The all-new Aston Martin DB12 is the latest in a long line of stunning and stylish GT cars from the storied marque. However, the iconic British automaker bills the beast as more than a classic grand tourer; the DB12 is a “Super Tourer,” the first of what the brand claims are the next generation of performance touring cars. However, the new Aston Martin DB12 is missing one thing from the DB11 and previous models we’d love to see return– or should we say four things?

What’s new on the Aston Martin DB12?

The new Aston Martin DB12 replaces the outgoing DB11 model. Frankly, the new model does away with what few styling subtleties the DB11 had, ditching the comparatively conservative grille and lower intake for a new aggressive maw. In addition to aesthetic updates, the DB12 adds several suspension and handling upgrades, including the marque’s newest adaptive dampers. 

Of course, the biggest buzz centers around the DB12’s engine of choice: an AMG-sourced twin-turbocharged 4.0L V8. The mill produces 671 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, around 143 ponies beyond the outgoing V8 engine option, per Car and Driver. 

Still, the new model isn’t going to come cheaply; the new 202-mph DB12 will likely start at around $250,000. Moreover, the Super Tourer will hit the road for the 2024 model year wearing the marque’s revised logo.  

What’s wrong with the Aston Martin DB12?

While the new Aston Martin DB12 commands attention and produces enough horsepower to make James Bond nervous, it is missing one iconic feature from DB cars of the past. Specifically, the DB12 goes without a V12. The absence of the mill marks the first time in nearly 25 years that a DB car doesn’t offer a 12-cylinder option in any spec.

That’s right; the 1999 DB7 platform hosted the first V12 Vantage trim, which packed a 60-degree, 420-horsepower mill. Moreover, it started a 12-cylinder trend that would carry on through the DB9 and DB11 platforms. Of course, 007 film franchise fans will fondly remember the V12 Vanquish and its vociferous downshifts in Die Another Day.

Of course, it’s not all bad with the brand’s move to include four fewer cylinders in its latest DB car; the new V8-powered model produces 41 horsepower and 74 lb-ft of torque over the previous V12-powered DB11. It turns out that even Aston Martin believes in a replacement for displacement. 

What is a “Super Tourer?”

Aston Martin is quick to claim that the new DB car is in an fresh segment of ultra-luxury continent-crossers, calling the car a “Super Tourer” rather than a traditional grand tourer. The automaker says the new model embodies its Super Tourer values: “soothing comfort to excel at all-day, big mileage journeys, yet still provides the support and connection needed to deliver maximum driving enjoyment.”

“The launch of DB12 marks not just the start of our next generation of sports cars but also a key step forward in our vision to establish Aston Martin as the world’s most desirable British ultra-luxury performance brand,” Stroll said of the new DB model’s unveiling at the Cannes International Film Festival. “Given the focus on celebrating our unique combination of ultra-luxury and high-performance, there could be no better place to unveil DB12 than here in Cannes.”