Aston Martin DB12

Model Overview

The Aston Martin DB12 is a grand tourer (GT) sports car from the British ultra-luxury marque Aston Martin, making its global debut in May 2023. Serving as the successor and major evolution of the DB11, the DB12's arrival marked the significant 75th-anniversary milestone of the celebrated DB lineage. Aston Martin bills the DB12 as the "world's first Super Tourer", redefining the grand touring ethos by delivering an exceptional blend of scintillating performance, ride comfort, and bespoke craftsmanship. The model officially entered the Chinese market on 11 July 2024. The DB12 line-up is offered in two body styles: the hardtop Coupe and the drop-top Volante convertible, alongside the subsequent introduction of the higher-performance DB12 S. In China, the 2025 DB12 4.0T V8 Coupe carries an official recommended retail price of RM2,688,000; the exclusive Goldfinger Edition is tagged at RM4,616,000; while the 2026 DB12 S is priced between RM2,888,000 and RM2,988,000.

Design Language

On the exterior front, the DB12 builds upon Aston Martin’s signature design language. The front fascia features an imposing, larger single-piece front grille paired with redesigned LED headlamps for a far more aggressive and purposeful stance. To match the broader grille, the car’s track has been substantially widened, giving the DB12 a muscular, planted profile. Prominent power bulges on the bonnet work alongside a sculpted front splitter to accentuate its athletic pedigree. Down the flanks, the DB12 retains the sleek fastback profile of its predecessor while introducing contemporary touches such as frameless wing mirrors, flush door handles, and fresh 21-inch forged alloy wheels. Round the back, it retains the iconic C-shaped LED light signature, underpinned by an aggressive black rear diffuser and a deployable active rear spoiler. Dimensions-wise, the sports car measures 4,725 mm in length, 1,980 mm in width (excluding mirrors), and 1,295 mm in height, riding on a 2,805 mm wheelbase.

Interior Design

Inside, the DB12 receives a thoroughly revamped cabin. The cockpit adopts a clean, driver-centric layout featuring dual 10.25-inch high-resolution digital displays for the instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen. An intuitive array of physical switchgear and rotary dials is retained on the centre console, striking a practical balance between digital tech and tactile ergonomics. The previous push-button gear selector from the DB11 has made way for a sleek toggle-style gear selector. Highlighting supreme luxury, the cabin is swathed in hand-stitched Bridge of Weir leather and carbon-fibre trim, debuting an intricate diamond-quilted pattern for an elevated bespoke ambience.

Powertrain and Performance

Under the bonnet sits a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine sourced from Mercedes-AMG, meticulously hand-built and tuned by Aston Martin’s engineering team. It churns out a massive 680 PS (500 kW) and 800 Nm of peak torque, representing a substantial 34% increase in output over the outgoing DB11 V8. Power is channelled to the rear wheels via a rear-mid-mounted ZF 8-speed torque-converter automatic transmission equipped with shift-by-wire electronic controls. The drivetrain adopts a classic front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. In terms of outright pace, the DB12 dispatches the 0–100 km/h sprint in just 3.6 seconds, completes 0–60 mph (approx. 96 km/h) in 3.5 seconds, and maxes out at a top speed of 325 km/h. Fuel consumption is rated at a combined 12.2 L/100 km, with CO₂ emissions of 278 g/km.

Chassis and Dynamics

Under the skin, the DB12 benefits from a heavily stiffened bonded aluminium chassis, with re-engineered front and rear damper towers, engine cross braces, and underbody undertrays yielding a 7% increase in global torsional rigidity. Suspension duties are handled by a front double-wishbone and rear multi-link independent suspension setup, managed by Bilstein DTX adaptive dampers with Skyhook technology that offer a 500% increase in damping force distribution bandwidth. Steering response is sharpened via an Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) rack-and-pinion setup with a 13.09:1 ratio, clocking just 2.375 turns lock-to-lock. Braking is handled as standard by massive 400 mm front and 360 mm rear grooved and drilled ventilated discs clamped by six-piston front and four-piston rear callipers; an optional Carbon Ceramic Brake (CCB) package cuts 27 kg of unsprung weight. Notably, the DB12 also marks the first application of an Electronic Rear Differential (E-Diff) in a DB model.

Cabin Tech and Equipment

The DB12 debuts Aston Martin’s next-generation in-house bespoke infotainment system, entirely replacing the legacy Mercedes-Benz-derived setup. The system features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a 3D surround-view parking display, and Over-The-Air (OTA) software update capabilities. Audiophiles can enjoy a standard 11-speaker sound system or upgrade to an ultra-premium Bowers & Wilkins surround sound setup. The cabin features leather and Alcantara upholstery, with power-adjustable, heated front sports seats fitted as standard. Cabin climate is governed by a dual-zone automatic climate control system.

Safety and Advanced Driver Assistance

On the safety front, the DB12 is equipped with a comprehensive passive safety suite including front airbags, side airbags, and full-length curtain airbags. Active safety systems come standard with tyre pressure monitoring, a 360-degree camera system, and full-speed Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). Its Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) also includes vital aids such as Lane Keep Assist and Lane Centring.

Market Reception and Performance

The DB12 has garnered critical acclaim across global automotive media. Test drives consistently laud its relentless engine punch and neutral, fluid handling at the absolute limit; the Volante variant has been equally praised for matching the Coupe’s cabin refinement with the roof up while delivering top-down theatre when stowed. The grand tourer earned a notable overall score of 62.3 points in the autoX Awards 2024.

Conversely, the DB12 has faced significant headwinds in the Chinese market. Slower luxury retail demand in both China and North America has weighed heavily on Aston Martin’s overall sales figures. In Q3 2024, DB12 deliveries in China totalled just 7 units; in May 2024, the entire brand recorded only 18 vehicle registrations across China, equating to an average of less than 1 car per showroom among its 19 official retail partners.

In summary, serving as a fitting 75th-anniversary milestone for the iconic DB nameplate, the Aston Martin DB12 embraces its "Super Tourer" mantle with transformative gains across powertrain muscle, chassis agility, and digital cabin tech. While it establishes a bold new high-water mark for the British ultra-luxury GT segment, navigating an increasingly challenging global luxury market will remain a key test for the marque.