There could not possibly be a more eloquent way to commemorate the 110th anniversary of Aston Martin and the 75th anniversary of the “DB” designation used on the manufacturer’s Gaydon models. To animate the party, from the 3rd quarter, the new DB12 arrives, a luxury 2+2-seater coupé that succeeds the DB11 and that, on the outside, does not hide the similarities with its predecessorassuming a stylistic line of continuity rather than rupture.
This changes radically from the doors to the interior, as the cabin is nothing like what we know from Aston Martin. Now, This internal revolution continues to be cushioned by a V8 of Mercedes-AMG origin, with the (big) difference that the power jumps from the previous 510 CV to a much more dynamic 680 CV, between 2750 and 6000 rpm, an increase of 34%. The torque also goes up and the weight goes down, compared to the DB11, so surely the new DB12 will not be asked to compete with the clientele of its rival and compatriot Continental GT Speed (W12 with 659 CV and 900 Nm ) . Also because the improvements introduced with this DB12 allow it to improve its performance and, incidentally, stand up to its Bentley opponent with dignity.
The Aston Martin continues to pass torque and power solely to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox with torque converter, while the Continental GT Speed uses a transmission with the same number of relationships, but with dual clutch and bathed in oil, which offers all-wheel drive. In it pique 0 to 100 km/h are the same (3.6 seconds) and the Crewe coupé manages to reach a higher top speed (335 km/h vs. 325 km/h), despite being heavier (2,273 kg vs. 1,788 kg).
At 4,725 m long, 1,980 m wide and 1,295 m high, the new Aston Martin Super Turismo barely changes its proportions compared to the DB11, also maintaining exactly the same wheelbase (2,805 m; minus 4.6 cm than the Bentley). However, this does not prevent it from benefiting from a series of changes in terms of chassis set-up, which benefits from greater torsional rigidity (+7%).
And to do the cocktail Even more delicious to taste behind the wheel, Aston Martin has worked on more direct steering tuning, fitted stiffer anti-roll bars, new adaptive dampers and an electronic rear differential. The icing on the cake is the specific rubber that covers the 21-inch wheels, 8 kg lighter than the previous 20-inch ones. To stick the DB12 to the ground, the coupe mounts a Michelin Pilot Sport 5S specially designed by the French for this model, measuring 275/35/ZR21 at the front and 325/30/ZR21 at the rear. The most interesting thing is that the Aston Martin concern went to the point of requiring the reduction of rolling noise, which was achieved by “grafting” polyurethane foam into the tire carcass. According to the brand, this reduces the noise heard on board by 20%.
With five driving modes (GT, Sport, Sport+, Wet and Individual) so that the driver can preset their emotions behind the wheel as they please, the DB12 is not limited to acceleration. When it comes to braking, it comes standard with 400mm front and 360mm rear discs., in this case perforated to help dissipate heat in more intensive applications. Optionally, carbon-ceramic brakes are available which, in addition to being more resistant to wear when subjected to heating up to 800ºC, allow the DB12 to release 27 kg of sprung mass, compared to the standard equipment.
As for the interior, expect the refinement typical of the brand, in the choice of materials and execution of finishes, combined with technological luxury. The center console protrudes from the dashboard and houses a 10.25-inch screen with the brand’s latest infotainment system. No wires required to connect to Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, it’s upgradable by air and supported by a faster and more advanced operating system, being the first system of its kind to be developed internal. But nothing like seeing the differences between the interior of the DB11 and the new DB12. Evaluate yourself:
Source: Observadora
