuser, and the standard stainless-steel exhaust adds more bass. An optional titanium exhaust setup adds more midrange.
Standard carbon-ceramic brakes come with the DB12 S, along with a front lip spoiler that includes a pair of biplane splitters at its outer ends and a stand-up spoiler on the rear decklid. Those pieces go with the firmer chassis settings and the revised exhaust note, giving the car a different character from the regular DB12 rather than only a higher output number.
DB12 S road use
For buyers comparing the two cars, the difference is not just the jump from 671 horsepower to 690 horsepower. The DB12 S adds a set of changes aimed at sharper response, stronger braking and a more forceful soundtrack, which is the version Aston Martin is now pitching to drivers who want the faster, firmer setup from the start.
