Aston Martin DB12 vs Ferrari Purosangue

What's the difference?

Aston Martin is best known for two things - being James Bond’s preferred mode of transport and building grand tourers.

The new DB12 is the latest in a long line of memorable grand tourers from Aston Martin that dates back to the DB2 of the 1950s and runs all the way through icons like the DB5 (1963-65) and more recently the DB7 (1993-2003), DB9 (2004-2016) and DB11 (2016-2023).

Except there’s a slight problem with this lineage - Aston Martin doesn’t think the DB12 is a ‘grand tourer.’ Instead, the brand has decided to define it as a ‘Super Tourer’ and claims this is a car that “takes a new direction” for a brand that is more than 100 years old.

Yes, this is the car that Ferrari said it would never build. In fact, Ferrari Chief Design Officer, Flavio Manzoni told this very publication (albeit way back in 2015) that "Enzo Ferrari would turn in his grave" should the company ever make something other than a two-door sports car.

But I'd advise you not to get too hung up on all of that. Times change, and the automotive world is a very different place compared to five or 10 years ago.

So, yes, this is the first Ferrari SUV (even if the brand steadfastly refuses to call it one). And it’s the first prancing horse with four doors and four seats.

But it’s also the only SUV on the planet (at least, that I’ve ever heard of) that’s powered by a properly screaming naturally aspirated V12 petrol engine.

So, is this Purosangue the world’s most super SUV, and thus worthy of its iconic badge? Or does it only detract from the brand’s impressive performance legacy?

Let’s go find out, shall we?