The lights go green for a new Formula One season this weekend, with the Bahrain Grand Prix roaring in action at 3pm on Sunday 5 March.
Taking up its new role as the official F1 medical car, the Aston Martin DBX707 will be on standby in case of emergencies. The flagship 707hp SUV replaces the regular 550hp DBX, which has served as a trackside first-response vehicle for the previous two F1 seasons.
The Aston Martin Vantage F1 Edition (pictured above on the left) will continue its role as the safety car at grands prix, driven by the highly experienced Bernd Mayländer.
Rapid response
As the world’s most powerful SUV, the DBX707 can react to accidents rapidly – and carry all the necessary medical equipment inside its 638-litre boot. As the world’s most powerful SUV, the DBX707 can react to accidents rapidly – and carry all the necessary medical equipment inside its 638-litre boot.
Its 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 drives all four wheels via a nine-speed paddle-shift transmission. Use the Race Start function and 0-62mph takes just 3.3 seconds. Maximum speed – on the long back straight at Yas Marina, perhaps – is 193mph.
The DBX707 is adapted for its role as a medical car with FIA-approved racing seats, each with a six-point racing harness. Fire extinguishers, medical bags and a defibrillator are also carried on board.
The passengers have a direct line to race control and the FIA marshalling system, along with biometric data from each of the 20 drivers. Specially developed Pirelli P Zero tyres help this 2,245kg SUV lap each circuit as swiftly as possible, too.
Green machines
The DBX707 and Vantage F1 Edition both wear the same Racing Green as the Aston Martin AMR23 Formula One cars piloted by Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
We drove the hottest DBX last year, concluding: ‘The 707 is brilliantly bombastic, yet sacrifices none of its sibling’s everyday civility. It’s a 21-gun salute to the internal combustion era. And for now, at least, the ultimate SUV.’
Away from the racetrack, the DBX707’s rivals include the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT and new Lamborghini Urus Performante.
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