Pros: Incredible V8 noise and performance, brilliant to drive
Cons: Makes the standard DB12 redundant
Aston Martin DB12 S Design
The S badge brings with it a few visual changes for the gorgeous shape of the DB12, though most of them are led by functional requirements. Up front, for example, is a redesigned bumper for aerodynamic purposes and air vents in the bonnet for cooling the engine.
Around the side, you can’t miss the little “S” badges, while the extended sills are less obvious. All DB12s sit on forged-alloy wheels of 21-inch diameter.
Badging aside, if you want to know for sure you’re looking at the S variant, check out the rear view, as there you’ll find a new bumper incorporating the distinctive ‘stacked’ exhaust outlets – two on each side. Above them sits a neat little fixed wing, replacing the integrated, automatically deploying item found in the standard car.
Aston Martin DB12 S Interior
If the buyer of a DB12 S leaves it in its default specification, you’ll spot red accents for the supple leather upholstery inside the ‘2+2’ cabin, but few ever do. The drive-mode selector on the centre console is anodised red, however, which is about the only trustworthy giveaway.
The rest of the interio is beautifully crafted, mixing tactile materials with solid switchgear throughout. Sure, there’s a touchscreen, digital instruments and all the connectivity expected of a modern car, but the best thing is that you barely have to use the infotainment display if you don’t want to.
Aston Martin is currently the only carmaker using Apple Ultra CarPlay, incidentally, though our experience of it in patchy 5G coverage is mixed. It’s about the only negative thing we’d say about this car’s interior.
Aston Martin DB12 S Performance & Drive
Not that you’ll be worrying about such things once the twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine rumbles into life. It sounds and feels special no matter where you’re driving it and has got to be reason enough to buy this car.
It goes as well as it sounds, as you’d expect. The S model has a little more power, at 700hp, while maximum torque of 800Nm ensures the car feels rapid even if you don’t string the V8 out to the red line.
That would be to deny yourself an immense pleasure. Press the manual gearbox button, take control of the gears with the lovely big metal paddles behind the wheel and revel in the sound of a truly epic engine. While its performance is sensational, this car is less about lap times and numbers than it is the experience.
Saying that, and while the DB12 is ostensibly a GT of sorts, it also goes around corners in a manner that suggests it’s more of a sports car. With adjustable suspension and other sub-systems it’s easy to set the car up for backroad enjoyment or long-distance cruising at the touch of a button.
Aston Martin DB12 S Pricing
The nearest Aston Martin dealership is in Belfast so there’s no official Irish price for any version of the DB12. In reality, it won’t cost less than €450,000 to import, and as most Aston buyers spend quite a bit on personalisation of their cars, that’s likely to be only a starting point.
Carzone Verdict
While the S version brings with it a bump in performance, that’s not really the reason we love it. The honed focus on the driving experience is what helps this car stand apart. It sounds better, it drives better, it looks better than the regular DB12, yet it isn’t – relatively speaking – a whole lot more expensive to buy. If your numbers come up, don’t hesitate to place an order.