DBS [Official] Aston Martin DBS Superleggera

Deleted member 1071 · Jun 27, 2018

SCOTT27 said:
You need to understand it is not personal. But I find Khan customisation to be up there with the nonsense such as Liberty Walk.

Fair enough.

martinbo · Jun 27, 2018

Ironic that if it wasn't for the DB11 this car wouldn't look as good as it does. Poor ol' much-maligned DB11 - the fundamental design donor to this DBS - is just not fully appreciated for its svelte sophistication. Sure, the DB11 does have some controversial features (I for one have no issue with those gorgeously slim U-bend taillights) namely the floating roof theme and wheel arch vent and yet these self-same features cop less criticism on the DBS. Possibly because there's better cohesion of these elements on the more aggressively turned out DBS.

Do I think the DBS looks better than the DB11? Undoubtedly. Do I think the DBS looks better for the DB11. Undeniably.

Aston do have their mojo back. At least at this end of the range. The Vantage, I feel, is an eyesore in comparison which only manages to look good in glossy black.

Deleted member 1071 · Jun 27, 2018

Will Bentley respond with a (circa) 780HP Continental GT Supersport eHybrid (650 HP 4.0L V8 Biturbo + 130HP electric motor) ?

Oh yes...I actually quite like the new Vantage (save the front grill and funky rear diffusor).

bmwz4coupe · Jun 27, 2018

The back is a little Porsche Boxster, yes. But a stunning car, love it!

Matski · Jun 27, 2018

martinbo said:
The Vantage, I feel, is an eyesore in comparison which only manages to look good in glossy black.

Thanks to not having these design elements....

martinbo said:
namely the floating roof theme and wheel arch vent

I find the Vantage a much easier design to like, personally.

martinbo · Jun 27, 2018

Matski said:
Thanks to not having these design elements....
I find the Vantage a much easier design to like, personally.

In contrast, for me there are a number of design elements that don't work well for me:
- the catfish-like visage courtesy of: gaping maw grille, flat bonnet and non-descript headlights
- the crinkled confluence of the front wing, side gill and flank surfacing
- the incomplete-looking integration of the exhaust outlets with the rear valance

Matski · Jun 27, 2018

martinbo said:
In contrast, for me there are a number of design elements that don't work well for me:
- the catfish-like visage courtesy of: gaping maw grille, flat bonnet and non-descript headlights
- the crinkled confluence of the front wing, side gill and flank surfacing
- the incomplete-looking integration of the exhaust outlets with the rear valance

I'll give you the headlamps look a bit generic 90's Japanese. But I think the rest of the styling is truer to some of the more fluid design elements that I like about DB7-era-and-onwards Aston Martin styling, and I think criticisms about the gaping grille and rear diffuser area/exhaust implementation of the Vantage could equally be levelled at this DBS Ragionevolmente leggero also.

Neither Vantage nor DB11/DBS would find their way into my ultimate garage to be honest, and whether looking at these options or towards Italian offerings, I'd have to say that I prefer the slightly older models to the current ones... which is a trend I find with most new cars discussed here to be honest - so maybe it's just me gettin' old.

mihc · Jun 27, 2018

Can anyone tell me, this 5,2L V12 was it made by Aston or AMG? I know the V8 is from AMG, but this V12 I don't know...

martinbo · Jun 27, 2018

mihc said:
Can anyone tell me, this 5,2L V12 was it made by Aston or AMG? I know the V8 is from AMG, but this V12 I don't know...

This is Aston's own "in-house developed" engine.

Matski · Jun 27, 2018

mihc said:
Can anyone tell me, this 5,2L V12 was it made by Aston or AMG? I know the V8 is from AMG, but this V12 I don't know...

Further development of Aston's New in house AE31 V12.

Centurion · Jun 27, 2018

Jimmy said:
Will Bentley respond with a (circa) 780HP Continental GT Supersport eHybrid (650 HP 4.0L V8 Biturbo + 130HP electric motor) ?

Oh yes...I actually quite like the new Vantage (save the front grill and funky rear diffusor).

The new Continental GT is like the 928 successor that Porsche is refusing to build. With an sport gearbox, refined engines and world class suspension it has what it takes to be a very sporty GT. However it's heavy on the bacon and is almost 550kg heavier than the DBS. If Bentley strip it aggressively the GT3-R version could be 200kg lighter.

