Acceleration off the line might not be noticeably better through the seat of the driver’s pants, but once out of the gate and into the first turn, Aston says, that driver will feel a difference in gas-pedal feel thanks to a S-specific throttle map, as well as 50-percent quicker shifts. The carmaker also promises increased braking performance thanks to standard carbon-ceramic brakes. The additional thermal capacity of carbon-ceramic brakes allows drivers to get on the stoppers later and repeatedly without fade, and Aston says the 16-inch front and 14-inch rear rotors provide more linear brake response and consistent feel. There is also the bonus of losing close to 60 pounds of total unspung mass compared to steel brakes, which should aid ride quality and create better steering feel and handling. The handling is improved further by a standard electronic differential and revised power-assist calibration in the steering, anti-lock braking, and stability-control systems. The 2026 Aston Martin DB12 S chassis also sees improvement thanks to software changes for the car’s Bilstein DTX dampers. Working in collaboration with stiffer anti-roll bars, the new damper behavior allegedly improves the car’s stability during roll and pitch moments, while toe- and castor-geometry settings aim to improve front-end feel and driver confidence.

Fresh Look: Aston Martin Puts the S Back on Top With the 2026 DB12 S

With nearly 700 horsepower on tap, the 2026 DB12 S moves the high-performance coupe to the apex of Aston Martin’s V-8 food chain.Justin BannerWriter

ManufacturerPhotographerOct 07, 2025

It was inevitable Aston Martin would bring an S variant to its latest DB12, and the company gave it more power and less weight to pump up its performance potential. Equipped with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 with extra power compared to the regular DB12, the 2026 Aston Martin DB12 S promises to deliver the big bangs its owners crave without giving up on the comforts and refinement they equally expect.

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The upgraded 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 means the 2026 Aston Martin DB12 S screams out of the gate with 690 hp. That is an improvement of nearly 20 hp from the standard DB12 while producing the same 590 lb-ft of torque from 3,000–6,000 rpm. In combination with a new launch control system, Aston claims the DB12 S will accelerate to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds, or a scant 0.1-second quicker than the non-S version. Meanwhile, the sound it makes from its quad-tip exhaust boosts the noise level by 1.5 decibels, and the exhaust’s titanium construction removes around 26 pounds from the standard DB12 system.

Acceleration off the line might not be noticeably better through the seat of the driver’s pants, but once out of the gate and into the first turn, Aston says, that driver will feel a difference in gas-pedal feel thanks to a S-specific throttle map, as well as 50-percent quicker shifts. The carmaker also promises increased braking performance thanks to standard carbon-ceramic brakes. The additional thermal capacity of carbon-ceramic brakes allows drivers to get on the stoppers later and repeatedly without fade, and Aston says the 16-inch front and 14-inch rear rotors provide more linear brake response and consistent feel. There is also the bonus of losing close to 60 pounds of total unspung mass compared to steel brakes, which should aid ride quality and create better steering feel and handling. The handling is improved further by a standard electronic differential and revised power-assist calibration in the steering, anti-lock braking, and stability-control systems. The 2026 Aston Martin DB12 S chassis also sees improvement thanks to software changes for the car’s Bilstein DTX dampers. Working in collaboration with stiffer anti-roll bars, the new damper behavior allegedly improves the car’s stability during roll and pitch moments, while toe- and castor-geometry settings aim to improve front-end feel and driver confidence.

Outside, the new DB12 S features function alongside form by utilizing improved downforce and airflow guidance with an overall assertive design in the body. It all starts with a new dual-element front splitter, while the hood vents are improved to allow better airflow and can be finished in gloss black or with exposed carbon fiber. Those vents help extract the hot air coming from the turbo’s hot-V configuration. The DB12 S’ body also features new side sills that follow the lines created by the new splitter and feature gloss-black trim additions. Out back, the new soundtrack should match the high-performance looks and functionality of the fixed rear spoiler. Below is an all-new matching rear diffuser Aston says works with that spoiler to further reduce rear-end lift.

Inside, the 2026 Aston Martin DB12 S envelops you with many options for interior colors and features, with Accelerate leather and Alcantara trim, Inspire S semi-aniline leather with Alcantara trim, and Inspire S in full semi-aniline leather. These new interior treatments feature things like embossed and debossed Aston Martin logos on the headrests. For the Inspire S packages, S Herringbone quilting with micro-perforations create a custom look to contrast with the Alcantara headliner. You can also order your DB12 S with an Alcantara heated sports steering wheel, and you have the choice of either the standard 16-way Sport Plus electric seats or you can reduce weight even more with a pair of optional carbon-fiber performance buckets. Customers can order the 2026 Aston Martin DB12 S in Coupe or droptop Volante body styles, with deliveries expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026. We expect Aston Martin to announce final pricing closer to the delivery date.