The Aston Martin DBS is sleek, strong, handsome, and accomplished - after all, it has already starred in the latest James Bond movie. It seems to us that this car has been around forever, but we still have yet to actually get behind the wheel. The anticipation will soon be reaching a climax, with the car being shown at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September.
Aston Martin describes the DBS as a link between the DB9 and the DBR9/DBRS9 race cars; all of the vehicles are built on the same VH architecture. The colossal 6.0-liter V-12 engine from the DB9 is tweaked to produce an additional 50 horsepower in the DBS, for a total of 510 hp. The torque output stays the same, at a capable 420 lb-ft. The DBS races from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.3 seconds, and on to a top speed of 191 mph, five ticks faster than a DB9. Part of that performance gain is thanks to the baby fat that was trimmed away from the DB9, leaving the DBS at a (relatively) slim 3737 pounds.
Other pieces of the car have been upgraded as well. The new suspension uses an Adaptive Damping System, which automatically adjusts to respond to all driver inputs. The car also has new Carbon Ceramic Matrix brakes, which is a first for an Aston Martin road car.
The real advantage that the DBS has over other its exotic competition is its charming good looks. Unlike more extroverted supercars like Ferraris and Lamborghinis, the Aston is quietly sophisticated. Yet we still feel a magnetic attraction to the car, as if there was some unknown British magic drawing us to the curves of its panels.
Pricing for the DBS hasn't been released, but it will certainly be in "if you have to ask you can't afford it" territory. For those who do have the means, you can drive away with the coolest Bond gadget of all in early 2008.