Aston Martin unveils sharply-dressed DBS Superleggera

DESPITE what others may say about fedoras, singlets and thongs, or skinny jeans, the pinnacle of men’s fashion has long been the enduring and classic suit.

Double breasted, slim fit or tuxedo, no matter the occasion, a suit can always class up proceedings – just ask Aston Martin.

With the reveal of the DBS Superleggera grand tourer, Aston’s self-proclaimed ‘brute in a suit’ aims to take the sharpness of the DB11 V12 and add a touch of refinement to the equation.

Priced at $517,000 before on-roads, all 25 Australian allocated Aston Martin DBS Supperleggeras are already accounted for, even before its public unveiling late last month.

Just 25 examples of the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera will touch down on Australian soil from late October this year, each costing $517,000 before on-road costs and each of them already sold.

Although powered by the same 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 petrol engine found in its cheaper DB11 AMR sibling, the DBS Superleggera amps up outputs by 63kW/200Nm to a staggering 533kW/900Nm.

Aston Martin’s latest really does justify the extra $89,000 over the $428,000 DB11 AMR then, and even manages to easily outgun the likes of other grand tourers such as 467kW/820Nm Bentley Continental GT Speed, 441kW/680Nm BMW M6, 507kW/697Nm Ferrari GTC4Lusso and 430kW/900Nm Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupe.

Power comes from a twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 engine, belting out a sizeable 533kW/900Nm for a zippy 3.4 second 0-100km/h time.

With outputs send to the road via the rear wheels and eight-speed ZF torque-convertor automatic transmission, the DBS Superleggera can shoot to 100km/h from a standstill in just 3.4 seconds and max out at a licence-losing 340km/h.

Keeping weight down, the DBS Superleggera sports carbon-fibre body panels – barring the aluminium doors that are shared with the V12-powered DB11 – and a bonded aluminium sub-structure to tip the scales at 1693kg.

Bringing the latest Aston to a stop is a carbon-ceramic package with 410mm discs and six-piston callipers on the front axle, and 360mm rotors and four-pot grabbers in the rear.

A limited-slip differential will help get power down to the ground, but sticky Pirelli P-Zero tyres wrapped around the monster 21-inch wheels will certainly help too.

A mechanical limited-slip differential with torque vectoring helps put the power down the tarmac, while the eye-catching aerodynamic package pushes 180kg of downforce onto the rear axle at top speed.

Three driving modes are on offer – GT, Sport and Sport Plus – which tweak the adaptive dampers between soft, medium and hard, while the suspension is taken care of by a double-wishbone front and mult-link rear set-up.

21-inch wheels are fitted to all four corners, shod in staggered Pirelli P-Zero tyres measuring 265/35 up front and 305/30 in the rear.

Occupants inside the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera may find some of the switchgear familiar as the 8.0-inch infotainment screen and controller knob are lifted straight from a Mercedes-Benz.

Quad exhaust outlets reveal the DBS Superleggera’s performance credentials, while styling tweaks range from a gaping honeycomb front grille, front wheelarch vents and side strakes to a Formula 1-inspired rear diffuser.

In a first for an Aston model, the derriere forgoes the usual winged-badge of the brand in favour of spelling out the British sportscar-makers full name.

Stepping into the GT, occupants are greeted with four seats swathed in leather and Alcantara upholstery, while the 8.0-inch infotainment system and touchpad controller will be familiar to Mercedes-Benz fans.

With 63kW/200Nm more than Aston Martin’s V12-powered DB11 on which it is based, the DBS Superleggera more than makes up for the $89,000 more expensive pricetag.

Standard kit includes satellite navigation, digital radio, keyless entry, surround-view monitor, park assist, tyre-pressure monitoring system, heated front pews and Bluetooth/USB connectivity.

Far from the first Aston to wear the DBS badge, the nameplate first appeared in 1967 as a successor to the gorgeous DB6.

Powered by a 4.0-litre straight-six engine, the original DBS produced 209kW of power and 390Nm of torque, but could up be upped to 242kW with an option to switch to Italian-made Weber carburettors.

Originally debuting in 1967, the first Aston Martin DBS was powered by a 4.0-litre straight-six engine producing 209kW/390Nm.

In production for five years, the British sportscar-maker also made available a V8 version in 1969 that was the fastest production four-seater in the world at the time.

Swapping out the six for a free-breathing 5.3-litre bent eight meant peak 239kW of power and 330Nm of torque. The DBS was then remained the Aston Martin V8, with over 4000 built until 1989.

The DBS name would not return until 2007 and the introduction of the DB9-based DBS V12 made famous by the James Bond film Casino Royale that released in the same year.

Aston Martin’s DBS V12 released in 2007 with a 5.9-litre free-breathing V12 tuned to 380kW of power and 570Nm of torque.

Like its name suggests the first modern-era DBS was powered by a 5.9-litre V12 engine, belting out 380kW/570NM to the rear wheels for a zero to 100km/h sprint time of 4.3s.

With around 3400 examples built throughout its five-year lifespan, actor Jason Statham famously owns one, while the car was famously flipped seven times in its aforementioned Casino Royale movie debut.

Looking at history, the DBS Superleggera easily shoulders the mantle of high-end, high-performing Aston Martin grand tourers, which bodes well for the 25 lucky customers who have already snapped one up.

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