Brand New 2024 Aston Martin DB12 in Beverly Hills
A brand new 2024 Aston Martin DB12 from Aston Martin Beverly Hills starting up and driving into a transporter after the 2023 Rodeo Drive Concours d'Elegance. Introduced in May 2023, the DB12, which Aston Martin calls "the world's first Super Tourer", is powered by a twin-turbocharged Mercedes-AMG V8 engine producing 671 horsepower. This example is finished in Xenon Grey with 21" Y-spoke wheels. The DB12 goes on sale later this year with a starting price (MSRP) of around $248,000.
It's not every day you get to see a brand new car just weeks after its introduction, so here's another video of that sexy DB12 from the Rodeo Drive Concours. I'm a bit surprised this demo car wasn't in a more attention-grabbing color to showcase the new design. But a good British Secret Agent should know that there's a fine line between seeking excessive attention and being confidently stylish.
There's no doubt the biggest criticism of the DB12 is that it looks too similar to the DB11, with the back being pretty much identical. I do wish Aston did a little more to set the new model apart from its predecessor. But then again, the DB4, DB5, and DB6 all appear similar (if not nearly identical) from certain angles, and nobody really complains about that. The DB12's biggest exterior change is obviously in front. Bigger grilles are certainly not always better (hello there, BMW), but this execution is great, easily making the outgoing DB11 look sadly outdated while still retaining the classiness worthy of the Aston badge. The grey color does a good job of hiding the "floating roof", which I was never a fan of on the DB11 (does Aston Martin really need to copy Nissan to be cool?) The new 21-inch wheels look great, too.
Of course, the DB12's most important changes are beneath the skin. Owners get to enjoy new interior technology and an updated Mercedes-AMG V8 producing more power than even the V12 in the DB11. There's no longer a V12 offered, and purists may cringe at the idea of a German-powered Aston. But I've met multiple owners of V12 Astons who complained about reliability - something British cars have never been particularly known for. So perhaps that tried-and-true V8 could help provide a little more peace of mind. With the DB12 set to arrive in dealerships very soon, it will be even more difficult to draw customers to the comparatively outdated but more expensive DBS Superleggera - unless, of course, you really, really want a V12!
Do you think Aston Martin should have done more to differentiate the DB12 from the DB11? Leave a comment on YouTube and let me know!