Aston Martin announced three S-badged variants on June 29, 2026 ahead of their dynamic debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 9-12. The DB12 S, Vantage S, and DBX S share a coordinated hardware update but keep separate identities. The name that ties them together is the one Aston has not used in this configuration before.
What each car gets
DB12 S. The 4.0-litre AMG twin-turbo V8 climbs from 671 hp to approximately 690 hp. Revised suspension tune, larger front intakes, S-specific 21-inch forged wheels, and a Sports Plus mode calibrated for tighter throttle mapping. Aston is positioning this as a driver-focused grand tourer rather than a track special.
Vantage S. Same V8 architecture, tuned to about 670 hp. New front splitter and diffuser, standard carbon-ceramic brakes, revised ESP calibration including a track-only mode with a longer slip window. The Vantage was already the sharpest V8 in the Aston lineup. The S is sharper.
DBX S. 717 hp, up from the 707 that gave the DBX707 its name. Revised engine mounts, retuned Bilstein DTX active dampers, standard 23-inch forged wheels. The DBX S becomes the most powerful production SUV Aston has ever sold, though the DBX707 stays in the range at its existing price.
What "S" actually means here
The trap is expecting "S" to mean "top of the range". Aston reserved that slot for the Valhalla and the still-in-development next-generation Vanquish. What the S badge signals here is a coordinated mid-cycle refresh applied simultaneously to three model lines. Small power bumps, meaningful chassis retunes, S-specific trim.
That coordination is the interesting part. Ferrari does refreshes model-by-model. Bentley refreshes on its own calendar. Aston's decision to update three cars in one press release, with the same badge, is closer to how BMW handles M-model refreshes than how the British marque has historically operated. It gives dealers three simultaneous conversations to have with buyers, and it lets Aston attach one marketing campaign to what would otherwise be three unrelated announcements.
The dynamic debut at Goodwood on July 9-12 gave all three cars hillclimb runs in front of the same audience. If you were shopping any Aston in the current range, the message was: wait.
See how they rank against rivals on our fastest cars list.
The basics
| DB12 S | Vantage S | DBX S | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4.0L AMG twin-turbo V8 | 4.0L AMG twin-turbo V8 | 4.0L AMG twin-turbo V8 |
| Power | ~690 hp | ~670 hp | ~717 hp |
| Body | 2+2 GT | 2-seat sports car | Performance SUV |
| Reveal | June 29, 2026 (press) / July 9-12 (dynamic) | June 29 / July 9-12 | June 29 / July 9-12 |
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Sources: Aston Martin showcases a stunning suite of new S models at Goodwood 2026; Goodwood Festival of Speed 2026 debuts (Motor1); Goodwood 2026 live (Auto Express). Photography: Aston Martin.