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June 2, 2022
Test drive the Aston Martin DBX707, the world's most powerful SUV—what is the drive like with over 700ps? | ASTON MARTIN
ASTON MARTIN DBX707 | Aston Martin DBX707
Test drive the Aston Martin DBX707
Motor journalist Fumio Ogawa test drives the "DBX707," which Aston Martin touts as its ultimate flagship SUV with the fastest, most powerful, and best-handling performance in the world. This report covers the driving experience with over 700ps of power on the island of Sardinia, Italy.
Text by OGAWA Fumio | Photographs by AstonMartin
Faster acceleration than the Porsche 911 GTS
Those who crave speed drive sports cars. That conventional wisdom is becoming a thing of the past. The "DBX707," announced by Aston Martin in January 2022, is an SUV boasting a colossal 707ps of power. I was captivated by its performance during a test drive on Sardinia in April.
Aston Martin is renowned among readers as a representative British luxury sports car manufacturer. What sets this marque apart is its ability to produce exceptional products, even when venturing into the SUV segment.
The DBX707 is powered by a 4-liter V8 engine, shared with the conventional DBX. Its maximum output has been significantly increased from 405kW to 520kW (707ps), and peak torque from 700Nm to 900Nm. This is paired with a 9-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Sardinia, an island about a 30-minute flight from Rome, is also known for the Costa Smeralda resort. I suspect many readers have visited. Its mountainous terrain, though not high in elevation, is very undulating, and I have traveled there many times for European new car press drives.
Parked at the Costa Smeralda resort hotel, the DBX707 presented a powerful exterior. With a total length of 5,039mm and a width of 2,050mm, its height of 1,680mm, combined with the emphasized curves throughout its body, gave it a muscular appearance. Adding to this were the enormous 23-inch wheels.
I recall Aston Martin Lagonda CEO Tobias Moers once saying, "The DBX has great potential." At the time, I wondered if perhaps a slightly tuned model might be released, so I was surprised when the "super" high-performance version with 707ps actually appeared.
Driving on the roads of Sardinia, it was, in a word, fast. According to the data, its acceleration from a standstill to 100 km/h is quicker than that of the Porsche 911 GTS. This is especially true when selecting "Sport" mode and pressing the accelerator pedal. You experience acceleration G-forces that feel like they're pushing your head back.
The handling also properly matches the engine's increased power. The chassis is designed with a thoroughly low center of gravity, so it corners as if glued to the road. The way the car responds to steering inputs is astonishingly precise for an SUV.