Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur today welcomed its latest and greatest, the DB12, into Malaysia – a model that marks “a new era for Aston Martin as the first of its next-generation supercars”, or “super tourer” if you will.
Shown here in the very attractive new Iridescent Emerald exterior colour, the Aston Martin DB12 is priced from RM1,088,000 before taxes, duties, options, and customisation.
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Talk is cheap, so what truly makes the DB12 the world’s first “super tourer”, as Aston Martin calls it? For one, it has some 34% more power than the outgoing DB11.
It still has a similar 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 mill underneath its long bonnet (no V12 any more, unfortunately), but thanks to an extensive list of tweaks including modified cam profiles, optimised compression ratios, and bigger turbochargers, the outputs from the engine have been raised to now 680 hp and 800 Nm.
Power from the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission (with a shortened final ratio) and an electronic differential, the latter linked to the car’s stability control system to enable adjustments from fully open to 100% locked in just milliseconds.
All of that adds up to achieve a century sprint in under 3.6 seconds, onward to a top speed of 325 km/h. Not too bad for a grand tourer, eh?
Aside from just raw grunt, Aston Martin engineers have also placed significant focus on the car’s drivability. The DB12’s new bonded aluminium structure gives it an increase of 7% in torsional stiffness, which along with the reworked adaptive dampers – with a claimed 500% increase in bandwidth of force distribution – results in not only improved handling capabilities, but also refinement.
There’s also the revised electronic power assisted steering (EPAS) system with a non-isolating steering column that promises “pure and uncorrupted” feedback from the road surface, and even the brake boosters have also been retuned for better pedal feedback.
The 400 mm front and 360 mm grooved and cross-drilled cast-iron brake discs are standard equipment here, but customers can also opt for a carbon-ceramic brake kit that offers improved braking performance, with reduced brake fade at up to 800 degrees Celsius while also reducing the unsprung mass by 27 kg for better handling and steering response.
And for electronics, the all-new Aston Martin DB12 now offers five drive modes – GT, Sport, Sport Plus, Wet, and Individual – tying in with the updated electronic stability control that utilises a new six-axis inertia measurement unit (IMU) to let drivers explore the limits of grip in varying degrees.
Looks wise, the Aston Martin DB12 still retains most of the grand-tourer’s iconic styling elements – including the long bonnet, sleek roofline, and unique touches such as the side strakes behind both front wheels – but with a significantly modernised touch that brings in line with its other stablemate’s new design language.
The car is quite significantly bigger, however, measuring up to 22 mm wider on the rear track – a shift that’s made immediately noticeable via the 56% larger front grille.
Other exterior highlights include the larger staggered 21-inch alloys, which have been computer-designed to remove excess mass, resulting in an 8 kg weight reduction despite the 1-inch increase in diameter. The wheels – which can be specified in a variety of unique colours – are also shod in Michelin Pilot Sport 5S tyres, featuring a tyre compound that’s designed specifically for Aston Martin that’s said to offer “unparalleled lateral grip”.
In contrast to the iterative exterior design, the cabin of the all-new Aston Martin DB12 has been completely reworked, now featuring a minimalist dashboard layout that marks a stark departure from previous models.
A new 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display – running on in-house-developed software with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity – sits at the top of the raised centre console, and below that are a selection of physical buttons and switches that gives drivers direct and easy access to frequently-used controls, including vehicle dynamic settings and even the climate controls.
The standard-fit Comfort Seats are wrapped in Haircell Leather from Bridge of Weir, which also finds its way onto the new flat-bottomed steering wheel. The tan leather is contrasted by black Alcantara microfibre on the roofliner and gloss black trims, and satin chrome “jeweleries” littered throughout.
Of course, nobody buys an Aston Martin in standard specifications, so you’ll be able to specify the DB12 up to your own liking via the configurator with a myriad of options including carbon fibre performance seats and inlays on the centre console, and even different wing badges above the front grille. If that’s still not enough, buyers can also make use of the Aston Martin Q programme to give you virtually unlimited customisation options.
The Aston Martin DB12 is now available for viewing and booking here in Malaysia through the Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur showroom, with a starting price of RM1,088,000 before duties, taxes, options, and – of course – customisation. With taxes, though, you’ll be looking at an estimated RM2.3 million for the Aston Martin DB12.
As with all other Aston Martin models, the all-new DB12 can be ordered with up to 20 years of extended warranty coverage. Interested customers can contact Aston Martin Kuala Lumpur at +60321631196 or their website at www.astonmartinkualalumpur.com.
GALLERY
