There is an overused reference to the volume knobs on the amplifiers in the movie “This is Spinal Tap,” where the knobs have been renumbered to a scale of 1-11 in place of the usual 1-10 range, without making any actual changes to the amps’ power output.
The Aston Martin DBX707 ($236,000 base price, $292,586 as tested) also adds a superlative number over the standard DBX, but in this case, the big number is backed by an abundance of reengineered substance, helping Aston’s new flagship SUV truly go to eleven!
In this case, the “707” refers to the slightly generous metric horsepower rating for the DBX’s twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine. Measured in old money, the horsepower peak is 697 SAE net horsepower.
That compares to 542 hp for the standard DBX, a poetic 666 hp. for the Lamborghini Urus Performante, and 682 hp for the Cadillac Escalade V. Only the 710-hp Dodge Durango Hellcat packs more oomph than the DBX707.
Unlike those heavy-hitting rivals, however, the DBX707 moves lightly on its feet, giving the driver the feeling of a less ponderous machine than its SUV bodywork would suggest.
“Creating the ultimate SUV presented formidable challenges for our engineering team. Too often this class of car is characterized by an obsession with brute force,” observed Aston Martin’s Head of Vehicle Engineering and Procurement, Drummond Jacoy. Click through our photo gallery to see how they did it.