Aston Martin DBS: Secret Agent Style, Super Weapon Power

Motoring Channel Staff - 17/August/2007

Gaydon, England — The Aston Martin DBS has broken cover, a performance car "that bridges the gap between our road and track cars – the DB9 and DBR9" says Ulrich Bez, CEO of the bespoke sports car company.

With its sinuous style and powerful silhouette, the latest Aston Martin is a sight for sore eyes, but more than delivering what could be one of the most attractive sports car designs in the world, the new model is also terrifyingly powerful.

Underneath the large engine hood is a hand-built V12 displacing 6.0-litres, developing enough power to propel the British super car to 100km/h in a rapid-fire 4.3 seconds. It has a top speed of 302km/h (191mph) and will turn countless heads wherever it travels.

Aston Martin's chief executive officer, Dr Ulrich Bez, talked up the dynamic qualities of the new luxury sports car: "The DBS is the ultimate expression of Aston Martin's engineering and technical ability. It offers pure performance without compromise. The DBS delivers the complete driving experience and bridges the gap between our road and track cars – the DB9 and DBR9."

The DBS gained a huge promotional boost after it was seen (and trashed) in a conceptual form  in the James Bond 007 film Casino Royale, and befitting a secret agent the car is as stylish and luxurious as it is powerful.

Built with light-weight carbon fibre body work, a first for an Aston, the car is still however one of the heavier super cars on the market at1695kg (3737lb). In contrast, the Ferrari F430 weighs less than  1450kg. Aston Martin devotees will argue that no other brand of sports car delivers the kind of luxury features and comforts, and we're not going to argue there - the DBS is one of the most opulently finished cars ever built.

Stitched semi-aniline leather and suede covers almost every conceivable surface of the cabin, there's carbon-fibre door pulls, plus satellite navigation and a tub-thumping 700 Watt audio system with Dolby Pro Logic II and inbuilt MP3 playerconnectivity. Together with a push-button operated 5-way adjustable suspension system, the DBS is a car collectors wet dream.

Revealed at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California, and receiving its official launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show ('07) the new model will be on sale in early 2008 and pricing will be steep.

Update: Dr. Ulrich Bez, the main man at Aston Martin, let the cat out of the bag before it's Frankfurt debut in Germany, telling journalists at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California, "...this is a car which will cost, in America, $265,000". That translates to about A$333,000, but if it comes to Australia expect a price far higher than this.

V12 Engine

At the heart of the DBS is a 6.0-litre V12 engine. The DBR9 and DBRS9 race cars are powered by an enhanced version of this same V12, tuned to produce in excess of 600hp. This model develops 380kW or 510hp, and the full vital statistics are as follows:

 380kW @ 6500rpm
 570Nm @ 5750rpm
 0-100km/h: 4.3 seconds
Top Speed: 302km/h (191mph)

The all-alloy V12 engine displaces 6.0-litres (5935cc), has 48-valves, and a 10.9:1 combustion ration. The engine is front-mid mounted (behind the front axle) and power reaches the rear-wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox. The exhaust meanwhile is a fully catalysed stainless steel system with active bypass valves.

As with all current Aston Martins, the engine is hand-assembled at Aston Martin's dedicated engine facility in Cologne, Germany. The classic 6.0-litre V12 features a number of power-increasing enhancements such as a 'by-pass' engine air intake port that opens above 5500rpm to allow more air into the engine, and re-profiled air inlet ports that further improve airflow into the combustion chamber.

Exotic Design

The Aston Martin DBS has a "powerful, flowing form that fuses the visual language of the DBR9 GT1 race car with the innate elegance of the DB series" according to the British car company. Lower and leaner than any other Aston Martin production model, the DBS has flared wheel arches accommodating standard 20-inch wheels and tyres:

 Front: 8.5-inch x 20-inch Pirelli P Zero 245/35
 Rear: 11-inch x 20-inch Pirelli P Zero 295/30

The external detailing reflects the power and dynamic abilities of the DBS, with revised inlets and enlarged grilles that deliver more air into the engine and increase its cooling capacity. Subtle design details include a new five-bar design for the polished alloy main grille, as well as two additional vents in the enlarged power bulge on the carbon-fibre bonnet. 

The DBS's aerodynamic enhancements are shaped by Aston Martin's racing experience explains the company. A carbon-fibre splitter and a new front bumper design help channel airflow around the car’s wider bodywork. The aerodynamics team worked hand in hand with the modelling team to ensure that the forms and surfaces of DBS were sculpted for inherent stability at high speeds.

