I am a visual creature. Makes sense as well, considering the fact that I like to call myself a visual artist. But what is it like to be a creature of vision? To me, it is when symmetry makes sense, when coherence brings joy, and when a few things come together and fit like they were meant to be. It is like a dream come true. This piece is about my experience of driving the new DBX 707 from Aston Martin. I have driven it before, so we will talk about what the new one brings to the table. But there’s even more to this story, so let us get into it. 

Not too long ago, some visionary thought that the ‘traditional’ supercar was a bit much for most people. The idea was to keep the ‘super’ bit intact, but they changed the ‘car’. Then they thought that mere thought was not enough, so they decided to make it a reality. I love these kinds of people. While the world called it sacrilege all the same, they also woke up to a new kind of supercar. 

The era of super SUVs arrived and simply took over. While purists are a harder bunch to please, even a majority of those could not deny the application. Almost all the performance of a supercar, combined with everyday comfort and practicality, what’s not to like? These super SUVs have tons of power, spacious cabins, luggage space, four doors and proper seating for a family. It was bound to be a good game, and that has been proven by the fact that nearly every major player has joined the game. 

Aston Martin forayed into this world in 2020 with the DBX. Powered by a 4-litre twin-turbo V8 sourced from Mercedes, it had nearly 550 PS of power and 700 Nm of torque. The world took notice. And while they took notice, Aston Martin got back to work. 

The result of the work was the DBX 707 that came out in 2022. The Mercedes-AMG M177 that powered the DBX was modified heavily. With the new turbochargers, the power output went up to 707 PS, hence the name, DBX 707. The torque also went up to 900 Nm. There were a few more changes, and we’ll talk about those in a bit. 

While the DBX was a raucous revelation, the DBX 707 arrived to take names and kick rears. I had the firsthand experience of what an absolute savage it was. I drove it in India, which was amazing, but I also drove it in Northern Japan (Hokkaido and around), and that remains one of the most memorable roadtrips of mine. You can read about it here.

Now, it is 2025. What has Aston been up to? Well, they have dropped the DBX from the lineup, so we have a new DBX 707. But more than that, Aston Martin has also taken the wraps off the DBX S, which is now the world’s most powerful SUV with 727 PS of power. The accolades just keep on coming, don’t they… Unfortunately though, that is not the car I drove. I drove the new Aston Martin DBX 707. But then again, just 20 PS behind the world’s most powerful SUV isn’t too shabby, right? 

Before I talk about the car, let me explain the symmetry and coherence I referred to earlier. Whenever I go to pick up an Aston Martin to drive, it is always a pleasure. But this time, it was extra special. Yours truly showed up at the Aston Martin showroom donning the Puma x Aston Martin ARAMCO F1 Team garb with a Realme GT8 Pro Dream Edition co-designed with Aston Martin ARAMCO F1 Team in tow. More on those in a little bit, but I hope you understood my point of symmetry and coherence.  

The gear seen here comes from the very prestigious Puma x Aston Martin ARAMCO F1 Team collection. If you own an Aston Martin, these fit your car like a glove. If you don’t, get them anyway and start working towards your goal of owning one. Or you can get them if you are just a fan of the team.

This here is the Realme GT8 Pro Dream Edition, co-designed with the Aston Martin ARAMCO F1 Team. A flagship in every sense of the word, in addition to power and precision, this smartphone has also been imbued with the essence of Aston Martin’s F1 Team. A collector’s item through and through.

Coming back to the car, let me tell you about the changes first. They are limited to the interior. While that may not sound grand, these changes fixed one of the biggest gripes people had with the DBX and even the older DBX 707, the infotainment system. For the most part, it was near archaic. Now, it is in tow with the new DB12 and fixed the only Achilles Heel in the previous car. Though I still wish the screen were a little bigger. 

Now, let us talk about the driving experience. The thing is, when you are driving the DBX 707 just puttering around, it feels like a normal car. I mean, if you do not look at the badge on the steering wheel and forget how much money you paid for it, you’d be forgiven for thinking of it as a regular car. Hence, the practicality and comfort, the ‘SUV’ bit. 

Press the accelerator a bit and the V8 roars to wake you up, along with the accompanying thrust. Put pedal to the metal, and the growl of the V8 builds up to a crescendo that has your head pinned to the seat and your face overrun with an idiot’s grin. This is when you realise why this car can dispatch 0-100 km/h in 3.1 seconds and go on to a top speed of 310 km/h. That is the ‘Super’ bit. 

Now, when I, or anyone else, call the Aston Martin DBX 707 a supercar, one might argue that a supercar does not only mean power, torque, acceleration, and top speed. Though those credentials seem quite enough to me, for argument’s sake, let us say the naysayers bring up handling. Well, Aston Martin has a rather successful F1 team (if we are being modest), so they know a thing or two about handling and dynamics. 

