If you’re looking for the next James Bond car, this will probably be it. It’s the 2018 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera. And boy does it look ravishing.
The DBS Superleggera brings back a nameplate from the classic era, made up of the DB4, 5 and 6, whereby the Superleggera badge was applied in reference to the lightweight construction formula. And today, the same philosophy applies.
Although it might look ravishingly attractive, the body of the new DBS Superleggera is made from carbon fibre to help keep weight to a minimum. Based on the DB11 means the foundations are more about luxury grand touring and speed as opposed to outright agility and lightness. So, trimming some weight should create an awesome driving experience.
Like the DB11, the DBS Superleggera uses a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 engine to deliver a majestically empowering 534kW (725PS) and 900Nm of gob-smacking torque. This is enough to conquer 0-100km/h in just 3.4 seconds, with 0-160km/h coming up in 6.4 seconds, with a top speed of 340kW (211mph).
You can tell this machine is more about the driving than simply pampering luxury. Check out the exterior. It features special fins and unique vents, with a big chunky diffuser for the rear, with the curlicue and Aeroblade systems borrowed from the DB11. At top speed, this thing will generate up to 180kg of downforce to help push the car onto the tarmac for increased grip.
For the driver there’s a swift-shifting eight-speed automatic from ZF, sending power to a mechanical limited-slip differential at the rear. Aston Martin says the differential provides torque vectoring for cornering precision, and a lower gear ratio for punchy acceleration.
There’s a choice of two different wheel options for customers, including a Y spoke forged option and a twin-spoke forged option. In either case, they measure in at 21 inches and are wrapped in Pirelli tyres that were specially developed for the DBS Superleggera.
As for the interior, well, it’s a place of fine quality and craftsmanship, with intricate stitching holding the leather and Alcantara together, with a main LCD screen for the multimedia controls. Drivers also get to play with a drive mode select toggle offering three modes; GT, Sport and Sport Plus. Dr Andy Palmer, Aston Martin CEO, said:
“Thanks to the remarkable torque available from its twin-turbo V12, DBS Superleggera also packs a breath-taking punch, yet its dynamics have been carefully honed to engage drivers of all ability levels. Immaculately styled, obsessively engineered and outrageously potent, the new DBS Superleggera is every inch the Aston Martin flagship.”
Interested punters can get ready to make their orders now, with the first deliveries locked in for the third quarter for Europe and USA, with Australia to follow a few months after. Prices kick off at EUR 274,995 in Europe, US$304,995 in the USA, and AU$517,000 here in Australia. The DBS joins the recently-introduced V8 Vantage in the refreshed showroom.
