Configurator Challenge: Aston Martin DB12
The new Aston Martin DB12 is the latest in the British car maker’s line of DB sports cars. Lottery winnings in hand, how would members of the Drive team build theirs?
Customisation is in vogue at the moment, but too much choice can be confusing. In our configurator challenge, Drive team members scroll through a manufacturer’s website to create their ideal combination for a certain model.
This week the team turned to the new Aston Martin DB12, the first new Aston Martin sports car (excluding special editions and limited-run hypercars) in five years, and one of its last with petrol power. All the submissions below were completed without looking at each other’s responses.
Tell us what your ideal Aston Martin DB12 would look like in the comments below (build yours here), and what you’d like us to configure next.
James Ward, Director of Content
When I was running the fleet at the P1 Supercar Club, we had a Vantage and a pair of DB9s (coupe and Volante), and they were constantly busy. Club Members found they were seen as hugely discerning individuals in the Astons, the winged badge presenting an essence of style and culture that surpassed anything from mainland Europe, and was seen as even more aspirational than Bentley.
To that end, I have opted for a DB12 specification that takes the driver on a classy journey, yet makes them feel at home at the same time.
Paint is the most famous Aston Martin colour of all time, the platinum-esque ‘Silver Birch Provenance’ as seen on James Bond’s DB5 in Goldfinger. I’ve balanced this with a gloss-black turret and carbon roof, as well as carbon-fibre aero parts.
Wheels are the 21-inch silver five-spoke rims, hiding carbon brakes and AMR ‘turquoise’ calipers. I’ve included the gloss grille elements to match the silver wheels too.
Inside, I’ve made the DB12 feel like an opulent drawing room, with Copper Tan Metallic leather and trim, white contrast stitching, and two different wood inlays (walnut and ash) on the dash, door trims and even seat backs. It looks warm and enveloping, more so due to the ‘comfort’ seats, making the DB12 a well-configured grand tourer for any occasion.
Kez Casey, Production Editor
Aston’s angry little 911-baiter, the Vantage, is a born warrior, and looks truly stunning in the loudest shades possible. The DB12, on the other hand, is the polar opposite. It’s sophisticated, subtle and doesn’t need to shout to be noticed.
With this in mind I’ve opted for a 21st-century take on the classic DB5 formula. Silver over tan, but with a twist. On the outside I’ve kept things monochrome with Satin Xenon Grey paint and matching Satin Platinum multi-spoke wheels.
There’s no carbon fibre on show, but offsets come via gloss black on the roof, roof rails, mirrors, lower body kit, grille, and brake calipers. Of course red tail-lights are available, and I’ve said no thanks and fitted the smoked lights instead.
Inside the ‘Performance’ seats dictate the appearance of some carbon fibre, but I’m sure if my check book was hefty enough, Aston Martin’s Q department would remedy this. Here I’ve gone for Onyx Black and Centenary Saddle Tan, with Dark Walnut open-pore wood anywhere it can be fitted.
The only other thing the interior needs is the optional Bang and Olufsen audio, to help break up the unbearable monotony of commuting along the Côte d’Azur.
Rob Margeit, Features Editor
I’ve kept it pretty simple and pretty close to the launch specification, no outrageous bling for me.
Outside, the Iridescent Emerald paint pays a modern homage to the classic British Racing Green. My choice of 21-inch Satin Bronze alloy wheels, provide the perfect accompaniment to the striking green paint.
Inside, I’ve opted for a conservative black with white inserts while the choice of white headlining helps to lift some of the gloom from what would otherwise be a dark cabin.
I’ve opted out of the myriad personalisation options, choosing instead to keep my new DB12 pretty close to showroom trim. The only exception? Blacked-out badging in satin black, a subtle but distinctive take on branding.
Emma Notarfrancesco, Senior Presenter
I opted for a bold colour – the Elwood Blue, along with the 21-inch Y-spoke in Satin Bronze, and black brake calipers, while for the interior I chose an Oxford Tan and black combination.
Additional options include a four-piece luggage set, a Protection pack, Convenience Pack, and Vision pack.
Tom Fraser, Journalist
If James Bond taught me anything, silver always looks good on an Aston – no exceptions.
My Lightning Silver shade covers the roof and lower portion, while carbon-fibre accents can be seen on the lower splitter. It also selects 21-inch bronze wheels which tie in nicely with the silver look.
Inside the cabin we’ve got the sporty bucket seats upholstered with blue trim. I tend to find carbon-fibre inlays in cars tacky so I’ve opted for the brushed aluminium and gloss black centre console treatment. I’m 100 per cent on board for a high-end sound system, too.
Ben Zachariah, Journalist
Pick a restaurant and a bottle of red and I’ll be happy to spend all night talking about what it is about Aston Martins that make them such fabulous cars, even if I think the company has lost a bit of its mojo in this most recent era. And while I think the latest DB12 has its shortcomings, overall it’s a beautiful shape and is a worthy successor to the company’s long line of sports cars.
Because of those wonderful body lines, I’ve opted against my usual black or white paint preference, and instead gone for Seychelles Blue – a deep hue with a heavy metallic fleck that will pop in the sunlight. A colour I’m told was made famous by King Charles’ DB6 Volante.
While I skipped most of the exterior packages available (they felt as if they took away more than they added), I did feel the gloss carbon-fibre roof was a nice addition, thanks to the two strakes continuing the bonnet lines. Smoked tail-lights were also a must.
I decided on the 21-inch five-spoke forged wheels in gloss silver, because, on the car, they reminded me of one of my favourite cars of all time – a Ferrari 456 owned by Ben Clymer, the founder of watch website Hodinkee. I’ve also taken a page out of The Book of Chris Harris and gone with clear glass, rather than privacy tint.
Inside I’ve stayed old school, opting for Centenary Saddle Tan throughout, with Aurora Blue contrast stitching and dark walnut open-pore wood with satin dark chrome buttons. I know Aston Martin is all carbon-fibre and neon green nowadays, but I’m happier with this ‘old money’ spec.
Alex Misoyannis, Journalist
I wasn’t sold on the looks of the Aston Martin DB12 in the initial press images – with vibrant green paint and gold wheels – but seeing it in the metal in a more subdued silver-on-black specification at a media preview this week has made it apparent it takes the right spec to bring out its good looks.
After toying with a deep red and a James Bond silver, I settled on gloss Aston Martin Racing Green for the exterior. It seems to be working well on Aston’s Formula One cars this year (one of them, at least) so here’s hoping that rubs off well on this car’s performance.
The only wheel option I like is this 21-inch multi-spoke, two-tone forged alloy, which hides classy bronze brake calipers and steel discs (I don’t need carbon ceramics).
Other exterior treatments include the ‘Bright’ chrome grille bars, body-coloured exterior trim packs, a black roof (but body-coloured pillars), red tail-lights, and privacy glass.
A tasteful green exterior means the interior must be tan, with the Inspire Sport Mid Duotone option that mixes tan Sports Plus seats, steering wheel, centre console and door panel inserts with black headlining, dashboard, upper door cards, and seatbelts, and bright chrome on the switches.
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