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The 2026 Aston Martin DB12 S joins the family as the new crown jewel of the DB12 lineup, complete with a more potent twin-turbo V-8.
In addition to giving the DB12 S extra power, Aston Martin tweaked the launch control, altered the chassis, and added standard carbon-ceramic brakes.
The DB12 S is available in both coupe and convertible (Volante) forms, with deliveries expected to start in early 2026.
When Aston Martin revealed the DB12 as the successor to the phenomenal DB11 grand tourer, the automaker argued that the DB12 had been elevated to "Super Tourer" status. Two years on, and Aston Martin is ready to improve on the platform once again, this time by bestowing a new version of the DB12 with the S badge saved for its paramount models.
On any S-branded Aston Martin, the star of the show is the powertrain. The new S makes use of the same twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 as the non-S variants, but the output has been stretched from 671 to a stout 690 horsepower. Peak torque stays put, with 590 pound-feet delivered at 2750 rpm. Along giving the model extra power, Aston's engineers fiddled with the launch-control system to reduce gearshift times by more than 50 percent, resulting in what they project to be a 0.1-second improvement in the run to 60 mph. Aston Martin claims the DB12 S is good for a 3.4-second sprint, but we think it could do slightly better in ideal conditions.
Aside from the red S badging stuck behind the front wheels, the S makes itself known with a redesigned quad-tailpipe layout at the back of the car. Aston equipped the DB12 S model with a new stainless-steel system to improve the sound across the rev range. An optional titanium exhaust increases the exhaust's scream by 1.5 decibels while also shedding 26 pounds from the car.
Aston improved more than just straight-line performance. According to the manufacturer, chassis engineers targeted a "commensurate" increase in the driver's feeling of agility, precision, and connection to the car as a whole. They managed that through a stiffer rear anti-roll bar, software adjustments in the dampers to alter pitch and roll, and changes to the toe and caster settings. Updated tuning for the electronic rear differential allows drivers to get on the throttle earlier in a corner, improving exit speeds.
A $14,500 option on the rest of the DB12 lineup, carbon-ceramic brakes come as a standard feature on the S. According to Aston, in addition to improving braking performance and heat management, the carbon-ceramics save 60 pounds of unsprung weight compared with their steel counterparts. The DB12 S also benefits from the next generation of Aston's CBC. No, we're not talking about the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation; we mean the corner-braking-control system, which optimizes brake slip control to improve stability during trail braking.
Visually, the front of the DB12 S stands out with a new front splitter and new louvers on the hood, while the rear shows off the new quad-exhaust setup in a redesigned diffuser. The interior can be ordered with a choice of three interior trim themes: Accelerate leather and Alcantara, Inspire S semi-aniline leather and Alcantara, or Inspire S full semi-aniline leather. The latter two configurations feature herringbone quilting and an Alcantara headliner.
The new DB12 S is now available to order, with Aston Martin expecting deliveries to begin in early 2026. We're still waiting on official pricing, but we expect the coupe to start at around $270,000 and the convertible Volante to start at around $290,000.
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