New Aston Martin DBX S Gets Lighter and Faster Than the 707

The Aston Martin DBX super-SUV gains a new flagship S variant, featuring up to 717 HP and weighing 47 KG less.

Once considered blasphemous and a disgrace, super SUVs are now dominating the luxury vehicle market space, with almost all boutique marques now having their own take in this category. Not content with Ferrari’s V12-powered Purosangue, Aston Martin has decided to upgrade its DBX SUV by introducing a new performance variant, known as the Aston Martin DBX S.

Described by its CEO as “a powerful statement of intent,” the new DBX S gets an assortment of upgrades to make it more potent than the already bonkers DBX 707. For starters, the S model gets an uprated version of the 707’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 mill that now delivers 717 HP. As a result, the DBX S is now 0.3 seconds faster than the 707 in a 0 to 200 KM/H sprint, although its century sprint time remains at 3.3 seconds.

While this makes the DBX S more potent than its Maranello archrival, the Gaydon special still fell short against some of its electrified counterparts, such as the Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid and the Lamborghini Urus SE—both of which are plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) with 729 HP and 789 HP power outputs, respectively.

Besides the V8, the DBX S uses the same nine-speed wet DCT gearbox and AWD setup as the 707, albeit the former now featuring more aggressive downshifts and optimised shifting points to account for the wider rev range. In other words, the DBX S is not only more potent but also wilder and more aggressive than the 707.

Weight has always been an issue in these big and bulky super SUVs, and AM has somewhat addressed that in the DBX S, thanks to several optional lightweight parts such as a carbon fibre roof, new 23-inch magnesium alloy wheels, and a polycarbonate front grille. As a result, the new DBX S is now 47 KG lighter than the 707, although it is still a few kilograms over the Purosangue.

AM designers have also garnished the new DBX S with several minor design changes to make it look sportier and more aggressive than the 707. Some key design highlights include a new black honeycomb grille, more aggressive splitters and diffusers, a reworked rear bumper with vertically stacked quad exhausts, new side sills that help to channel air better, and many more.

The design changes continue inside the DBX S, where drivers will be greeted with bespoke S-embossed front seats with a unique herringbone-patterned Alcantara upholstery that can be upgraded to semi-aniline leather. Other tech amenities from the 707 are all present here, including the dual-screen setup on the front dash and the 14-speaker audio system that can be upgraded to a 23-speaker unit from Bowers & Wilkins.

With order books already opened in the UK, deliveries for the new Aston Martin DBX S are slated to commence later in Q4 this year. Pricing has yet to be confirmed as of now, but we can expect Gaydon’s new flagship SUV to be slightly heftier than the DBX 707.