YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE

The underwhelming DB11 has been given a new lease of life...can the new 'super tourer' DB12 right all of its wrongs?

- OLLIE MARRIAGE

IT'S 4AM AND MONACO, THE VAMPIRE PRINCIPALITY THAT COMES OUT TO PLAY AT NIGHT, IS DEATHLY QUIET.

Maybe they all overdid it at the weekend. That was the Grand Prix. This is the aftermath. I weave past lorries, forklifts and workmen, all out here stripping the Fl-woz-ere evidence from the scene. Monaco clearly doesn't want this unsightly spectacle happening during the day, so the teams operate like grave robbers, creeping around in the dark.

The DB12 weaves through. I can already tell it has fundamentally moved the game on from the DB11. Amazing what you can learn about damping from a speed bump. The composed compression and slick rebound, the tight control of the body, it bodes well for what comes later. But cars like this spend their lives in cities, so that's where I'm starting. With a twist.

Fernando Alonso sent his AMR23 round here in just 71.449secs during qualifying. Aston needs its road cars to build on its current sporting success, so let's see how the DB12 fares on a Monaco GP city/track test then.

The twin-turbo V8 burbles peacefully up the hill from Sainte Devote to Massenet. Enough to make its presence felt, but not raucous. I waft past the first of four police cars before sweeping cautiously into Casino Square. Someone shoots me an appraising glance, then turns away - presumably having worked out she'd have more chance of a customer if this was a Lamborghini. The DB12 feels taut and athletic from Mirabeau down to Portier, there's little sag in the suspension, it's behaving confidently. More importantly, Aston has cleared out the area between door mirror and A-pillar, so you've actually got better visibility in tight turns and at junctions. I see the scooter at the Grand Hotel Hairpin when he clearly doesn't see me.