Is this the ultimate Club GT touring car? Standing as the most powerful front-engine V8-powered non-hybrid model in its class, the new upper-level DB12 ‘super tourer’ Aston Martin DB12 S is a faster and more powerful version of the DB12, with its weight-saving design aiming for a sportier feel.

Having recently driven the new DB12 S through various twists and turns of British countryside roads, Managing Partner Robert Crosthwaite Eyre shares his experience:

I recently had the pleasure of driving the incredible new Aston Martin DB12 S, courtesy of Aston Martin Bristol, in suitably British conditions of sunshine, wind, rain, and everything in between. Already owning the 2025 Aston Martin Vantage, this was the perfect opportunity to experience Aston Martin’s latest evolution of the DB12. I’ve always admired the DB12’s elegant proportions, but the S adds a more aggressive edge with revised styling, enhanced aerodynamics, and a more purposeful stance.

The changes aren’t just cosmetic. The DB12 S gains an additional 19 horsepower, benefits from faster gear shifts, revised suspension, and comes fitted with carbon-ceramic brakes as standard, all helping to create a sharper, more engaging driving experience while retaining its grand touring credentials.

As part of a quintessentially English day behind the wheel, we stopped for lunch at Thyme in the heart of the Cotswolds. Surrounded by honey-coloured stone buildings, rolling countryside, and understated luxury, the DB12 S looked completely at home. It perfectly embodies that uniquely British combination of elegance, craftsmanship, and style.

Compared with the Vantage, the DB12 S feels noticeably more luxurious, more substantial, and more planted on the road. The longer wheelbase inspires confidence, while the cabin offers the comfort, refinement, and practicality that make long-distance touring effortless. Where the Vantage excels on tighter, more technical roads such as the Stelvio Pass or on a race track, the DB12 S comes into its own on the sweeping, open roads of Spain, Portugal, and southern Europe. It strikes what feels like the perfect balance between the Vantage and the Vanquish. In fact, you could argue that the Vanquish’s additional size, weight, and power are almost too much for many of the roads we regularly enjoy on Club GT tours.

Of course, there is a price to pay for this added capability. The car I drove was specified at around £285,000, approximately £100,000 more than a Vantage, yet also around £100,000 less than a Vanquish. Viewed in that context, it occupies a very interesting position within Aston Martin’s range.

The looks are striking, and wherever you stop, it commands attention. It’s a car that perfectly blends the character of a British gentleman with that of a hooligan, depending entirely on which side of its personality you choose to explore. Add in the fantastic V8 soundtrack, complete with pops, crackles, and plenty of theatre, and you have a car that delivers performance, luxury, presence, and genuine long-distance capability in equal measure.

For me, the Aston Martin DB12 S may well be the sweet spot of the modern Aston Martin range, and perhaps the ultimate Club GT touring car.

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