Just when you thought the world had reached peak unnecessary performance SUV, Aston Martin has decided what we really need is another variation of their DBX. This time it's called the DBX S, and it sits above the DBX 707, which was already about as excessive as a gold-plated toilet. Let's get the headline figure out of the way: 717 horsepower. That's right, a whopping 10 more horses than the DBX 707, which, for those who struggle with basic mathematics, had 707 horsepower. It's the sort of power upgrade that will have owners of the regular 707 choking on their caviar in frustration, knowing their now-obsolete SUV is a whole tenth of a second slower to 60 mph. To achieve this monumental power increase, Aston Martin has raided the parts bin of their upcoming Valhalla supercar, stealing its turbochargers and bolting them to the same 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that powers half the performance cars on the planet. The result is an SUV that can hit 60 mph in 3.1 seconds, which is fast enough to rearrange the botox in your face. In addition to having a smidge more power, Aston claims the DBX S offers a "more engaging drive," which I suspect is marketing speak for "it tries to kill you more readily if you turn the traction control off." They've remapped the 9-speed automatic gearbox for quicker shifts and adjusted the steering ratio for better response, though the suspension and all-wheel drive system remain unchanged. Presumably, they were already so good that even Aston's engineers couldn't find a way to improve them. Or, more likely, changing them would have cost too much money. The visual changes are what you'd expect from a car that needs to signal its superiority over lesser DBXs. There's a new honeycomb grille that appears to have been designed to inhale small woodland creatures, an updated front bumper with more aggressive lines, carbon fiber mirrors for those all-important weight savings (all 50 grams of them), and a carbon fiber roof. All told, these modifications have apparently shaved off 100 pounds, bringing the curb weight down to a still-rather-portly 4,846 pounds – about the same as a small moon. The DBX S rides on new 23-inch magnesium wheels, which are presumably designed to make the ride even more punishing than it already was, and comes equipped with ceramic brakes that will cost more than a decent family car to replace when they inevitably wear out. The exhaust system has also been upgraded with vertically stacked tips, which, let's be honest, are just there to make it look a bit more like a Lamborghini from behind. What Aston hasn't told us is how much this exercise in excess will cost, but since the DBX 707 already starts at around $240,000, you can bet your second home that the S will be comfortably north of $260,000. That's a lot of money for what is, fundamentally, still a vehicle designed to transport golden retrievers and shopping bags, albeit at speeds that would make a fighter pilot nervous. Deliveries begin in the fall of 2025, which gives potential owners plenty of time to prepare their Instagram accounts and have their driveways widened to accommodate yet another unnecessarily large vehicle. And for those who already own a DBX 707 and are now feeling hopelessly outmoded, fear not – I'm sure Aston will release a DBX 727 in about 18 months' time with yet another 10 horsepower and an even more extortionate price tag. In a world facing climate change, energy crises, and a general need to be a bit more sensible about our transportation choices, the DBX S stands as a glorious monument to excess and irrationality. And for that reason alone, I absolutely love it. It makes no sense whatsoever, which is precisely why it's wonderful. It's the automotive equivalent of ordering the 72-ounce steak when you're not even hungry – completely unnecessary, but somehow deeply satisfying. Let's just hope it drives as good as it looks, because there's nothing worse than a car that promises much but delivers little. And at this price point, it had better deliver a driving experience so good it makes you weep tears of joy, or at least tears expensive enough to match the car's price tag.
