An Aston Martin Rapide S is pictured. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Changes under the car's sinuous skin are comprehensive, with the new AM11 naturally-aspirated 6.0-liter V12 powerplant delivering unprecedented power and improved in-gear acceleration.

Output jumps significantly versus the previous V12: power is up by 17%, or 81 PS, from 477 PS at 6,000 rpm to an unprecedented 558 PS at 6,750 rpm.

Peak torque increases, too, up from 600 Nm to 620 Nm at 5,500 rpm. Meanwhile an even more marked improvement in torque occurs lower down the rev range, as pulling power rises by more than 40 Nm between idle and 4,000 rpm with an additional 50 Nm available at 2,500 rpm.