What do I mean by this? Well, the 510bhp 2-seater can be pushed to over 300km/h and sprint to 100km/h in just over four seconds. Yet , it is so easy to drive that it actually redefines the supercar category it finds itself in. As Dr. Ulrich Bez, the ceo of Aston Martin conferred to me, “A supercar that does not offer slow driving satisfaction as well as rougher road capability is not very super is it?” I suppose not.
To achieve such a feat you would expect compromises or concessions. Yet there are none. The DBS suspension is supple yet firm, its exterior brawny yet lithe, its interior luxurious yet sporty, its character extreme yet accessible. Indeed, this car raises the excellent argument of ability being useless without the potential for use.
The DBS has boundless power that is always accessible in a confidence-inspiring ride. So while the Ferrari 599 may be faster, the Mercedes CL65 more powerful and the Porsche Carrera GT2 lighter; this car offers real world driving capability in a package that actually flatters the most incapable of drivers. Somehow it does not deserve to be compared to other cars and here’s why.
Some things in life are so special they deserve their own definition, their own set of rules, their own parameters. A Cezanne painting may be similar in price to a Monet but that does not make them comparable. Each is a masterpiece in its own right with unique personalities, strengths and weaknesses. And if you are fortunate enough to afford such a masterpiece, you certainly wouldn't be in two minds as to which you would buy, whichever it may be. And so it goes with the modern supercar. Each one offers something unique and appealing and it is more a question of a particular car complementing you enough to warrant handing over a sum in excess of a quarter-of-a- million dollars.
Aston Martin is already an exclusive brand producing only around 7,000 cars a year. But the new DBS represents its halo product taking exclusivity to a whole new level. Replacing the late Vanquish as the top car in the range, its price tag is a hefty 270,000 USD and production will be around 500 units a year. So few can afford one and few will ever even see one. But if a lucky bystander does catch sight of this rare beauty will he understand how special it is? Probably not.
And herein lies DBS’s greatest setback. It looks too similar to the DB9 which is now available with a Sports Pack option that offers a 6-speed manual gearbox and more race-tuned characteristics. Worst of all, the DB9 costs a massive 95,000 USD less. That is the equivalent of a top-of-the-line Supercharged Range Rover.
So is the DBS worth it? Definitely. I have driven both cars and while the DB9 is an accomplished and gorgeous car, the DBS offers carbon-ceramic brakes, a better gearbox, more accurate steering, quieter insulation, better seats that offer more headroom, a more raucous exhaust note, iPod compatibility, an integrated key fob, less weight and more exclusive materials all round just no name a few.
The DBS really feels lighter and smaller than it is giving you the confidence to flick it around winding roads even with the traction control turned off. Your neck muscles capitulate to the G-forces as the sound of the exhaust provides aural bliss. This really is a grand touring car that will honourably serve as a long distance cruiser but it can equally be pushed around a track. All you need do is switch on the harder suspension setting control and you are ready to race. Watch out though, if you do too many track days the carbon-ceramic brakes will need replacement, costing you an arm and a leg.
The interior, like all Astons these days, is beautifully finished and this model comes with many carbon fibre accents as well as two-tone Alcantara and leather-lined seats. There are a host of colours to choose from and, of course, you can order a bespoke colour scheme should Aston not have what you are looking for. Don’t expect any rear seats, though, since Aston decided to do away with those post-traumatic-rip-me-out-with-the-aid-of-a-physio style bucket seats and replace them with parcel shelves.
As for the exterior, I witnessed the DBS in a host of colours including Aston Martin Racing Green, Casino Royale Grey, Lightning Silver and Infra-Red. The red is obviously the one I finally chose for my brief fling. And it was no ordinary red. My DBS would switch from vibrant hues in the sun to a more mellow Bordeaux in the shade which I think best honours the character of the car. In any case, a vehicle of this stature deserves a more interesting palette and not the usual and limiting black or white.
The Aston Martin DBS is a rolling work of art that possesses such beauty that you can while away the hours just standing and admiring it from various angles. Yet it also has substance. Yes, it may be based on the DB9 but it has been fine tuned using the know-how of the DBR9 that dominated the GT1 category at Le Mans in 2007. Firstly, the 6.0 litre V12 engine has been boosted from 450bhp to 510bhp by engaging a higher compression ratio. And no need to worry about the fact that the outdated Vanquish S had 520bhp because the DBS carries 65kg less than the DB9 and 140kg less than the Vanquish S. To put this all into perspective, the Vanquish S lapped the Nurburgring in 8mns and 13secs; the DBS laps it in 7mns and 51secs breaking the all elusive 8-minute mark with ease.
The weight loss, obviously, has helped make it fast, which was achieved from the use of carbon fibre. Its bonnet, boot lid and various internal panels are made from the material. As are the front and rear wings which are especially widened to give a broader stance. But the definitive carbon fibre show-stopper is the rear diffuser that helps keep the DBS grounded at speed.
The look of the DBS is unquestionably an aggressive one with 20-inch wheels wearing specially engineered Pirelli P Zero tyres. Then there are the vents and gaps and generally menacing apertures that are there to help keep the beast cool when pushed. But again the greatest problem for the DBS may be too close to home as many may prefer the more subtle and effortless lines of the DB9.
Obviously with a car in this price bracket most options have already been fitted as standard but there is one worth spending on that will offer a genuine James Bond experience. Go for the 35,000 USD Jaeger LeCoultre AMVOX wristwatch and you will be able to lock, unlock and even start up the engine of your brand new DBS. Your friends and neighbours will surely never grow old of that party trick!
Now it is my belief that there is no such thing as a perfect car, but the Aston Martin DBS comes pretty close. Whether or not it is worth the price, the company is asking for really depends on your financial means. But one thing is for sure, the potential for perfection will always outweigh actual contradictions. So go on spoil yourself; you definitely will not regret it.
