Prestige British sports car manufacturer Aston Martin have announced the introduction of a new flagship, the DBX S. It’s an update on their SUV (sport utility vehicle) with all the dynamic appeal of their DBX707 model and an engine enhanced by technology transferred directly from the forthcoming Valhalla supercar that we featured here on MHH International a while back.
The DBX S is a brand ‘milestone’ car, in that it offers one of the most engaging and responsive SUV driving experiences for this class of vehicle by delivering even more power, reduced weight and featuring a more assertive design. With a suite of exterior and interior enhancements to match, the DBX S certainly has its own undeniable identity.
The Striking Exterior
From the front, the new DBX S is instantly recognisable by its striking black ‘vaned’ grille, giving this SUV supercar edition immediate road presence, A new splitter and diffuser further enhance the car’s naturally assertive kerbside presence alongside the distinctive wraparound daytime running light design.
Seen from the side, new sills boast highly distinctive up-turned air splitters which in typical Aston Martin fashion exist for function as much as form, helping channel and direct the airflow along the side of the car. Optionally, carbon fibre is available to specify for the wing mirrors, side strakes and lower door sill, while distinctive ‘S’ signature badging on the front bumpers (fenders) marks the true nature of this beast.
Like the iconic Aston Martin ‘wings’, these badges are manufactured in solid metal, glass enamelled with the ‘S’ in-filled in red as it appeared on previous models such as the brand’s V12 Vantage S and the Rapide S. The badge surround is then chrome plated in either the bright or dark chrome to match the colour of the wings chosen by the customer.
The most obvious visual changes to the new flagship DBX are at the rear, dominated by quad exhausts now vertically stacked and available in both gloss and matt finishes, giving full voice to the glorious sound of the V8 at maximum attack. The rear bumper and diffuser have been completely re-profiled and, along with the side sills and wing, can be specified with carbon to reduce overall vehicle mass by a further 7kg. DBX S also showcases a new lower livery design available to specify in 3 colours; Rosso Corsa Red, Trophy Silver and Podium Green. The sporting livery highlights the front splitter, diffuser and side sills continuing to the rear, framing the new stacked quad exhausts.
All That Power
The performance has to come from somewhere and in this case at the heart of the new DBX S lies an upgraded version of the acclaimed Aston Martin 4.0 litre Twin-Turbo V8 powerhouse. By using turbo technology transferred, again, directly from the upcoming Valhalla supercar and including its larger compressor wheel diameters and other internal improvements, power is raised by a further 19.73BHP (20PS) to 717BHP (727PS) and provides even greater urgency at the very top of the rev range, making the DBX S’s performance even more memorable. The result is a 0-62mph (100kph) time of just 3.3 seconds and reduction in acceleration time from 0-124mph (200km/h) of 0.3 seconds. Top speed remains unchanged at an impressive 193mph (310kph).
Further enhancing both performance and its perception is a modified exhaust system amplifying even more character to the natural voice of the thunderous V8 engine and exploiting the full the opportunity presented by the engine’s turbo enhancements. In short, this one’s loud when the throttle is pressed with some enthusiasm.
The Premium Interior
DBX S is trimmed as standard in lightweight sporting ‘Alcantara’ (an artificial leather), which can be seen on the seats, headlining, centre console, lower instrument panels and upper trim. In areas of high wear such as the seat bolsters, the Alcantara is seamlessly blended with semi-aniline leather. For those who prefer an even greater sense of luxury, DBX S can be trimmed entirely in semi-aniline leather, which is probably how it should be. Red seatbelts can also be specified to bring additional ‘S’ identification inside the car.
The ‘S’ suffix is embroidered onto the seat, complimented by the Aston Martin wings that are emblazoned on the headrests with an industry-first technique using both embossing and ‘de-bossing’ with extreme pressure (1.5 tonnes) and heat to sculpt the wings into the leather in sub-millimetre precision and detail. Furthermore the ‘S’ appears on the tread plates and engine plaque to complete the picture.
DBX S continues the adoption of Aston Martin’s state-of-the-art in-house developed infotainment system with a striking new cabin architecture. This transformative enhancement showcases exemplary deployment of craft and innovation combining immaculate design and indulgent luxury with a formidable suite of connected car technology. This prestige car is also fitted with the Aston Martin Premium Audio 800w 14 speaker audio system as standard. Developed utilising advanced hardware, this system features a surround sound mode for a totally immersive soundscape. However, true audio enthusiasts will delight in the optional system developed with Aston Martin’s audio partner, Bowers & Wilkins.
The Drive
Losing a few kilos never hurt anyone and it’s the same with cars. A new and optional carbon fibre roof presented in a smart single weave pattern (at almost three metres square, it’s by far the largest such carbon element ever fitted to an Aston Martin), aids weight loss. Specification of the carbon roof sees the removal of the roof rails, and as a combination not only saves 18kg of mass, but does so from the very highest point of the car, reducing its centre of gravity and therefore enhancing both stability and agility further.
Magnesium wheels are also now available as an option for the first time on any car in the SUV segment. Magnesium is not only robust, but an incredibly lightweight material, some 75 per cent lighter than steel; half the weight of titanium and a third less even than aluminium. In selecting this 23” optional wheel, a further 19kg of unsprung mass is saved, delivering improvements in ride quality, steering precision and feel, as well the car’s more immediate reaction to direction input. DBX S is also available to order with 23” forged aluminium wheels as standard.
A suite of suspension enhancements offer a revised calibration of both the air springs and electronic dampers, increasing transient body control in order to reduce weight transference and therefore improve primary ride quality and overall stability. Even right at the limit, its standard electronic roll control means the DBX S rolls by no more 1.5 degrees; enough to create the natural feel of the car cornering but still keeping the car flatter than many purpose built, two seat sports cars. An SUV that properly handles; that has to be good.
MHH International & Aston Martin
From Barbados to Zimbabwe, MHH International export both new and used cars worldwide, including to Kenya and New Zealand. Buyers can see the full list of destinations served on the countries page of this website. A wide range of products from many different car manufacturers, including Aston Martin, are available to order for expert insured shipping to your country of choice. Contact our very experienced colleagues who will guide you through the process. There are VAT-free tax options too.
