The Aston Martin DB12. How the super tourer stretches the brand

Aston Martin DB12 glides past in a deep metallic green, the low nose cutting through a patch of wet asphalt as light reflects off its new LED headlamps. You hear the 4.0?liter V8 clear its throat and feel the cabin tighten around you like a tailored jacket.

From DB11 successor to “super tourer”

Internally, product chief Roberto Fedeli calls the Aston Martin DB12 a “super tourer”, a deliberate step beyond the DB11 in both performance and everyday use. The car replaces the DB11 as Aston Martin’s core GT, sitting between pure sports models and the ultra?luxury line.

The DB12 retains a classic front?engine, rear?drive layout but uses a heavily updated bonded aluminum structure with increased torsional stiffness. That stiffer body allows engineers like Fedeli’s team to run adaptive dampers in a wider range, giving a calmer ride in GT mode and more control in Sport and Sport+.

Powertrain and performance numbers

Under the hood sits a 4.0?liter twin?turbocharged V8 jointly developed with Mercedes?AMG and tuned in?house by Aston Martin engineers. Official figures put output at around 680 metric horsepower and 800 Nm of torque, sent through an 8?speed automatic gearbox.

The DB12 uses an electronic rear differential and stability systems that can be relaxed for experienced drivers on track. Aston Martin claims a 0?to?100 km/h sprint in just over three seconds and a top speed above 320 km/h, giving the grand tourer clearly sports?car?level performance.

New cockpit and infotainment

Inside, the DB12 shows some of the biggest changes compared to the DB11. Aston Martin’s own infotainment system replaces the previous Mercedes?sourced COMAND setup and centers on a high?resolution touchscreen mounted above a bank of physical switches. Bright haptic feedback and quicker responses mark a clear step forward.

CEO Amedeo Felisa has said publicly that the new cabin tech is crucial to attracting younger buyers without losing traditional craftsmanship. Hand?stitched leather, metal rotary dials and a low cowl keep sightlines clear, while the steering wheel offers a thick, tactile rim that feels closer to a racing car than a limousine.

Chassis options and tyres

Buyers can choose adaptive dampers with several drive modes and an optional performance pack that includes uprated brakes and specific Michelin Pilot Sport tyres, co?developed for the DB12. These tyres are designed to balance wet grip with long?distance comfort, important for a GT that may cross several countries in one run.

Large brake discs, available in steel or carbon?ceramic form on higher?spec cars, sit behind alloy wheels up to 21 inches. Reviewers have noted that even with the larger wheel options, the DB12 filters out small surface imperfections better than the DB11, while still telling the driver what the front axle is doing.

Pricing and market positioning

On its home UK market, the Aston Martin DB12 has been introduced at a price level above the late DB11, reflecting its stronger performance and more advanced electronics. Specific official pricing varies by specification and market, but it occupies a band similar to high?end GT rivals from Ferrari and Bentley.

The car is positioned as a core revenue driver in Aston Martin’s shift towards higher?margin, lower?volume models. That strategy, which Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll has explained to investors several times, aims to push average selling prices higher while protecting brand scarcity.

Availability and variants

The DB12 first appeared in coupé form, with deliveries starting from mid?2023 in core markets such as the UK, mainland Europe and the Middle East. Aston Martin has talked about broadening the line with an open?top Volante version, but detailed timing and final specs are still being rolled out region by region.

Dealer feedback reported in specialist media suggests early demand is strongest for highly customized cars: special paint finishes, bespoke interiors and Q by Aston Martin personalization features. That aligns with the brand’s overall push into higher?margin bespoke work for well?heeled clients.

How DB12 sits in the Aston range

Within the current portfolio, the DB12 runs alongside more aggressive sports models like the Vantage and more extreme machines such as the Valkyrie hypercar. Compared with the Vantage, the DB12 offers more cabin space, a more compliant ride and greater luggage capacity for long trips.

Compared with the DBX SUV, which has become important for practical family use, the DB12 targets buyers who still want a low seating position and the visual drama of a classic coupé. Analysts view it as the emotional heart of the line?up, particularly for long?standing Aston Martin customers who grew up with DB?series cars.

Role in electrification strategy

Aston Martin has outlined plans for electrified models later in the decade, including hybrid and fully electric products. For now, the DB12 stays with a combustion engine but benefits indirectly from electrical systems such as updated power steering, braking and infotainment electronics.

Felisa has described the DB12 as a bridge between traditional GT values and an upcoming electrified future. It keeps the familiar sound and mechanical character of a V8 while integrating more software and sensors, an approach meant to reassure enthusiasts while modernizing the brand.

Customer experience and interior feel

Slide into the DB12’s seats and you notice the slightly lower driving position compared with the DB11, along with clearer forward visibility thanks to a reshaped dashboard. The leather has a waxy, warm feel, and cold metal switches sit under your fingertips.

Noise insulation has been improved around the rear wheel arches and bulkhead. So at motorway speeds, you hear more of a muted V8 note than tyre roar, unless you deliberately open the exhaust valves in one of the sportier modes.

Digital services and connectivity

The DB12’s bespoke infotainment supports modern smartphone mirroring, online navigation and over?the?air software updates. Aston Martin’s engineers emphasize that owners can receive refinements over time, from user interface tweaks to bug fixes, without a visit to the workshop.

Connected services, such as remote monitoring of vehicle status and concierge features, are designed to match what rivals offer at this price level. For Aston Martin, delivering its own software stack instead of a rebadged system is also a strategic move to control brand touchpoints more tightly.

Context and Aston Martin Lagonda stock

For Aston Martin Lagonda, the DB12 is more than a new coupe; it is a central plank in the company’s effort to refresh its core sports and GT range and support higher pricing across the line. Investors watch order intake and margins around the car closely as a sign of progress.

On Xetra, the Aston Martin Lagonda stock (ISIN GB00BN7CG237) reflects how well this strategy translates into actual profitability and balance?sheet repair.