What's all this about?
As residents of Cheshire will confirm, fast SUVs are 10 a penny. There are Bentaygas and Uruses and DBXs, then there are Cullinans and Range Rover Sport SVRs and Jaguar F-Pace SVRs – and that was just Wilmslow town centre this morning. The fact we haven’t even mentioned the SQ7s, GLE 63s and BMW X5Ms shows you just how crowded this market has become.
So in a bid to stand out from the crowd, Aston Martin’s engineers have been busy fettling the DBX SUV to produce this: the DBX707. Get used to the name, because it’s the fastest production SUV in the world.
Interesting name...
Hmmm. Plane nerds might think the ‘707’ suffix is some reference to the old Boeing airliner, but that’s actually just a reference to the power output. Aston Martin has squeezed a mighty 707hp (no, we don’t know why they couldn’t have made it a round number, either - Ed.) and 900Nm of torque from the V8 engine, thanks to new ball-bearing turbochargers and a bespoke engine calibration.
There’s also a new nine-speed ‘wet-clutch’ automatic gearbox, allowing the DBX to make use of the 157hp advantage it holds over a standard DBX. As a result, the DBX707 can get from 0-62mph in 3.3 seconds, which makes it faster than a Porsche 911 GTS. The top speed is a staggering 193mph, which is coincidentally identical to that of the aforementioned 911 GTS.
So it’s fast in a straight line, but will it go around corners?
Aston Martin says so. If nothing else, it will certainly slow down in time for them. With carbon-ceramic brakes as standard and six-piston brake callipers, the new system is not only lighter but apparently more precise, thanks to revisions to the hydraulic sizing and booster tune, which apparently improve pedal feel.
Also included as standard are 22-inch alloy wheels, although Aston is offering 23-inch rims as an option. The company claims upgrading will offer “improved steering response, better primary body control and improved lap times”.
But key to the DBX707’s driving experience will be the air suspension, which is based on that of the already agile DBX, but it has been tuned specifically for the 707. That means the 707 has better body control than the standard DBX, and there are improvements to the steering that supposedly provide more feel for the available grip.
It certainly looks the part
That’ll be down to the new front end design, which sees the DBX get a bigger front grille, new daytime running lights and new air intakes and brake cooling ducts. There’s also a new front splitter, while the back end is blessed with a new lip spoiler, a larger twin diffuser and a new quad exhaust system.
At the sides, there are dark satin window surrounds and a more sculpted design for the black side sills, which match the front splitter and the new diffuser. A new rear bumper design with integrated quarter-panel vents completes the look.
Inside, there are Sports seats with 16-way adjustment, while both front and rear seats are heated. There are three choices of interior upholstery, with a mixture of leather and Alcantara trimming available, while there’s a dark chrome finish to all the switchgear.
How much will it cost?
Aston Martin hasn’t said much about pricing, and we suspect those who have to ask probably can’t afford it. However, all will likely become clear in the summer, when the new DBX707 is slated for launch.
James Fossdyke - 2 Feb 2022