The first SUV from the British sports car brand is set to cause a stir with a particularly powerful drive variant. However, the question of meaning arises.
Anyone who recognizes an Aston Martin DBX707 in the rear-view mirror should soon pull up to the right and make room. The grill impresses.
We are sitting in an Aston Martin DBX, but not in the basic version with 551 hp, but in the new top version with 707 hp. The four-liter V8 biturbo from Mercedes-AMG is still under the hood, but the 30 percent increase in output was achieved through new calibration and modified turbochargers, as DBX chief engineer Andy Tokley explains. “We also had to strengthen the electronic differential on the rear axle and equip the transmission with 40 percent faster shift times,” he reveals.
When you start the engine, you don’t even notice that the drive has changed so significantly. The eight-cylinder biturbo purrs like a kitten. “We made the exhaust quieter in the normal state,” says Tokley. “However, if the flap opens at higher engine speeds or in the sports program, the sound is significantly louder than before – Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde.” One may ask oneself whether this fits into the era of emerging electromobility.
Two on the right, but also two on the left: with the exhaust flaps open, the exhaust system of the DBX707 can be clearly heard from afar. Is that still up to date?
We don’t just want to try out the sound, preferably on secluded paths. The mountain roads in southern Sardinia are ideal. After a short period of getting used to it, the DBX707 can be moved like a sports car. The steering ensures high-precision steering, the all-wheel drive for traction-free acceleration even out of tight serpentines. The wheels are always in contact with the ground, and slight oversteer makes cornering even easier.
It is quickly noticeable that the DBX707, which is classified as an SUV, does not have any rolling movements, which makes the ride even lighter – even if the car is not light-footed at a good 2.2 tons. Acceleration is immediate and extremely powerful in sport mode, the value specified by the factory for the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h is quite understandable at 3.3 seconds. And the brake system is also up to the challenge and the extra power: carbon-ceramic composite discs with a diameter of 420 millimeters at the front (390 millimeters at the rear) ensure safety and stability.
All-wheel drive and chassis work perfectly. Slip and body roll are hardly noticeable.
The suspension is basically very comfortable thanks to the three-chamber air suspension, but can be set significantly tighter in sport mode for more dynamic load changes. There are no changes compared to the basic DBX. If you want it to be significantly sportier, you can order a specially tuned chassis for the 707. We have extensively tested this steel chassis, it is a good choice for uncompromising sports drivers.
As we speed through the mountain landscape, we notice the elegance with which we move forward in the vehicle. The interior has been enriched with standard sports seats, which not only provide plenty of lateral support, but also ensure a high level of travel comfort. In addition, the chrome elements are darkened, and the veneer inlays are designed in piano finish – a nuisance, because the dark high gloss is delicate and shows every fingerprint. It is better to choose the carbon option or the bronze grid pattern, which is also available.
You can do without piano lacquer in the center console for an extra charge.
On the brisk drive, it is also noticeable that most of the vehicles in front of us quickly pull up to the right to give us space to drive past. The reason for this can be found in the body, which has changed compared to the basic model. The radiator grille at the front is significantly larger than before and commands respect when the car appears in the rear-view mirrors of other road users. Additional radiator openings ensure cooling of the brakes and the new 9-speed automatic transmission.
The rear is also designed more dramatically than on the base model. The distinctively curved spoiler lip is more expansive than before, which reduces lift on the rear axle. There is also a slightly longer roof spoiler, which, according to chief designer Marek Reichman, is only intended to improve the look.
You can only get ahead more dynamically than with the Aston Martin DBX707 in a sports car these days. But does it have to be an SUV?
At the end of the extensive test drives, helplessness remains. Undoubtedly: Driving an SUV in such a sporty way has never been possible before. Other manufacturers will provide the DBX707 with competitors in the future. But the question remains as to why you should turn an SUV into a sports car in disguise. It’s a question of prestige, but not one of purpose.
If you want to call an Aston Martin DBX707 your own, you have to pay around 250,000 francs. The vehicle will be delivered in the second quarter of 2022, i.e. soon.