The new Aston Martin DB12 S is all about "engagement," according to Simon Newton, director of vehicle performance and attributes. He used the word over and over when describing the Aston Martin DB12 S, and after we spent some time with one, we fully understand. Once you make its acquaintance, you'll likely want to marry it.

Simon says (sorry, we had to do that) that the S moniker, as applied to the DB12, indicates elevated performance and handling, with an emphasis on bringing those attributes together in a "holistic" way. A big power number and improved handling make little sense if you don't enjoy every mile behind the wheel, and in the DB12 S, you absolutely do.

As in the regular DB12, power is provided by a Mercedes-AMG–sourced twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8. The standard car makes 671 horsepower, but the S has been pumped up to 690 horses thanks to more boost pressure. It's all at the upper end of the rev range, pushing the peak to higher heights. It also feels better throughout, thanks to a more progressive throttle tune that isn't jumpy but gives the impression of more power everywhere.

The thing is, the claimed tenth-of-a-second improvement to 60 mph (we estimate 3.2 seconds) is likely not the result of the engine tweaks, although the do manifest themselves at higher speeds on the way to a said top speed of 202 mph. Instead, we're told it's more likely the result of quicker one-two (and two-three, but that's past 60 mph) launch-control upshifts due to an S-specific retune of the rear-mounted eight-speed automatic transaxle.

It's really the changes to the exhaust system that make you want to give this car the beans all the time. The S has a stacked pair of exhausts per side, and this change opened the door to altering the tone and timbre. So, Aston pumped up the bass on the standard stainless-steel system and also layered on more midrange with the optional titanium setup. Our car had the stainless-steel system, but it still sounded magical accelerating out of a corner or reverberating through a tunnel.

The suspension changes also make the S enjoyable. It's not at all softer, because it's a slightly firmer damper tune, but the balance of rebound and compression has been tweaked so that, somehow, the rolling comfort is more agreeable. Even so, you don't necessarily want the dampers set to their softest setting, GT, because the car can begin to move around a wee bit on bumpier back roads.

Aston has also tightened up the body control in corners, with a 0.5-mm increase in the rear anti-roll bar's diameter. That brings sharper turn-in and makes the wheelbase seem shorter. The S settings of the electronic differential are altered accordingly to work with this change, being somewhat freer at turn-in and locking sooner when powering out of corners. Also, it's worth mentioning that while carbon-ceramic brakes are optional on the base car, they're standard on the S. That's a boon for the S, as it means the suspension can be calibrated for the brake system's lower unsprung mass.

The S wears a few functional aerodynamic clues. The front lip spoiler contains a pair of biplane splitters at its outer ends. A stand-up spoiler sprouts from the rear decklid, and the stacked exhausts make room for a broader and more attractive rear diffuser. On our car, much of this was decked out in carbon fiber, including the roof, as options added $100K to the $300,100 starting figure. But can you put a price on love?

Specifications

Specifications

2026 Aston Martin DB12 S Coupe Vehicle Type: front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2+2-passenger, 2-door coupe

PRICE Base: $300,100

ENGINE twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 32-valve V-8, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection Displacement: 243 in3, 3982 cm3 Power: 690 hp @ 6000 rpm Torque: 590 lb-ft @ 2750 rpm

TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic

DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 110.4 in Length: 186.0 in Width: 78.0 in Height: 50.8 in Trunk Volume: 9 ft3 Curb Weight (C/D est): 4050 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST) 60 mph: 3.2 sec 100 mph: 6.6 sec 1/4-Mile: 11.1 sec Top Speed: 202 mph

EPA FUEL ECONOMY Combined: 17 mpg

Dan Edmunds was born into the world of automobiles, but not how you might think. His father was a retired racing driver who opened Autoresearch, a race-car-building shop, where Dan cut his teeth as a metal fabricator. Engineering school followed, then SCCA Showroom Stock racing, and that combination landed him suspension development jobs at two different automakers. His writing career began when he was picked up by Edmunds.com (no relation) to build a testing department.

Source link