The Aston Martin DB12 Is So Mysterious We Don’t Even Know Its Name Or Its Engine

It is rare that a car makes it within a month of its reveal without all the detail being spread around the web like so many “Iron Man 3” torrents. Credit the tight-lipped crew at Gaydon who, somehow, have managed to keep the powertrain of the incoming Aston Martin grand tourer (likely the Aston Martin DB12) a secret. The teaser photos, thankfully, reveal a lot of the car.

I can’t even promise you the car is going to be named the Aston Martin DB12, I’m just assuming because the last one was called the DB11, and the car before that was the DB10, and the one before that was DB9. Aston Martin could be going modern and decide to call it the DB!2 or some nonsense. Hopefully not.

It’s an extremely short press release, so I can just include the whole thing and you can parse along with me:

A new era of class-leading performance, driving dynamics and ultra-luxury is nearly upon us. A new benchmark.

Final preparations are underway as Aston Martin plans to unveil a new generation of the legendary DB bloodline on 24 May 2023, a landmark date heralding the start of the ultra-luxury British brand’s next generation.

Core values of high-performance and ultra-luxury are spearheading Aston Martin’s next generation of sports cars, and this first model will be a stunning example of what’s to come. A generation that will see all Aston Martin models characterised by prodigious performance and pinpoint driving dynamics, seamless integration of advanced technologies and the sublime style and impeccable craftsmanship for which the brand has long been renowned.

This highly anticipated sports car will break free from the norms of the GT sector, creating a new category of one celebrating 75 years of Aston Martin’s iconic DB bloodline of exceptional hand-built British sportscars.

This is no mere GT. Grand is not enough.

So, assuming it is called the DB12 we know it’ll be new, it’ll have “pinpoint driving dynamics” and “sublime style.” Those are sort of a given when it comes to Aston Martin. The car has some big Louboutins to fill as the DB11 is generally considered to be an ideally balanced GT and a vast improvement over the short-lived Aston Martin DB10, which you rarely see these days.

The DB12 Motor

The motor, though, is the big question. The DB11 has both a twin-turbocharged version of the Mercedes-AMG developed 4.0-liter V8 shared with most of the modern AMG line of cars. In the Aston Martin, that V8 is good for 528 horsepower. The Aston-developed twin-turbo 5.2-liter V12 in the latest model puts out 630 horsepower.

Aston Martin only nods at the powertrain, I think, by boasting of a seamless integration of advanced technologies. Here are my guesses in order of likeliness.

An AMG V8 + Hybrid: Given the decreased popularity of the v12 (or the legislative difficulties of meeting emissions standards with one), just taking an AMG V8 and tossing on a couple of electric motors seems kinda obvious. The Aston Martin Valhalla (when it exists) has a similar setup and is also, like the Ferrari SF90, a plug-in hybrid. A PHEV DB12 would be dope.

V12: It’s possible the 5.2-liter V12 comes back and, if it does, it’s probably the last model to get it. I’m not sure there’s any money in developing a new V12 and, yet, one can dream.

AMG V6: The only V6 available in an Aston Martin is the M256 AMG 3.0-liter V6 (also used in the GLE 53, E53, et cetera). This motor is only for sale in China, but going from V12 + V8 to Hybrid V8 + V6 sort of, maybe, kinda of makes sense.

Aston Martin-Developed Hybrid V6: Aston Martin was developing a hybrid V6 for the Valhalla. It was a big deal. That motor seems to have disappeared so, probably not.

What It’s Going To Look Like

For reference, here’s what the Aston Martin DB11 currently looks like. I’ve taken the darkened photo they sent us and adjusted the levels until you can see some more details:

Unless they’re screwing with us a little bit here, and that would be quite un-Aston, I think this is going to be an evolution and not a revolution (I assume the average Aston Martin owner probably wouldn’t fair well in an actual revolution). The headlight, character lines, and even the wheels seem in line with the DB11. If there’s one dramatic touch it’s the more aggressively sloping belt line, reaching up to the B-pillar.

Here’s the current Db11 interior, which is a little ovular and has the stuck-on-screen up top. Here’s the dramatic rework of this design:

Again, I lightened this a bit to see what’s happening a lot clearer. There’s the flat-bottomed steering wheel and Aston Martin start/stop button. None of the switches jump out at me, but the newer info screen above the lock and HVAC controls is a fairly new (and nice) addition. Is there another screen above there or is this it?

If you look close at this screen there are a few interesting easter eggs:

“Where to Jessica?” I think the driver of this car is Aston Martin F1 ambassador and driver Jessica Hawkins.

“Tobias’ Phone” Is either Tobias Funke or Tobias Moers, the ex-AMG CEO who left last year, which would be strange.

“Driving in October by Ellie Travis” This appears to be a made up song from a fictional album called “California 92,” so if anyone has any idea what it means please let me know.

“17 Minutes to work” Hmm… is it getting a V17?

We’ll have answers to many of these questions on May 24th when the car is revealed. Let’s hear your guesses for the car’s motor and any easter eggs below.