Spy Shots – Aston Martin DB12

Aston Martin unveiled the DB11 in 2016 as a successor for the DB9. It was the company’s first model launched under the Daimler AG ownership and was an instant success: during its official launch at the Geneva Motor Show over 1,400 units were ordered on the spot. However, the car faded over the years, and now after six years of production, Aston Martin is preparing to replace it. Our spy photographers caught a prototype of the DB11 successor – probably called DB12 – on the Nürburgring Nordschleife race track. The car’s appearance at the ‘Ring marks the beginning of the test season at the famous Germany racing circuit..

There is a lot of mystery surrounding the powertrain of the DB11’s successor. Initial rumours suggested this will be the company’s first fully electric model. Its powertrain was supposed to be sourced from Mercedes, with an estimated range of 600 kilometres.

However, in early 2022 Tobias Moers, Aston Martin CEO said that the V-12 is not going anywhere and will still be used until 2026 or 2027. With the DB11 successor set to arrive sometime in 2024, it is safe to assume it will also be offered with a V-12 engine. The car’s appearance on a petrol station and the thick tail pipes underline just that.

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Also, there will not be a new version of the V-12 engine, just an evolution of the current one. This means the DB12 could be offered with the same twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V-12 engine as the DB11 and Vantage. The latter delivers a total of 600 horsepower. And, if we were to take a look at how things evolved in the past, it is very possible for the next DB12 to deliver as much as 700 horsepower.

The exterior design appears to be a slight evolution of the current one and seems to be inspired by the latest Vantage, with elements taken from the Valhalla concept.

Initial rumours suggested that the DB11 successor should arrive sometime in 2025. But as Aston Martin has apparently decided to keep the V-12 engine instead of an electric powertrain we might see the new DB12 arriving sometime in early 2024.