Aston Martin DB12: The Car That Invented Its Own Category to Belong To
Aston Martin didn't just launch a new DB-series grand tourer — it declared an entirely new class of car, the "Super Tourer," positioned deliberately between traditional GT comfort and genuine supercar dynamics.
Illustration for editorial purposes
A New Label for an Old Idea, Backed by Real Engineering
Car makers invent marketing terms all the time, and skepticism is usually warranted. Reviewers keep noting that in this case, the underlying engineering changes actually back up the bold new label Aston Martin gave it.
History & Development
Launched in 2023 for the 2024 model year as the successor to the DB11, the DB12 retains its predecessor's basic chassis and twin-turbo V8 architecture but overhauls the execution comprehensively enough that reviewers describe it as a genuinely different car to drive. It arrived under new ownership influence from chairman Lawrence Stroll, reportedly frustrated by the outgoing DB11's soft, under-damped character, and a 2026 "S" variant has since pushed performance further still.
Design & Engineering
Power comes from a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 (sourced from Mercedes-AMG) producing 671bhp in standard form, rising to 690bhp in DB12 S guise, with 0-60mph in as little as 3.3 seconds and a 202mph top speed. Torsional rigidity increased 7% over the DB11 thanks to a revised underbody, engine cross-brace and rear bulkhead, paired with new-generation adaptive dampers, a stiffer anti-roll bar and an electronic differential — changes reviewers credit with transforming a car once criticised for vague, over-soft handling into something genuinely precise. The interior abandoned the old Mercedes-sourced switchgear entirely for Aston's own next-generation infotainment system and a Bowers & Wilkins audio partnership, addressing what had been one of the DB11's clearest weaknesses.
Cultural Significance
The DB12 arrives as the sole V8 model in a bloodline that traditionally carried a V12, with emissions regulations pushing the twelve-cylinder engine exclusively upmarket to the pricier Vanquish. Positioned directly against the Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari Roma and Porsche 911 Turbo, it's widely credited by reviewers as finally giving Aston Martin a genuinely convincing, fully rounded alternative to those established rivals rather than a car defined mainly by its badge and heritage.
Value Today
Starting around £185,000 and climbing well past £240,000 with typical options, the DB12 sits between the smaller Vantage and larger, V12-powered Vanquish in Aston's current lineup. As a relatively recent model still in production, it isn't yet a classic collector's piece, though its status as the first "Super Tourer" and the meaningful engineering leap over the DB11 make it a genuinely significant modern Aston Martin to watch.
Watch & Explore
More Aston Martin Icons
- Aston Martin DB5 Overview — Classic Icon
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- Aston Martin Vantage Overview — Modern Icon
Sources: Top Gear, On: Yorkshire Magazine, duPont Registry, Autoweb.