The Pinnacle of Luxury and Performance in a Sports SUV. Few brands command as much reverence as Aston Martin does today. Having started as a shop in London in 1913 under the Bamford & Martin banner, the work was modifying cars for speed. Today’s “brand” name came after racing with their car at the Aston Clinton Hill Climb in 1915. In 1925, the shop changed hands and became Aston Martin Motors. Synonymous with precision engineering, they started building fast coupes that were light and beautiful to look at.

Something that makes Aston Martin special is its involvement in motorsport, which dates back to the early 20th century, first with a legacy in endurance racing and, more recently, in Formula 1. The brand’s notable successes include the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Aston Martin secured a famous victory in 1959 with the DBR1 driven by Carroll Shelby. World champion Fernando Alonso is today’s leading driver in the Aston Martin F1 effort.

I had the chance to drive the fastest and sportiest SUV on the planet. Following other luxury car makers, Aston Martin launched their SUV and incorporated all the motorsports DNA in the DBX 707. I quickly found out that there is no direct competitor in the sense that this, for practical reasons, is a sportscar disguised as an SUV. Engineering director Andy Tokley gave me the details and specs the night before, which put doubts in my head about how it could handle the racecar-like horsepower.

The Aston Martin DBX numbers are pretty impressive. At the front sits a Twin Turbo 4 Liter DOHC V8 motor that generates 697 HP and 700 Ft/Lbs of torque. The power goes through a nine-speed wet-clutch transmission that handles the gearchanges in milliseconds. The DBX has it’s own AWD system that provides optimal traction in all conditions. Additionally, the air suspension system and electronic anti-roll technology can adjust in the blink of an eye to maintain the car’s posture regardless of the surface you are driving on.

California offers plenty on canyons and mountain roads to see what the DBX feels like in the real world. After a few miles of undulating and sweeping roads, I started to compare the DBX with the McLaren 650 and Mustang GT500, both with similar horsepower. But I had to remind myself this was a four-door Sport Utility Vehicle. The power and balance of the DBX can be controlled with a switch that offers options for how you want the car to behave. When I switched to Sport +, the DBX demanded your attention and involvement at the wheel. With powerful acceleration (0-60 in just 3 seconds), the outstanding grip of 23-inch tires, and enormous six-pot brake calipers and ceramic disc brakes, the DBX lets you know that there is a reason why this is the F1 pace car of choice in 2024.

Today, Aston Martin is about performance and exclusivity. The brand has returned to its glory days since Lawrence Stroll took the company’s reins. The DBX is still hand-assembled one by one. Only about 3,000 units of the DBX are scheduled to be built for this year.

Individual customization provides an extra level of luxury on wheels. The interior exudes high-quality leather, and each surface offers a tactile sensation. The interior design reminded me of polo saddles and delicate hand stitching. The cabin is well insulated, and I noted the thickness of the doors, which they have to build that way to maintain rigidity and hold the sweeping curves of the panels themselves. The only thing I found somewhere else is the center console, where you have all the controls for the screen, transmission, modes, etc. This package is the same one I saw in the Vantage Coupe test a few months ago.  

The Aston Martin DBX 707 delivers a driving experience that is unparalleled. Whether navigating the bustling streets of Los Angeles or cruising through the scenic Angeles Crest Highway, the DBX 707 performs with the poise and precision you would expect from the best sports car. It does not have a competitor today. It is a fusion of cutting-edge technology on wheels, exquisite craftsmanship, and the exclusivity of owning an Aston Martin. The DBX 707 is not just another luxury SUV; it’s a statement on wheels.