The next model in Aston Martin’s line of ‘DB’ luxury sports cars is due to be unveiled next week, with familiar exterior styling – but a high-tech new interior.
British sports-car brand Aston Martin is poised to unveil the next model in its ‘DB’ sports-car line – expected to wear the 2024 Aston Martin DB12 badge – ahead of overseas deliveries later this year.
The new DB sports car will be Aston Martin’s first new ‘high-volume’ model – excluding special editions or limited-run hypercars – in three years, its first new front-engined coupe in five years, and one of its last new cars without hybrid or electric power.
Although it is billed as a new model, spy photos show the new ‘DB12’ will be a heavy facelift of the outgoing DB11 unveiled in 2016.
However it is due to receive an all-new, high-tech interior – following criticism of the ageing, previous-generation Mercedes-Benz infotainment software in current Aston Martins – and performance upgrades under the skin.
Teaser photos published by Aston Martin ahead of the car’s unveiling on 24 May 2023 show the design will be an evolution of the DB11, with proportions, doors and key styling elements (such as the full-width tail-light bar, and headlight shape) seemingly unchanged.
There appear to be new front and rear bumpers, restyled gold alloy wheels, a reshaped bonnet (which ditches the DB11’s clamshell design for a simpler look), and fresh LED headlight signatures.
Inside, the teaser images show there will be an all-new dashboard with a larger, low-set infotainment touchscreen, running what is believed to be new Aston Martin-designed software.
The display appears to be controlled through touch inputs only – ditching the Mercedes-sourced rotary dial in the DB11 – and while many air-conditioning functions have moved into the screen, there remain separate controls for temperature, fan speed and heated seats.
The steering wheel is new, while the push-button gear selector has been ditched in favour of a Porsche 911-style toggle switch.
Performance specifications for the new Aston Martin DB sports car are yet to be confirmed.
It is expected there will initially remain a choice of Mercedes-AMG twin-turbo V8 and Aston Martin twin-turbo V12 engines, which could develop as much as 566kW, using other recent Aston Martin cars as a guide.
The V12 may have a short lifespan, as it is not expected to meet strict Euro 7 emissions regulations due to come into force in Europe in 2025 or 2026.
The 2024 Aston Martin ‘DB12’ is due for unveiling on 24 May 2023, ahead of first customer deliveries between July and September 2023. Updated versions of the DBS and Vantage two-door cars are expected to follow.
It is one of the first models conceived and developed in the years since Aston Martin received a significant investment from a consortium led by Canadian billionaire – and owner of what is now the Aston Martin Formula One team – Lawrence Stroll.
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