SUPER-FAST SUV

THE CAR INDUSTRY moves at fierce, brutally competitive pace.

No sooner a model is claimed to be the world’s fastest, most powerful, most luxurious, or whatever, than a competitor tops it.

Ferrari’s recently-launched four-door Purosangue appears to hold the crown as most powerful luxury SUV – leaving aside for now Ferrari’s stance that it is not an SUV at all –with its big V12 engine pushing out a colossal 715 horsepower (533 kiloWatts).

But strictly speaking ,the Ferrari is not on the roads yet, so the title can remain for now with the Aston Martin DBX707, which was launched just months previously in 2022 with specifically that claim for its 707 HP (520 kW) V8.

Interestingly, the DBX707 was released barely a year after the ‘ordinary’ DBX, which at the time was lauded as one of the fastest super-SUVs.

When the 404 kW output of the original DBX – still available, by the way – is deemed not enough, it’s proof the race to the front is never-ending.

Despite the tiny deficit of 8.0 HP, the Aston Martin DBX707 matches the Ferrari’s performance claim of 0-100 kmh in 3.3 seconds and a 310 kmh top speed.

Few owners, or journalists, are ever going to be able to test these claims so we settled for a day’s outing around the Gold Coast and on twisting hinterland roads.

Perhaps price is where the difference between vehicles of equal performance is highlighted –the Aston Martin DBX707 is priced at $428,000 (plus options and on-roads) while the Ferrari Purosangue will cost $728,000 when the first examples arrive here late this year. (Another difference: you can’t buy the Ferrari for now; it’s sold out.)

I might be tempted to save my $300,000 and take the Aston.

Its speed is hair-raising, roadholding and cornering astonishing for something weighing 2.24 tonnes and interior comfort as cosy as a gentleman’s Mayfair club.

All-round, the 707 is a serious step up on the ordinary DBX.

An extra 116 kW – enough alone to power a small car – has been tweaked from the Mercedes-AMG, twin-turbo 4.0 litre.

A different nine-speed auto gearbox has been bolted on to handle the power and 900 Newtonmetres – 900! – of torque.

The differential and suspension have been refined and a number of subtle aerodynamic changes made to the bodywork.

The most obvious of these is an enlarged radiator grille, which means the 707 should never be mistaken for its tamer sibling.

Standard wheels are 22-inch, but the test vehicle rode on 23-inch options.

Fitted with 325/30 Pirelli P-Zero tyres, the wheels came up almost to my hip.

And behind those wheels are standard carbonceramic brakes, wearing 420 mm rotors at the front to confidently arrest the charging beast.

The DX707 goes up a grade inside, too, where Aston Martin craftsmanship shows it’s among the car industry’s very best.

Seats have 16-way electric adjustment options plus heating.

Three upholstery packages – ‘interior environments’, Aston calls them – are available with Alcantara or leather facings, embroidered logos, exquisitely-stitched ribbing and finelypatterned perforations.

The sports-shaped seats are soft but supportive and exude that wonderful leather aroma that Brit upholsterers do best … they should bottle it.

The interior is a sumptuous cocoon, from floor to ceiling and door-to-door.

There is some criticism of the Mercedes-sourced centre console screen and controls being slightly old-tech.

This wouldn't bother me once familiar, but I did find frustrating the starter button and push-button gear selectors being oddly-positioned high on the dash.

They’re out of reach for anyone not sitting close to the steering wheel.

Those seats are a wonderful possie for coastal tootling or a spirited sprint up the hinterland’s Currumbin Valley.

At normal speeds, this is an easy vehicle for anyone to control, but caution and skill are necessary for faster motoring when, despite the DBX707’s dynamic ability, its bulk demands respect.

It’s a serious road-weapon, not a go-kart.

The Aston Martin DBX707 is in the rarefied segment of the fastest, most luxurious and most expensive SUVs in the world.

It may also be among the last of such vehicles as manufacturers are forced into hybrid and full-electric power during the next decade.

There should be no concern the new era will deliver anything but more power and speed, but that alone may feel pointless without the visceral, baritone roar of a full-bore V8 like the Aston Martin’s.

Get one while you can.