Since its unveiling, the DBX has been a surprising hit for Aston Martin, and it’s slowly evolved from what was once considered to be sacrilegious to now setting benchmarks among sporty super-SUVs. While the regular DBX is speedy enough already, Aston Martin has revealed even faster, sportier, crazier special editions since, including the epically powerful DBX 707, and we now have this, the all-new DBX S, pushing the threshold that much higher. Pop open the hood, and you will find a re-tuned version of that same 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that you’ll find in the base DBX. Now, though, the DBX S cranks out an eye-watering 727 PS and 900 Nm of torque.
This makes it 20 PS more powerful than the previous record-holder, the DBX 707, all thanks to some fettling with the turbo. Specifically, Aston Martin sourced the compressor wheels and a few refinements with the turbocharger design from the Aston Martin Valhalla. On paper, you can launch the DBX S from 0-62 mph in a mere 3.3 seconds, and more impressively still, from 0-124 mph in 9.1 seconds. That is 0.3 seconds quicker than the DBX 707! While the top speed remains the same, at 193 mph for the DBX S, you’re instead rewarded with a sharper throttle response and even more oomph and higher-revving push at the top end of the power curve.
A Brand New Super-SUV Is Born
Managing all that power is a familiar 9-speed wet-clutch automatic transmission that we get in the regular DBX, but now featuring recalibrated up and down shift mapping. On top of that, the new Aston Martin DBX S comes with a very clever variable torque split programme – either 50/50 front and rear, or up to 0/100 for some rear-wheel drive fun – that helps with improving your launch and mid-corner thrust. You are definitely going to hear all these changes at least, thanks to a re-tuned stainless steel exhaust system, helping to amplify that huge, meaty V8’s natural tone and exhaust note under load, while accelerating, and during up and down gear shifts.
Speed and power, however, are just one part of the new Aston Martin DBX S’s engineering and design. Weight reduction plays a pretty vital role, and one notable example of that is the DBX S’s carbon-fibre roof, which consequently is the largest singular carbon fibre component used by Aston Martin up till now, and it saves 18 kg off the weight of the DBX, while also lowering your centre of gravity! Elsewhere, the 23-inch optional magnesium wheels will cut another 19 kg of unsprung mass versus forged alloys, and even the polycarbonate honeycomb front grille saves you a tiny bit of mass (also optional), shifting the weight balance slightly to the rear.
To Simplify, And Add Lightness
To make good use of all this enhanced performance and weight savings compared to the DBX, the new DBX S has an upgraded suspension setup. The air springs & electronic dampers were recalibrated for reduced weight transfer, while the standard electronic roll control limits body roll to just 1.5 degrees. Aside from that, there’s a faster steering ratio (-4%), which also aids in cutting down the turning circle to 12 metres, for sharper and sprightlier handling. Speaking of, to make sure that you are able to stop this gargantuan super-SUV, the DBX S comes equipped with truly massive carbon ceramic brakes – 420 mm at the front and 390 mm at the rear.
On the off-chance that you couldn’t tell the difference between the Aston Martin DBX and the DBX S, there are a handful of shiny ‘S’ badges plastered throughout the exterior and the cabin. To my eyes, this looks pretty good when paired with the DBX S’s more aggressive bodywork, in addition to the sharp front splitter, carbon fibre strakes, and those eye-catching stacked quad exhaust pipes in the rear. Even for someone like me, who isn’t a huge fan of SUVs, I can’t help but be excited for the Aston Martin DBX S, though I know there’s no way I can afford it once it comes to market in Q4 2025, with a starting price likely somewhere north of $250,000++.
