Aston Martin DB12.
The new Aston Martin DB12, which made its global debut in May 2023, was showcased in Singapore at a private event in Wearnes Automotive.
The DB12 succeeds the DB11 and is the latest car in a model family that spans 75 years. Although it is also built on the DB11’s platform, 80 percent of what you see on the DB12 is all-new.
One of the biggest changes to Aston Martin’s flagship is the brand’s move from V12 to V8 power. The DB11 is motivated by a twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12, whereas the DB12 is powered by a bi-turbo 4.0-litre V8 sourced from Mercedes-AMG.
And instead of being called a grand tourer, Aston Martin has dubbed the car as ‘Super Tourer’ due to its even greater performance. Despite having a smaller engine with fewer cylinders, the DB12 boasts 671bhp and 800Nm of torque, eclipsing the DB11’s figures by 71bhp and 100Nm.
Naturally, the DB12’s performance has leapt ahead, with the car capable of clearing the zero to 100km/h sprint in 3.6 seconds, or 0.3 of a second faster than the DB11.
To deliver these outputs, Aston Martin gave the M177 engine a new camshaft, larger turbos and improved cooling. Each powerplant is also assembled by a single engineer.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox. Also new is an electronic limited-slip differential (the first time in a DB model), which can switch from open to fully locked in milliseconds.
Now, while the DB12 resembles the DB11, the former features a newly designed air intake and front splitter. The front and rear tracks have also been widened by six millimetres in front and 22mm at the rear, giving it a more dynamic stance and potentially improving dynamics.
Helping the car stay glued to the tarmac are the 21-inch Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tyres, which are specifically designed to suit the DB12’s performance and handling characteristics.
Inside, the cockpit’s controls and displays are more distinctive and look more upmarket. There’s a sloping centre console with a 10.25-inch infotainment display, and the instrument panel now features sharper and more attractive graphics.
