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HIGH ROAD
JOURNEYS
HIGH ROAD Seat of POWER
ASTON MARTIN’S NEW DBX707 CLAIMS THE TITLE OF WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL SUV
BY HOWARD WALKER
The number 707 has quite the provenance. It’s best associated with Boeing’s legendary jetliner, once flown around the globe by the likes of Pan Am, TWA, and John Travolta. It’s also the area code for some of the world’s greatest wineries, nestled in Napa, Vallejo, and Sonoma. Then there’s its spiritual significance as a so-called “angel number.”
But for lovers of high-performance luxury automobiles, 707 is going to have an even more mouthwatering significance: It’s the name of Aston Martin’s new flagship DBX SUV, the DBX707.
Here, the 707 signifies the spectacular power output of the twin-turbo V8 nuclear reactor lurking under that curvy hood. Over in Europe, it’s 707 PS, short for Pferdestärke, which is the metric measure of horsepower. Here in the United States, the output is actually 697 hp, though it’s as close to a nice, round 700 horseys as not to matter.
That makes this firesnorting Aston the world’s most powerful luxury sport-utility vehicle. It’s more powerful than Lamborghini’s 657-hp Urus Performante, more potent than Porsche’s 670-hp Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid, and considerably beefier than Bentley’s 626-hp Bentayga Speed.
In the Aston, the source of all this power is an upgraded version of the DBX’s Mercedes-AMG-sourced 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. Equipped with deeper-breathing turbos, redesigned induction and exhaust systems, and a witch’s brew of engineering wizardry, it raises the stock DBX’s 542-hp output to that 707, sorry, 697-hp level. To add to the fun quota, the DBX’s 9-speed automatic transmission has been ditched in favor of a rapid-shifting, AMG-sourced version with Race Launch Control for truly breathtaking, off-the-line acceleration.
To showcase all this force, the 707 gets some cool visual muscle to enhance that already drop-dead-gorgeous bodywork. The trademark Aston grille is now 27 percent bigger for ingesting even more engine-cooling H2O, and it’s surrounded by acres of carbonfiber intakes and splitters. At the rear, twin exhausts have been replaced by a quartet of menacing pipes, with a longer roof spoiler for better aero. Throw in a set of optional 23-inch black rims—22s are standard—paint numbers on the doors, and this new Aston
wouldn’t look out of place on the front row at Sebring Raceway.
Climb aboard, buckle up, and punch the start button high in the center of the dash to hear that big V8 roar. And yes, this new 707 is insanely fast. Fast as in zero-to-60-mph sprints in a mere 3.1 seconds. Or zero to 100 in just 7.9 seconds. Top speed? A nontrivial 193 mph.
But the true beauty of this he-man Aston is its duality. Select the GT drive mode and the 707 calms and quietens for those times when you don’t want to drive like Mario. Of course, Sport and Sport+ are a click away to bring back the excitement.
What is most staggering is the 707’s sheer nimbleness and agility through curves. With air suspension and an electronic anti-roll system, body lean is almost eradicated. Throw it into a tight curve and it just sweeps around.
Inside, the cabin offers the kind of handcrafted luxury and style you’d expect from Aston Martin. There are acres of perforated, double-stitched Bridge of Weir leather, genuine carbon fi ber, and lots of choices for funky-colored seat panels.
Alas, Aston has to stick with lots of handme-down Mercedes technology, so the 10.3inch display looks and feels like something out of the Dark Ages. Plus, the teeny buttons on the wheel and center console were surely designed for the fi ngers of a 3-year-old.
As you might expect, all this power and performance doesn’t come cheap. The 707’s base sticker is $239,086, or around $50,000 more than a standard DBX. Check the boxes to add a few options, and the price can easily reach the $300,000 mark. But as for owning a load-carrying, family-hauling sport ute that really thinks it’s a supercar, that’s just priceless. «
POWER FILE
PRICE: FROM $239,086 ENGINE: 4.0-LITER TWIN-TURBO V8 POWER: 697 HP TORQUE: 663 LB-FT 0-60: 3.1 SECONDS TOP SPEED: 193 MPH LENGTH/ WIDTH: 198/78 INCHES WEIGHT: 4,940 POUNDS WHY WE LOVE IT: BECAUSE POWER, PERFORMANCE, AND LUXURY COME TOGETHER IN A TRULY BEAUTIFUL PACKAGE.
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