2024 Aston Martin DB12: Welcome Everyone To The World's First Super Tourer

Packing big power, cutting-edge tech and a cabin that exudes elegance, Aston's latest flagship GT exemplifies luxury and performance like never before

The Aston Martin DB12 is finally here and it debuts at two significant milestones for the Aston Martin timeline: its 110th anniversary, and the celebration of 75 years of the illustrious DB model line. The company states that the word grand is not enough to describe this car, but that it is instead the world's first "Super Tourer." Certainly, there are a lot of firsts here that make the new DB12 exciting. For one, the powertrain is class-leading, following along with Aston Martin's F1 podium success in 2023.

As a successor to the current DB11, the world got a sneak peek at what was coming, in what was believed to be of course the DB12. Aston Martin released three teaser photos before the May 24th reveal and even filed a U.S. trademark for the nameplate of DB12. Well now that date has come, and the vehicle has been officially revealed, being a beautiful game changer, to say the least. So let's get right into it.

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Aston Martin of course is known for "World-leading design, exceptional engineering, and extraordinary craftsmanship..." and these are central to the manufacturer's ethos, as each and every model is an expression of this. Coming Aston's new flagship, the premise once again is on performance and luxury. However, it no longer packs a V-12. Instead, the DB12 features an AMG-built 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8, that puts out 671 horsepower at 6,000rpm and 590 pound-feet of torque at 2750-6000rpm. With these engine specs, the DB12 will hit 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds and has a top speed of 202mph! The turbochargers are dual twin-scroll, meaning one per bank. The compression ratio is 8.6, with direct injection, and sequential electronic fuel injection.

The transmission in this beauty is a rear mid-mounted ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox, with an electronic shift-by-wire control system. If that doesn't seem cool, consider that an F-16 fighter jet has a fly-by-wire flight control system. The transmission contains an alloy torque tube with a carbon fiber propeller shaft. The DB12 has an electronic differential, or E-Diff, with a final drive ratio of 3.083:1. There are four selectable driver powertrain calibrations: GT, Sport, Sport+, and Wet. The engine includes stop/start, four catalytic converters with oxygen sensors, and a wet sump pressurized system

Steering seems very advanced, with a Variable Electric Power Assistance, rack and pinion steering system (EPAS). The steering column is non-isolated, with speed-proportional steering with a 13:09:01 ratio, and 2.375 turns lock-to-lock. Front suspension is an independent double wishbone design, with coil springs and an anti-roll bar, while the rear is the same there but with multi-link. There's ADS, or Adaptive Damping System, with intelligent DTX dampers using Skyhook technology.

With an extruded bonded aluminum body structure and composite panels, what we see here is the coupe with seating for four, but a Volante or convertible will follow suit. As for the design of the new DB12, it is evolutionary rather than revolutionary. While elements of its predecessor can be found, there are some nice details, including a larger, more pronounced six-vane metal grille, and a new Aston Martin Logo. The headlights are a very different shape compared to the DB11 and should remind you of the Vanquish from the 2000s.

There are LED high and low beam headlamps with Auto High Beam (AHB), an integrated direction indicator, daytime running lights, and position lamp, and a lock/unlock graphic theatre. The doors are swan wing opening, infinite stop, and frameless. Light blade LED tail lamps are set in the rear to match the front LEDs. The spoiler is deployable using the company's Aeroblade system.

Optional paint includes solid; metallic; signature metallic; racing line; satin; special; and heritage. Lower and upper body packages can be gloss black/ gloss 2x2 twill carbon fiber. The roof panel can be finished the same. A gloss black vaned grille can be had. Wheels can be multi or Y-spoke, finished in Satin Black, Satin Platinum, or Satin Black Diamond Turned for multi-spoke, while Y-spoke can be Satin Bronze instead of Platinum plus the other options. There's an optional carbon ceramic brake system, and calipers can be the following colors: black; yellow; red; silver; Aston Martin Racing Green; or bronze. Taillights may be smoked, and Aston Martin black wings and script badges are available.

