REVIEW: XiaoGuang Aston Martin DB12 • DiecastSociety.com

REVIEW: XiaoGuang Aston Martin DB12

“This is no mere GT. This is fiercer. This is purer. This is sharper. This is bolder. This is finer. This is DB12. The world’s first super tourer.” … says the brochure. With incredible speed to market, the yet unknown Chinese manufacturer XiaoGuang has surprisingly launched the brand new DB12. Yet more surprisingly, the packaging claims this to be officially licensed by Aston Martin. From a choice of a whopping 15 colour combinations (9 colours, some with the option of a carbon roof), I have picked one of three tones of green most closely resembling Aston Martin´s Sprint Green colour spec. Additionally, each model not only comes with 21” Y-Spoke-Rims in Satin Bonze pre-mounted, but an extra set of same-size wheels on Forged Multi-Spoke-Rims in Satin Platinum for a wheel change at the owners’ pleasure. The tires bear the branding of the Pilot Sport 5S Michelin particularly made for this car.

Fiercer, purer, sharper, bolder, finer? Yes, the DB12 in model shape too looks closer to the DBS Superleggera than the DB11. The model’s gaping grille is in the shiny chrome option and the mesh underneath as well as in the bonnet is perforated, unfortunately just with the bright green colour of the metal underneath. The headlights are exquisitely detailed, on par with and slightly surpassing Autoart´s efforts on their DB11 and DBS Superleggera. The same applies to the tail lights, optioned in the read instead of the darkened spec option. The model has parking sensors front and rear. The rear ducktail spoiler stub is not functional as on AUTOart´s DB11, though, but only moulded into the boot lid in its retracted position.

Unlike GT Spirit´s DB12 in a similar green, this model is specced with the carbon-fibre upper and lower body options, giving the door mirrors, roof-line, front spoiler and side skirt lip and rear a nice carbon fibre finish. As mentioned above, it is available with the entire roof in carbon fibre, but I prefer the contrast. The Aston Martin wing badges front and rear are only decals on elevated body mould, not separate parts like on an AUTOart Aston.

Panel gaps are extremely tight and the suction tool supplied with the model is helpful in lifting the boot lid to access the carpeted trunk or, probably more interestingly, the bonnet on its fine hinges and struts. There has been disappointment over the bonnet opening backwards instead of the intricate clamshell solution on the DB11 and, above all the irony that the DB12 despite its nomenclature is the first top-of-the-line Aston Martin not to have a V12 engine, but only a V8, even though that delivers more power and performance than even the DBS. While the model cannot be blamed for the original´s features, some still find the model´s engine not detailed enough. I, for one, do not find it too far off the original and there are models in that price league that do worse. Motorhelix Alfa engines are no comparison as the Motorhelix Alfa has a much more upmarket quality, which does fortunately not translate into the same price premium as the models it currently beats in our awards.

The doors are very tight and are hard to open even with the suction tool. Their and the model´s biggest mistake, though, is that they don´t replicate the DB12´s swan doors in swinging slightly upwards, but open normally parallel to the ground. If you can, quite literally, look past this, you are welcomed by a gorgeous interior, with the quilted sports seats plus, the Inspire Sport Duo-Tone interior option in Oxford Tan and Onyx Black with an Onyx black roof liner and Oxford Tan steering wheel. The model replicates these configurations almost perfectly accurately, with more carbon fibre on the door cards and centre console. The black fabric seatbelts are a valid option. The biggest mistake here is the tan top of the gauge cluster and the inaccurate distribution of black and tan along the dashboard, which only the eagle-eyed will really notice. To be honest, that bit does not bother me too much, given the sheer opulence of the interior that reflects Aston Martin´s quantum leap towards Bentley quality. This model, too, easily surpasses Autoart´s DBS in this category.

All in all, I am genuinely rather impressed with this model. Hardly ever has a model manufacturer launched an all-open diecast metal model so close to the real car´s introduction and given you so many specification options for it from day 1, most milking the mould over months and years. With the usual maker of high-end Aston Martin models Autoart not even having announced the DB12 and their rather sluggish speed from announcement to delivery, this will almost certainly remain the only opening alternative to GT Spirit for at least as long as the real car is in production. I even suspect that AA might skip the super tourer DB12 altogether and go directly for the Vanquish with its V12. In vain have I waited for anyone to make a decent enough 2007 DBS (which the Auto World cannot claim to be). So Aston Martin and Grand Touring collectors alike are advised to get one of these.

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13 Responses to "REVIEW: XiaoGuang Aston Martin DB12"

  1. DS Team says:

    Awesome review sir! XiaoGuang provides a very good example in metal with opening bits, and priced well in comparison to AUTOart… Yes, the motor is decent but as you mention does fall short of current MotorHelix models at roughly the same price.

    Competition is good in this hobby, we’re happy to see XiaoGuang in the mix and holding their own!

