There’s a riveting battle for supremacy in the luxury high-performance SUV segment, and it appears that a formidable newcomer is determined to rise above the exceptional offerings from automakers to take the throne. That striking competitor is the 2023 Aston Martin DBX707, arriving in dealerships later this year.
Aston Martin is a late entrant to the SUV realm, yet it’s committed to domination. Fewer than two years ago, the company introduced the DBX. All-new at the time, the model was built on a dedicated platform of lightweight alloy extrusions with bonded aluminum panels, and earned near-immediate acclaim for its impressive performance and strong driving dynamics. Now, the marque has introduced an even higher-performing variant engineered to be “the fastest, most powerful, best handling and most engaging car of its kind,” according to Tobias Moers, Aston Martin’s CEO.
The standard DBX brings a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V-8 tuned to an impressive 542 hp and 516 ft lbs of torque. Strong, but not awe-inspiring. Determined to realise the engine’s full potential, Aston Martin engineers fitted upgraded ball-bearing turbochargers and bespoke engine calibration to deliver 697 hp and 663 ft lbs of torque. The power increase necessitated a new nine-speed “wet clutch” automatic transmission that could handle the torque without compromising smoothness. In addition, the engineers improved acceleration responsiveness of the DBX707 with a shorter final drive ratio, and the electronic limited-slip rear differential was strengthened (torque distribution remains fully automatic, with the electronic system able to send up to 100 per cent of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels).
Balancing the power increase is a significant upgrade in braking performance in the form of standard carbon-ceramic brakes (420 mm front and 390 mm rear). The colossal rotors, clamped by six-piston calipers in the nose, absorb significantly more heat and are 89 pounds lighter than their steel equivalents. In addition, the DBX707 features high-performance brake pads and improved brake ducting further enhance the vehicle’s stopping power, as do the 22-inch alloy wheels (23-inch wheels are optional) wrapped in summer compound Pirelli P-Zero tyres (285/40-22 front, 325/35-22 rear).
Previously published on Robb Report.
