THE BEAUTY EDIT

THE BEAUTY

Restore your beauty sleep with these calming products – you’ll be drifting into a cleansed, moisturised and rejuvenating slumber before you know it.

Words: Anna Solomon

EDIT

SLEEP MASK

This overnight mask uses chronobiology (the science of timing, apparently) to work with the skin’s natural rhythm of self-repair.

£288, www.noblepanacea.com

FACE CLEANSER

Make this non-drying cleanser part of your nightly routine to purify the skin without disturbing its natural balance.

TRANQUIL BATH SALTS

These are formulated with hemp seed oil and essential oils of cypress and thyme for an extra-soothing pre-bed bath.

£7.50, www.marksandspencer.com

MAKEUP REMOVER

Inspired by makeup artists, this remover gently eliminates all types of cosmetics – there’s no better feeling after a long day.

SLIP EYE MASK

This sleep mask is made of pure mulberry silk and feels luxuriously soft to the touch – just what you want for a restful night’s sleep.

£50, www.selfridges.com

PILLOW MIST

Spritz this theraputic blend of essential oils around the room and on your pillow and prepare to enter the land of nod.

£15, www.johnlewis.com

BODY BUTTER

Infused with ylang ylang and patchouli, this rich body butter is the perfect way to restore your skin overnight.

Drive

HYPERCARS, HOT HATCHES & SUPER SUV s

FAMILY

FLYER

BRAGGING 707 HORSEPOWER (HENCE THE NAME) AND CAPABLE OF HITTING 60 MPH IN 3.1 SECONDS, ASTON MARTIN’S MOST POTENT SUV, THE DBX707 , IS BRAWNIER THAN THE BENTLEY BENTAYGA S AND QUICKER THAN THE LAMBORGHINI URUS

Words: Jeremy Taylor

Gentlemen once designed racing machines in order to vie for the coveted title of Fastest Car on the Planet. Today, the most hotlycontested battle among luxury marques is to build the quickest SUV.

The Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus and Porsche

Cayenne Turbo GT were the main title contenders. As of this summer, there’s a new manufacturer in the mix: Aston Martin.

In truth, the company’s DBX707 takes the competition to a new level, with a substantial boost in power compared to the standard car, performance improvements and uprated handling to boot. Prices start at an eye-watering £190,000, but at this end of the SUV spectrum, price has become by-the-by.

Loaded with a 4.0-litre V8, the Aston offers explosive thrills. The twin-turbo engine produces 697 bhp or 707 metric horsepower, hence the name. It slingshots from 0-60mph in 3.1 seconds, with the potential to embarrass many a Ferrari, and then just keeps going and going. The car won’t run out of steam until it hits 193mph – and does so in around three seconds faster than the madcap Lamborghini Urus.

The 707 was launched in Sardinia in spring, where a six-hour driving route around the island proved that the hottest DBX money can buy has genuine sporting credentials. The new

Aston boasts all-wheel grip both on and off-road, five driving modes, a slick nine-speed gearbox and a huge amount of torque for rapid overtaking.

Most of the upgrades are under the skin – stiffer steering, carbon ceramic brakes – but the 707 also sports a quad exhaust system, wider 23-inch alloy wheels and some subtle changes to the stylish body design that don’t spoil the DBX’s existing good looks.

It is, however, a raft of upgrades to the chassis and suspension which give the 707 the edge when pushed to the limit. It retains the same air suspension system as the standard DBX but is treated to a dedicated chassis tune. Among the drive modes,

Race Start is now available in GT Sport and Sport+ settings for the first time – offering maximum thrills from a standing start.

The new 707, however, isn’t just a high-performance version of the DBX – it’s a major reworking of what was already a rapid machine. Underneath that vented bonnet is the same AMGsourced V8 as the standard car but with larger turbos, helping to increase performance by an extra 155 bhp.

Speaking to Luxury London in Sardinia, former Aston Martin

CEO Tobias Moers said: “Right from its introduction, the DBX showed our dynamic and design values in a way that proves not all SUVs have to conform to the same compromises. With the 707, we’ve pushed the boundaries in every area to create a car which sets new standards of performance and desirability. The

fastest, most powerful, best handling and most engaging car of its kind – it propels us to the pinnacle of SUV performance.”

Hurtling through the Italian hills, the 707 calls on all manner of technology to keep wheels on tarmac. This isn’t a low-slung Vantage, remember – considering the DBX’s raised profile, the Aston gives the driver an astounding level of high-speed control.

Before switching the drive mode selector to Sport, the 707 is more than quick enough. In fact, it’s spectacularly fast in every mode and should give any ‘enthusiastic’ driver all the power they need.

Apart from the quirky lip spoiler at the rear, the DBX just about edges the more angular Lamborghini Urus in the style stakes. The key differences over the standard DBX include an even larger front grill, double-stacked slats in the bonnet, as well as a lower and longer front splitter. The side skirts are also closer to the ground, while satin chrome trim features around the windows as part of the ‘Jewellery’ pack.

Aston Martin has fitted the 707 with soft-close doors, a new centre console and the obligatory active exhaust button – although it’s still not as raucous as the Urus. Annoyingly, at this level, the infotainment system isn’t touchscreen and I found those standard sports seats lack support during harsh cornering.

As you might expect, Aston Martin provides all manner of ‘must have’ accessories to push the final price towards £230,000. Among them are lime-coloured brake callipers, carbon fibre interior trim and an extensive palette of paint choices. The fancy umbrella is, at least, standard.

The 707 is also immensely practical, with five seats and a large boot. A ‘standard’ DBX, with 542 bhp, is no slouch. But the new 707, with 900 Nm of torque, is a supercar in disguise – a quite astounding proposition.

You may wonder why the world needs a car like this when the combustion engine is already in its death throes. Sit behind the wheel of the DBX707 for an hour, though, and it’s difficult to imagine how an electric car could ever offer such a visceral driving experience.

astonmartin.com

0-60MPH

3.1 SECONDS

TOP SPEED

193MPH

ENGINE

4.0-LITRE TWIN-TURBO V8

METRIC HORSEPOWER

707 PS (697 BHP)

MAXIMUM TORQUE

900 NM

PRICE

FROM £190,000

BENTLEY BENTAYGA S

The ‘S’ is now the fastest model in the Bentayga range after the demise of the 12-cylinder Speed model in the UK. A 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 produces 542 bhp and hauls the Bentley to 60mph in 4.4 seconds. The DBX707 feels quicker and nimbler, but the Bentayga interior is a class apart.

From £179,600, bentleymotors.com

THE CONTENDERS

PORSCHE CAYENNE TURBO GT

Porsche’s new super-SUV really lives up to expectations – as thrilling as a 911 to drive but capable of carrying the kids, too. Again, a 4.0-litre V8 provides 631 bhp of power, pushing the GT from 0-60mph in just 3.1 seconds – with a slightly lower top speed than the DBX707. The Cayenne is the most composed car to drive, a triumph of German engineering.

From £144,000, porsche.com

LAMBORGHINI URUS

The Urus is the DBX’s naughty Italian cousin. Both cars are stylish and characterful but the Lambo is just that little bit more nuts. From the crazy interior to the outrageous exhaust note, the Urus throws convention out of the window. The 4.0-litre V8 records 0-60mph in 3.3 seconds and a top speed just shy of 190mph.

From £160,000, lamborghini.com