Flagship is most powerful luxury SUV
Aston Martins new DBX 707 is the most powerful luxury SUV made by a mainstream manufacturer, with substantial performance advancements over the existing DBX the beastly but beautiful model makes 697bhp from its AMG derived V8.
The high-end model with go to battle with the likes of the Bentley Bentayga S, Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, Range Rover Sport SVR, Audi RSQ8 and Lamborghini URUS.
The new DBX is expected to make up to 60% of the overall sales of the DBX, being seen as a highly potent and dynamically enhanced alternative to top-rung rivals
Amongst the changes of the DBX 707 is a tweaked version of the 4.0 litre twin-turbo V8 which in the standard DBX makes 542bhp, however an extra 155bhp has been squeezed out to create a huge output of 697bhp and 664lb ft, this gives the Sporty SUV a 0-62 time of just 3.3 seconds, down from 4.5 with help from the use of a quicker-shifting and more responsive wet-clutch nine-speed automatic gearbox and a tailored tune and the introduction of ball-bearing turbochargers.
Top speed is yet to be confirmed but expect 190mph plus.
Underneath the 707 is an improved air suspension, a modified power steering system and a toughened limited slip differential all to give a greater dynamic experience over the standard DBX, Carbon Ceramic brake discs also make an appearance.
The chassis improvements hope to provide smoother cornering, “tighter management” of movement over bumps and reduced pitching and squatting under braking and acceleration.
Theres a suggestion that the DBX 707 could for the SUV lap record at the Nurburgring, currently being held by the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT with a time of 7mins 38.9secs, but engineers suggesting that high-grip tyres are needed first,
On the standard Pirelli 23in there is decent grip level but not enough.
Plus there is a new active exhaust switch that opens the exhaust valves outside of Sport driving mode.
On the outside the DBX 707 is visually notably different from the standard model, a more aggressive look with a larger grille that contains a new ‘double-vain’ horizontal pattern, a new front splitter, redesigned light clusters, along with larger air intakes for the brakes and bumpers, trim detailing in black and a new spoiler and rear diffuser with a larger quad exhaust.
The same can be said for the interior where there are 16-way adjustable sport plus seats, which come as standard and a revised lower centre console has been fitted, with dark chrome switchgear, this provides the driver with easier access to the car’s ‘enhanced’ drive mode functions and settings, with the fitment of a dedicated switch for this - in the regular DBX, drive modes can only be changed by using the infotainment system. Extensive ‘Q by Aston Martin’ tailoring and customisation options are promised.
It will be built at the brand’s St Athan factory in South Wales.
Prices start at £189,000, deliveries begin early in the second