CrunchSlaughtered · Jun 27, 2018

Matski said:
Further development of Aston's New in house AE31 V12.

Isn't it developed by Cosworth and produced in Cologne by Ford

cracker123 · Jun 27, 2018

Headlights are killing the look of the car from the front and side. I looks like the outgoing Vantage. Does not have the stance of the current Vanquish.

Matski · Jun 27, 2018

CrunchSlaughtered said:
Isn't it developed by Cosworth and produced in Colonge by Ford

Not sure on the Cosworth front, I'd wondered if there was some basic architecture commonality with the Cosworth V12 being developed for the Valkyrie (it's quite oversquare I thought, good for high revving), or if it was simply a development of an older engine - in either case it's probably Cosworth related in some form though I do seem to remember Aston making a big deal about it being one they'd developed... I guess it depends on if they mean 'developed' from a scratch, or 'developed' from another engine. AFAIK the engine plant in Cologne is ex-Ford and now operated by Aston Martin.

Could be wrong on both counts, wouldn't know without looking into it.

SCOTT27 · Jun 27, 2018

Love the new DBS.
I would love to see The M8 evolve into something this brutal.

KiwiRob · Jun 27, 2018

Matski said:
Not sure on the Cosworth front, I'd wondered if there was some basic architecture commonality with the Cosworth V12 being developed for the Valkyrie (it's quite oversquare I thought, good for high revving), or if it was simply a development of an older engine - in either case it's probably Cosworth related in some form though I do seem to remember Aston making a big deal about it being one they'd developed... I guess it depends on if they mean 'developed' from a scratch, or 'developed' from another engine. AFAIK the engine plant in Cologne is ex-Ford and now operated by Aston Martin.

Could be wrong on both counts, wouldn't know without looking into it.

Here's all the info on the Engine Plant Production of DB11’s new V12 begins at the Aston Martin Engine Plant

20 June 2016, Cologne, Germany: The introduction of a new Aston Martin engine is always something special. When that engine has been created for a new Aston Martin model it’s a true landmark. Today at the Aston Martin Engine Plant (AMEP) in Cologne, Germany, just such a landmark has been reached with the DB11’s new 5.2L twin-turbo V12 entering full production.

Designed in-house this new engine develops 608PS and 700Nm of torque, making DB11 the most powerful production DB model ever. It’s also the fastest and most accelerative, too, with a top speed of 200mph and a 0-62mph time of just 3.9sec., while intelligent cylinder bank activation and stop-start technology ensures that potency is matched by greatly improved efficiency.

Opened in 2004, the AMEP is a dedicated, state-of-the-art facility created solely for the production of Aston Martin power plants. Workplace for over 100 highly-trained employees, the 12,500 sq metre production hall is divided into four distinct areas: One for the machining of the engines’ cylinder blocks, one to machine cylinder heads, an assembly area where a team of specialist technicians meticulously hand-build the engines and one for receiving components and shipping completed engines. Production of the 6.0L V12 and 4.7L V8 engines will continue at AMEP.

To ensure the highest levels of quality and consistency, one engine assembly technician will build each engine, following the process through from start to finish. It takes a total of 8 hours to build one V12 engine and the AMEP has a production capacity of 8,000 engines a year. Once completed, each engine undergoes stringent cold and hot testing within the AMEP facility, and only when it has satisfied the various test criteria is it released for shipment to the Aston Martin Headquarters in Gaydon.

Brian Fitzsimons, Aston Martin Chief Engineer, Powertrain, says of the new engine entering production: “To see this new engine go into full production at AMEP makes me very proud. Designing and developing the 5.2L twin-turbo power plant has been an all-consuming passion for me and my team. Knowing that the end result would be built with meticulous care in a truly state-of-the-art facility such as AMEP was an added motivation. It’s a hugely exciting time to be an engineer at Aston Martin, not least because this is just the beginning for the new twin-turbo V12”.

Dr Andy Palmer, Aston Martin President and CEO, commented: “AMEP is one of our great success stories and one of the jewels in the Aston Martin crown. To have the ability to design and then manufacture our own high-performance engines in-house is something very special. It gives us ultimate control of quality and that all-important character for which Aston Martin cars are renowned. I have no doubts that our new twin-turbo V12 is the start of an even greater era of success”.

Recommended Retail Price from £154,900 in the UK, €204,900 in Germany and $211,995 in USA, first deliveries of the DB11 are scheduled to begin during the fourth quarter of 2016.