Aston Martin DBX S unleashed with less weight and more power

Having afforded the DBX its first mid-life overhaul almost exactly a year ago, Aston Martin has revised its first-ever SUV once again with the introduction of a new flagship variant above the 707

Simply called the DBX S, the newcomer succeeds the latter that debuted three years ago as the replacement for the now discontinued “base” DBX.

New outside

Claimed to be the lightest DBX ever made, the S builds on the DBX 707’s exterior changes, but adds a polycarbonate grille from the DBS 770 Ultimate, a carbon fibre front splitter, carbon door sills and mirror caps, a carbon rear diffuser, red S badges, restyled front and rear bumpers, and a carbon bootlid spoiler.

ALSO READ: Aston Martin realigns DBX with new interior and single model

Offered in three colours, Trophy Silver, Podium Green and Rosso Corsa Red, the DBX S’ final unique visual touches consist of an optional carbon fibre roof, stacked quad exhaust outlets, removal of the roof rails and optional 23-inch magnesium alloy wheels claimed to reduce unsprung weight by 19 kg.

Combined with the roof being 18 kg lighter than on the DBX 707, the DBS S tips the scales at 47 kg less than its sibling at a reported 2 245 kg.

Underneath

It doesn’t stop there as underneath, the electric power steering has been sharpened-up and the springs for the standard air suspension and electronically dampers further revised to avoid body roll.

Carried over from the 707 are the carbon ceramic brakes comprising 420 mm discs at the front and 390 mm at the rear.

Spot the changes inside

Inside, the updates are more minor and carry over the steering wheel, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and new 10.25-inch infotainment system from the facelift 707.

Unique to the S are the standard Alcantara or optional semi-aniline leather upholstery, red seatbelts with S embroidery work, red S embroidered front seat headrests and S branded illuminated treadplates.

Completing the interior is a choice of two sound systems: the standard 800-watt 14-speaker audio or the optional 23-speaker 3D Bowers & Wilkins that pumps-out 1 600-watts.

More power

Residing up front, the Mercedes-Benz sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 has been uprated from that in the DBX 707 to produce 14 kW more for a total of 534 kW.

Still developing 900 Nm, the S’ added grunt has resulted in a faster 0-100 km/h sprint time compared to the 707 – 3.3 seconds – or any top speed gains as the claimed v-max still stands at 310 km/h.

As before, drive is routed to all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic gearbox.

Approval awaited

Now available for ordering in Europe, with deliveries commencing in the final quarter of the year, pricing and local market availability of the DBX S are still to be announced.

NOW READ: Aston Martin DBX707 unleashed as new world’s most powerful SUV