British Aston Martin is pushing out a host of new models in a short space of time. It wanted to give customers choices at different stages. For the DBX, there are two variants to choose from. We recently drove the most powerful version for a few days.
Aston Martin introduced their first SUV a few years ago: the DBX. It came in a fairly tame variant with 550 hp. This was soon followed by a significantly spiced-up version in the form of the DBX707. The standard DBX disappeared, and with the arrival of the 707, it became a greater success. Now, a few years have passed, and the British have introduced the DBX S. Sharper, more powerful, and considerably more modern.
It is primarily the black grille at the front that catches the eye. These are no longer horizontal lines, but a honeycomb structure familiar from the Vanquish. It gives the body so much more presence. At the rear, the new design of the diffuser with stacked tailpipes stands out. A new optional feature is the carbon fiber roof. This not only eliminates the panoramic sunroof, but also results in a weight saving of 18 kilos! Furthermore, the DBX S stands out thanks to the S logos and the carbon fiber spoiler work that significantly enhances the overall appearance.
Weight reduction is what Aston Martin focused on with the DBX S. The car will never be a lightweight, but thanks to the carbon fiber roof and the use of magnesium wheels, the total weight can be reduced by 47 kilos. Can indeed, because the magnesium wheels are also optional. Not choosing these adds 19 kilos to the scale. Moreover, this is unsprung weight, which benefits the handling. The weight is slightly lower at 2,198 kilos, but that doesn't change the 0-100 km/h sprint compared to the DBX707. Both behemoths still do it in 3.3 seconds. Still an insane performance. The kilos and the 727 hp power output only really start to matter at 0-200 km/h. In that regard, the S is 0.3 seconds faster to 200 km/h than the 707. Not worth mentioning.
Driving the DBX S is a joy, although the difference compared to the DBX707 is barely noticeable. Where there is enough room, the DBX S allows itself to be steered through corners willingly with the precision you expect from a sports car, not an SUV. Aston Martin's engineers have managed to achieve this beautifully. The difference compared to the DBX707 is barely noticeable, but that is not surprising. For example, the engineers did not lower the car compared to the DBX. The perfect balance between comfortable and sporty had therefore already been found with the 707. The various driving modes change the character of the adaptive damping and the three-chamber air suspension. Unfortunately, we drove with 22-inch winter wheels, so we were unable to feel the lower unsprung weight of the 23-inch magnesium wheels. Despite this, the DBX S remains impressive. Even at the limit, the electronic roll stabilization ensures that the DBX S does not lean more than 1.5 degrees. Enough to create the car's natural feel in the corner, yet keep the car flatter than two-seater sports cars designed for this purpose. While the steering ratio of the DBX S is admittedly only 4 percent faster, this noticeably improves agility, making the car feel even sportier and more responsive without compromising handling.
Moving on to the interior, we find the now familiar Multimedia system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are therefore present, and everything works intuitively. The interior of the DBX S features a unique ‘S’ theme; the most striking feature is the distinctive herringbone pattern applied to the seats as standard, but which also extends into the headliner if the optional carbon roof is chosen. The herringbone lines become increasingly wider as they rise higher up the seat.
The DBX S is upholstered as standard in lightweight sporty Alcantara, which can be seen on the seats, the headliner, the center console, the lower parts of the instrument panel, and the upper trim strips. In wear-prone areas such as the seat bolsters, the Alcantara is seamlessly combined with semi-aniline leather. Semi-aniline leather is a high-quality, supple type of leather that is vat-dyed and features a light pigment and protective layer. For those who desire an even more luxurious look, the DBX S can be finished entirely in semi-aniline leather, as shown in our photos. Red seatbelts are also optionally available to accentuate the DBX S appearance.
Photography by Christian Kalse