Wheels are 21-inch forged alloys, wrapped in 275/35/ZR21 front and 325/30/ZR21 rear Michelin PS5s summer tires, or Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 winter tires. Both of these tires were developed specifically for Aston Martin. Brakes are front-ventilated two-piece steel discs, 400-36mm, with six-piston calipers. Rears are steel discs, 360x32mm, with four-piston calipers. Here's all the tech packed into them: Dynamic Stability Control; Traction Control; Electronic Brakeforce Distribution; Hydraulic Brake Assist; Emergency Brake Assist; Anti-lock braking (ABS), Engine Drag control; Positive Torque Control; and Dynamic Torque Vectoring.

Here are the dimensions for this sweet ride: 4725mm length; 2135mm width; and 1295mm height. The wheelbase is 2805mm. The fuel capacity is 20.5 gallons. Curb weight is over 4,100 pounds, with weight distribution pretty even at a respective 48:52 front-to-rear ratio. Effective interior headroom is 980mm, 1380mm shoulder room, and 1145mm legroom.

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It's the inside where we see some of the biggest changes in terms of the aesthetic. While the outgoing DB11 certainly had a high-quality cabin, it was often criticized for having far too many buttons and the infotainment unit seemed like an afterthought straight out of the Mercedes parts bin. Aston has addressed that with the DB12. Nice modern interior tech includes a 10.25-inch center display, with a matching-size driver information display.

There's a 390-watt 11-speaker Aston Martin stereo system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. The DB12 also features wireless phone charging to go along with Bluetooth and Satellite navigation. There's a 360 and 3D surround view system standard, along with all the other features one would expect in a modern luxury sports coupe.

Optional features include Accelerate, Inspire, and Inspire Sport interior environments. Seatings are Sports Plus Seats or Carbon Fiber Performance seats. Headliners are colored Alcantara and leather, matched to the selected environment. The steering wheel can come heated, and audio can be upgraded to a Bowers and Wilkins system.

The DB12 has more power and performance than its main rivals. To cool off all that rage, this has been optimized by improving thermal airflow, resulting in a 56 percent increase in open apertures that allow more cold air to flow to the radiators. The V-8 provides an excellent soundtrack and coupled with the advanced new suspension and steering systems, you can expect exceptional handling. Power output is a 34 percent increase compared to the outgoing DB11!

The eight-speed auto is a first for a DB model. Coupled with the advanced Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and E-Diff systems, the differential can go from fully open to 100 percent locked in milliseconds, providing the driver max response for precise and consistent handling. The bonded aluminum body structure results in a seven percent global torsional stiffness increase. The most impressive figure of improvement comes from the state-of-the-art suspension dampers, which provide a 500 percent increase in bandwidth of force distribution!

The looks, performance, technology, and options are all top-notch in Aston Martin's new luxury sports coupe in the DB12. Among its other vehicles, specifically the DB coined DB5, DBS, and exclusively developed for Spectre (2015) DB10 has been featured in James Bond 007 films. Clearly the DB12 "is a statement car. One that asserts Aston Martin's position as a leader in performance, dynamics, engineering, and technology."

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Aston Martin has been manufacturing cars since the early 1910s, starting with 1914's Coal Scuttle. Decades later between 1948 and 1950 is when the Two Litre Sports were developed, also known unofficially as the DB1. This was followed by the DB2 from 1950-1953, the DB2/4 from 1953-1957, the DB MKIII from 1957-1959, the concurrent DB4 from 1958-1963, and DB4GT Zagato from 1960-1962. The DB5 ran from 1963-1965, and the DB6 from 1965-1970. After this, the DBS was made from 1967-1972. A following DB model did not come until 1994's DB7, which ran until 1999.

Then there were a few DB7 variants in the Vantage and Volante ('99-'03), and Zagato (2003). Getting into more modern versions, the DB9 was made from 2003-2012, along with the DBS Coupe ('07-'12) and DBS Volante ('09-'12). Of note, DB8 was skipped due to the DB9 having a V-12 and not to be confused with having a V-8. Finally, this catches us up to what is the next-gen DB that will be revealed as we get this information out to you.

Martin holds a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Working full-time as an Avionics Technician on fighter jets, he travels using a variety of vehicles, to include: a Camaro ZL1, F-150 FX4, Jeep Wrangler TJ, and CBR 600RR. Thus, he's always been interested in wheels, seeing them as something more than just what gets you from point A to Z. He admires style, performance, and longevity in these machines, while appreciating something even if it's not to his taste. Follow him on this ride and see where it goes!