This car weighs 2,245 kilos (kerb) and instantly rubbishes that as mere digits on paper. The savage acceleration aside, the DBX 707 handles like a car of its heft should not. It has all-wheel drive, limited slip differential, and 23” wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zeros, so the grip it offers gives physics a run for its money. It can corner at dizzying speeds, and while I did not try dizzying speeds, I did try some speed. 

Another thing I noticed is that the 707 is almost devoid of body roll. I tried (as much as I could) to introduce some, but it just negated all of that. That is thanks to the 48V electronic roll control. Jargon aside, it is a marriage or electrical and mechanical wizardry that can apply up to 1,400 Nm of torque to mitigate body roll. I know not how it works, but I know that it works… like a charm. There’s a reason why the DBX 707 is the official F1 safety car. There’s no quicker way from the pits to the site of the incident with some medical luggage and personnel in tow. 

Coming to the transmission, Aston Martin made some changes to the AMG’s MCT 9G-Tronic transmission when they went from the DBX to the DBX 707. It had always been very capable, but on the 707, it employs a wet clutch. As a result, the 3.1s second 0-100 km/h launches can be performed all day long. The fuel consumed is on you, though. But then again, I do not think that if you have 5.89 crores (ex-showroom price of the one we drove) to spend on a DBX 707, fuel prices are of any major concern to you. 

You can read about a more detailed driving experience in our previous piece about the 707 on xBhp.com/Machines. The point of this piece is to convey the message that cars like the DBX 707 are not just cars. They are a means of expression for the lucky ones who can afford them. Cars like the 707 and brands like Aston Martin have a storied history and a legacy that one buys into. 

I mean, just think about the fact that every single Aston Martin, including the engine, is handbuilt in Britain. When I popped the hood, I saw that the one I was driving was signed off by one Mr Rick Jones. That adds to the value of this car and elevates its status from being ‘just another car’. And that is also something I can say about the accessories, yours truly showed up equipped with just for this momentous occasion.

Let us start with the attire. If you are a fan of the sport and a fan of the team, you buy into whatever they are doing. You wear their colours with pride. The Puma x Aston Martin ARAMCO F1 Team threads are just that. With a curated choice of colours inspired by the Aston Martin F1 team and Aston Martin ARAMCO F1 Team badges all around, it makes you a part of the aspirations of the whole project. 

While you can check out the whole collection here, let us list out the items seen here: Puma x Aston Martin ARAMCO F1 Team Men’s Graphic Tee, PumaTech Men’s Hooded Jacket, PumaTech Men’s Cargo Pants, and Inverse Men’s Sneakers. And if you want, you can throw in an Aston Martin F1 Baseball Cap in the mix as well.

The same goes for these couple of phones I have with me. Yes, there are two. The first one is the Realme GT8 Pro Dream Edition, inspired by the Aston Martin ARAMCO F1 Team. The experience starts right from the unboxing. The round camera island not only reveals that the phone dons the team’s colours, but it is also strategically shown as the wheel of the F1 car. 

The SIM ejector tool is in the shape of an F1 car, and the little packaging it is carried in says “14. Fernando Alonso”. The phone also gets a spare square camera island and comes with a screwdriver to swap it. The rear of the phone looks like the front of the F1 car, and it has Aston Martin ARAMCO F1 Team branding at the back.

The Realme GT8 Pro Dream Edition is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen5 paired with up to 16 gigs of RAM and 1 TB of storage. It features a 6.79” AMOLED screen and a 7,000 mAh battery. So expect stellar performance, but what makes it an all-arounder is the triple camera system with the main unit featuring a RICOH GR sensor.

Then there’s the GT7 Dream Edition designed to pay an ode to the Aston Martin ARAMCO F1 Team. It does not dent your pocket as hard as the GT8 but still brings the team’s legacy, colours, and the brand’s story in a neat package. It even comes with a little book carrying bits of Aston Martin’s storied history. If all of these things do not make these collectors’ items, I do not know what will. 

You see, brand collaborations like these, to me, are more than just collaborations. They are meant to elevate the status of the brands, yes, but more than that, they are meant to add aspirational value to things. Right now, I may be dressed in the Aston Martin-themed clothes from Puma and carrying Aston Martin-themed phones from Realme. But one day, I might even own the DBX 707… or a DB12… or the Vantage. That is the law of attraction. 

Things like these make you aspire for bigger and better things in life, and aspiring is a crucial part of acquiring. Visualising those bigger and better things repeatedly and working towards them tirelessly brings you closer and closer to said things. It has worked for me. I wanted a superbike when I was young; now I have 10. I wanted to travel to a few countries when I was young; now I have been to over 80. 

That is also something cars like the Aston Martin DBX 707 do. They push you to become a better version of yourself. They push you to keep hustling till you see yourself behind the wheels of one of these, and on that day, you won’t have to drive it back to the showroom with a heavy heart. On that day, you will be beaming as you take it home and park it in a place where it is the first thing you see when you wake up in the morning. For that day… keep hustling!