Full Test: Aston Martin Db12 S Is A Sharper, Louder And Lighter Gt, But Is It Better?

New upper-level DB12 'super tourer' gets 20bhp extra, weighs up to 50kg less, and aims for a sportier feel. Among distractions ranging from Adrian Newey-masterminded hypercars to bleak reports in the business pages to military-grade off-roading concepts (take it you’ve seen the Dreadnought?), it’s easy to forget about Aston Martin’s DB12.Less commonly seen than the entry-level Vantage and less ‘special’ than the V12-engined Vanquish, in so many ways the DB12 'super-tourer' is the car that best represents its maker. It is the model whose breadth ensures it is the one you would throw into a juicy group test against rivals including the Porsche 911 Turbo S, Maserati Granturismo Trofeo and Ferrari’s sublime Amalfi. You might also invite Bentley’s Continental GT and a fruity version of the AMG GT.That group test – more of a battle royale, let’s be honest – just got a bit more tantalising, because there is now an S derivative that aims to sharpen up the DB12, three years on from debut. Power rises, the suspension is retuned not only for closer body control but better ride quality at lower speeds too, and detail changes are said to improve everything from steering feel to yaw damping. The S will exist alongside the regular car, and it is an addition to the range worth getting excited about because the last time Aston Martin took this approach to a senior GT, it transformed the very good DBS Superleggera into the truly wonderful DBS 770 Ultimate.In terms of lineage, look further back and you’ll find Aston has a history of even quicker models with ‘S’ badges, starting with the DB3 S of 1953. However, never before has it deployed them as widely or consistently as now. The S version of the first, noughties-era Vanquish was in reality a facelift; a reason for dealers to call up Vanquish owners and invite them to part with another five- or six-figure sum. The S suffix was used more like it will be from now on only with the Vantage in 2011 – as an addition to the range, and an extension of the territory that these cars can ultimately span, rather than as a mid-life update.What we will now learn is if the DB12 S justifies its positioning, and where it sits in the GT ecosystem.