The widened front and rear track improve handling and give the car a more muscular character. To accommodate this additional width, the surfaces of the wings have been sculpted and re-shaped with harder lines, which also serve to emphasise the car's strength and power. The lowered ride height is accentuated by the enhanced side sills, carefully profiled to improve aerodynamic performance and reduce drag along the flanks. The iconic Aston Martin side strake, a design feature of every DB car since the DB4, has been redesigned for the DBS and now incorporates a side repeater formed by a bank of LEDs.

Improved aerodynamics shape the rear of the DBS, where the more prominent boot spoiler is carefully incorporated into the carbon-fibre boot lid. The car's flat undertray helps to improve the aerodynamics of the underbody surface and culminates in a new carbon-fibre rear diffuser, another feature carried over from the race cars. This device creates an area of low pressure beneath the rear of the car, reducing lift and improving high-speed stability without the need for large, unsightly external spoilers. The new one-piece diffuser also incorporates the DBS’s large and distinctive twin exhaust tailpipes.

Sports Chassis

With an aluminium frame composed of cast and extruded components, bonded together to create an immensely strong underlying structure, the DBS has a rigid body, and to take full advantage of its extremely precise and rigid platform, the DBS employs a new and sophisticated Adaptive Damping System (ADS) which uses two separate valves to set the dampers to five different positions. This allowing instant adjustment of the car's ride and handling characteristics. 

The ADS automatically alters the suspension settings to ensure the driver has high levels of control at all times, with the ability to respond instantly to different driving conditions. The dampers can be softer, with a corresponding improvement in ride quality, or firmer, providing improved body control for more spirited driving.

The damper settings are determined by an electronic control unit which takes sensor readings from the car’s systems, including throttle position, brake position, steering wheel rotation and vehicle speed. This data establishes the prevailing driving conditions and the demands the driver is making on the car. A designated 'Track' mode automatically sets all dampers to their firmest positions, making it ideal for circuit driving.

The car's braking system features another innovation, the first time Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) brakes have been used on a road-going Aston Martin. The end result is shorter stopping distances with excellent resistance to fade in even the most demanding driving conditions. CCM brakes are also some 12.5kg lighter than a conventional system, reducing the weight of the car overall and, in particular, the unsprung weight and rotational masses, further enhancing the performance of the suspension.

Luxury Interior

As an option the DBS may be equipped with specially developed lightweight seats, though they won't be available in North American markets. These feature a carbon-fibre and Kevlar composite structure and are manufactured by a supplier to the motorsport and aviation industries before being returned to Aston Martin’s Gaydon factory for hand-trimming. The structure is created by sandwiching a layer of Kevlar between two layers of carbon-fibre with the outer finish left exposed on the seat backs, lacquered to create a durable and attractive finish.

The combination of Kevlar and carbon-fibre provides crucial weight saving by allowing the structure of the seat to be incredibly slim: between 2.5mm and 3mm. Overall, the trimmed seat provides a weight saving of 20kg. The lightweight seats are a fixed structure, but can be adjusted for rake as well as sliding fore and aft.

Standard features include semi-aniline leather and Alcantara interior, matrix alloy fascia trim and Iridium Silver centre console finish. There's carbon fibre door trims and door pulls, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, sports seats with 10-way electric adjustment, including height, tilt and lumbar. An automatic temperature control, organic electroluminescent displays, a trip computer and cruise control are also included, as is as hard disk drive satellite navigation system and Bluetooth telephone preparation. Buyers in the UK can also get a tracking device, and there's even a boot-mounted umbrella.

The DBS start sequence blends tradition with high technology and a touch of theatre as well. The ignition ECU (Emotion Control Unit) has evolved into a machined and highly tactile polished sapphire ECU, incorporating a stainless steel inner case. Resembling a fine wristwatch or a piece of contemporary sculptural jewellery, this sapphire ECU epitomises the spirit of the DBS.

To operate the car, the sapphire ECU is inserted into a special docking station in Aston Martin's signature dashboard-mounted sapphire starter button, and glows red to indicate when the car is ready to start. The engine is fired by pressing the ECU flush with the surface of the starter button. After pressing to stop the engine, the ECU automatically motors out of the dashboard for removal.

The start sequence of the DBS is augmented by an all-new centre console design with a cast metal surround, crisp typography and new graphics. The new console has a traditional dial-face clock at the centre, flanked by two rotary controls for the heating and air-conditioning system, fashioned from solid, turned aluminium.

Related articles:
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster (2007)
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage (2005)
- Aston Martin DB7 Zagato (2003)