DB12

Aston Martin calls the DB12 a Super Tourer, and the north-eastern coast of Sardinia is the landscape that proves the point. The shoreline road stitching Porto Cervo to Porto Rotondo alternates water's-edge straights with corners meant to be taken in one fluid breath — precisely the choreography this car was drawn for. With 680 hp and a chassis that filters out the rough edges without ever disconnecting you from the surface, the DB12 turns the run from a beach club to dinner in Abbiadori into a chapter of the holiday rather than a transfer.

It is also the right choice for exploring the island without compromise: drop south from Olbia towards San Teodoro with the V8 murmuring in cruise, lunch above the white sand of Cala Brandinchi, then head back at sunset as the Gallura light sets the granite alight. To plan the route properly, our guide to supercar rental on the Costa Smeralda lays out itineraries, stops and practical advice.

The 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 carries a baritone note you recognise from idle, and in Sport mode the exhaust valves open up the voice without ever tipping into caricature. The 0–100 km/h sprint in 3.6 seconds arrives clean, with no theatrical lunges: the 8-speed automatic threads the gears together under full load and downshifts with a precision that tempts you onto the paddles purely for the pleasure of hearing the engine pick up revs again.

The 325 km/h top speed remains a homologation figure; what actually matters, between Liscia di Vacca and Baja Sardinia, is steering that is direct without ever turning nervous, an electronic differential that tightens the line on corner exit, and adaptive suspension that absorbs the coast road's shifting cambers. The DB12 shrinks distances — after an hour at the wheel, the idea of stopping starts to feel like an injustice.

The coupé is the DB12 in its purest form: a long, low silhouette, a cabin wrapped in leather and metal, and climate control that stays flawless through the hottest hours of August. The Volante adds a fabric roof that folds away in seconds, even on the move at low speed — early in the morning, on the road out to Capo Ferro, the air scented with myrtle and helichrysum justifies the choice on its own.

Both configurations sit within our selection of grand tourers available in Sardinia and the LSM Aston Martin catalogue, part of a fleet of more than 100 models and 150-plus versions. In its 2+2 layout, the DB12 also carries bags, jackets and — for short hops — two extra guests: a practicality many two-seat rivals can only envy.