  2. yellowcamaro says:

    For a newcomer the execution is very impressive. Especially the exterior- the shutlines/ panel gaps are almost invisible on the doors and hood. I had to do double takes with the first few photos to make sure it wasn’t a sealed resin. Ride height looks spot on too.

  3. Wes says:

    At $269USD + shipping I think it’s a tad overpriced. I saw a bunch of paint mismatch on the pics they posted ans lots of the panels had paint chips on the edges. I see just one on yours, where the front of the hood meets the bumper on the passenger side. Shutlines are nice but the door thing is disappointing and I don’t like the hood gap where it meets the headlights. It’s almost like the shapes don’t line up there? I think it should be around $200. For $269 it’s more than I paid for any of my Motorhelix models, which is crazy to think.

    • Karsten says:

      Keen eye to spot the only paint chip ! But yes, it´s true.

      Concerning the pricing, this needs to be put into perspective IMO.

      First of all, prices have quadrupled over the past 20 years: The Kyosho Countach was 60€ (!) fifteen years ago and its largely unchanged re-release 225€ two years ago. The BBR LaFerrari was 300€ in 2020 and is now at 470€. The hobby has become expensive, all prices inflated.

      This DB12 cost me 246.40€ (including shipping and all). The Autoart DBS Superleggera cost me 240€ (in other words, about the same. The Motorhelix Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA cost me 265€, the GTAm 280€, so let´s say about the same in the sub-300€ category as the DBS.

      To my mind, all in all, this DB12 is not worse than AA´s DBS, notably better in some categories … and diecast metal while AA promised the composite method to offer price advantages over diecast metal.

      The Motorhelix Alfas may be in the same price range, but quality-wise they clearly play in the 300€plus league on par with former Award Winners like the BBR LaFerrari. Superior quality is why it comfortably leads over the much more expensive Almost Real Zonda Cinque Roadster (370€) and AA´s Goldfinger Aston Martin DB5 (330€) in our current MOTY polls by quite a margin, although it does not have the added bonus of being a lusted after hypercar. When did we last see that? When did a sub-300€ model last take the award?

      In other words, I find the comparison to the Motorhelix, a fairly priced model amongst generally overprized competition, not really fair. That´s why I supplied links to earlier reviews of the DB11 and DBS Superleggera … to compare apples with apples.

      • spikyone says:

        I’m not inclined to be as kind as the review and I agree with Wes. This looks a bit clumsy and heavy handed to me, like a DB12 with middle aged spread. In some areas (especially over the rear arches) it just seems to carry too much visual weight and looks dumpy rather than taut.

        Owning the gorgeous AA DBS Superleggera, the AA looks much better to me. The shut lines on this DB12 are nowhere near as good, with some panel edges looking quite rough in those photos, and as Wes mentioned there is noticeable misalignment on the bonnet. Add to that the weird black outline around the windscreen – even if you’re not an expert on the 1:1 it looks terrible and is clearly wrong.

        This is a step up from their last effort, the dismal DB5, but it’s wildly overpriced and still leaves a lot to be desired. Norev are putting out better models that look far more accurate for shape, for less than half the price.

        • Karsten says:

          Comparing apples with apples rather than oranges, you may come to your own conclusions. As a British cars and Aston Martin enthusiast I have bought and keep the Auto World DBS and Welly DB9, compared to which this definitely deserves its space.
          For those who wish to make a different choice, I have delineated the alternatives available in the foreseeable future: GT Spirit or nothing.

          These are the options on the table and everyone can make their individual choice. Happy collecting!

          • spikyone says:

            Understand completely that this is one of only two options. I’m not actually a fan of GT Spirit as they usually mess up the shape of their models, but in this case for shape and proportion I think their version is better than the Xiaoguang.

            Comparing apples with apples isn’t really relevant – even without comparison to other models I don’t think this stands up to scrutiny. But if we were comparing, I’m happy to display a Norev 992 GT3 that cost me £100, whereas I couldn’t display this. If nobody else releases one in future, I’d buy the GT Spirit.

            • Karsten says:

              You make your choices, I make mine, rest of the readers make their’s, plain and simple.Thanks for sharing your view!

  4. Mike Wiseman says:

    Give this manufacturer credit for making the controls on the lower side of the center console actually appear functional… Autoarts effort is insulting on that particular detail.

  5. Scenic's View says:

    Great review! I have to say, I was tempted to get it in dark metallic green but I can’t justify paying the premium price they are asking for it. I love that they provide you with an optional wheel set that you can swap easily. I wish all the other brands did it too!

  6. Aaron says:

    What a treat it would be if they did the Valkyrie AMR Pro in fully opening 1/18 in the future

  7. Karsten says:

    Given the fact that they are an Aston Martin licensee, they might. AA have had time enough to announce it, but haven ´t. as yet. So maybe they give the Valkyrie a pass too.

  8. Ali says:

    The engine execution is a big let down and deal breaker. Just check the recent releases from LCD and Motorhelix, their Nissans, Hondas among others, and it’s clear that Xiao Guang should have done better. For 120~150, maybe. But for 250 plus, it’s just not worth.

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