The Joy of Sardinia in the New Aston Martin DBX707 SUV

With its coastal roads, mountain passes and deep gorges, Sardinia is a relatively rare destination for the automotive press circuit, so it made a powerful impression on the first lucky individuals to explore its roads from behind the wheel of Aston Martin’s newest and most distinctive SUV, the DBX707.

Aston Martin’s base was the Hotel Cala di Volpe, one of the jewels of Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda. The hotel was designed by the French architect Jacques Couëlle and opened in 1962, the centrepiece of a new luxury development that was to transform the image of the island.

We set off on the road to our first lunch stop, the Trattoria Pedra Longa. Our route takes us due south along the SS125 Orientale Sarda, one of Sardinia’s best driving roads, snaking along the edge of the steep Gola di Gorropu. The smooth road has a perfectly balanced mix of tight corners and long stretches that offer the chance to experience the 707’s poise and precision, especially with the enhanced suspension set-up of the Sport+ mode. The carbon ceramic brakes give you unshakeable confidence, and the sharpened electronic power steering allows you to scythe into an apex, exiting the corner with a snap of instant acceleration. 

Pedra Longa is reached via a private road that makes a long, winding descent down a ravine, where the restaurant is perched beside the sea, far from the beaten track. It’s a wrench to tear ourselves away, but the schedule demands a return to Cala di Volpe. From Pedra Longa, our route snakes north-west through the island’s hinterland, a sparsely populated, dramatic landscape that is one of the largest and most alluring wildernesses in Europe.

It is a spectacular road, carved along valleys, often disappearing through long tunnels supported by concrete pillars. These create a stroboscopic effect as the 707 rips along the deserted roads. Arrow-straight stretches give the twin-turbocharged V8 a chance to show its mettle; one thing is for certain, this car’s capabilities are truly exceptional.

The engine’s 707ps translates into a top speed  of 193mph, and a zero to 60 time of 3.1 seconds. There is power on tap to make the most of every overtaking opportunity, effortlessly hustling the big five-seater past agricultural traffic and ponderous lorries. This is the difference between DBX707 and other luxury SUVs; you never doubt for a minute that you’re driving a pure-bred sports car, a machine that will give its all consistently, smoothly and safely.  Enhanced interior materials, as well as minor revisions to the dashboard and the welcome addition of soft-close doors, are all introduced to give the DBX707 a more bespoke, luxurious feel, although the cossetting sports seats are fitted as standard.

As the slate roofs and white walls of the hotel hove into view at the corner of the bay, it evokes the location’s starring role in the The Spy Who Loved Me.

DBX707 is a flagship vehicle in many respects, not just in terms of raw performance. It exemplifies Aston Martin’s breadth of talent, from design to engineering, and the company’s ability to constantly refine and enhance its products. It is that rarest of beasts, a true Sports Utility Vehicle that offers luxury and practicality alongside headline figures that demand your attention.

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