Aston Martin DBS V12

This article is about the new Aston Martin DBS. For the classic, 1967 to 1972 GT car, see Aston Martin DBS.

Aston Martin DBS V12

Manufacturer	Aston Martin Lagonda Limited
Production	2007–present
Assembly	Gaydon, England
Predecessor	Aston Martin Vanquish S
Class	Sports Grand tourer
Body style	2-door coupé
Layout	FR layout
Platform	Aston Martin VH platform
Engine	6.0 L V12
Related	Aston Martin DB9
Designer	Marek Reichman

The modern Aston Martin DBS is a high performance GT sports car from the UK manufacturer Aston Martin. Aston has used the DBS name once before on their 1967–72 grand tourer coupe. The modern car replaces the 2004 Vanquish S as the flagship of the marque.

It was officially unveiled at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on 16 August 2007, which featured a brand new exterior colour, a graphite grey with a blue tint which has been dubbed "Casino Ice". Delivery began on 2008 Q1.

The car is built in Gaydon, Warwickshire. Its engine is built at the Aston Martin engine plant in Cologne, Germany.

Specifications

Overview specifications

Aston Martin DBS V12 pictured in London

• Engine: 5.9 Litre 48-valve V12
• Transmission: 6-Speed Manual (optional 6-Speed Automatic)
• Drivetrain: RWD (Rear Wheel Drive)
• Kerb Weight: 1,695 kg (3,740 lb)
• City Fuel Economy: 12 mpg_-US (20 L/100 km; 14 mpg_-imp)
• Highway Fuel Economy: 18 mpg_-US (13 L/100 km; 22 mpg_-imp)
• Horsepower: 510 hp (380 kW; 517 PS) at 6500 rpm
• Torque: 420 lb·ft (569 N·m) at 5750 rpm
• Wheelbase: 107.9 in (2,741 mm)
• Length: 185.9 in (4,722 mm)
• Width: 75.0 in (1,905 mm)
• Height: 50.4 in (1,280 mm)

Performance

The DBS is equipped with 5935 cc V12 engine with four valves per cylinder. The same engine is also used in the DBR9 and DBRS9 racing cars albeit with extensive modifications. The engine of the DBS produces 510 horsepower (380 kW) at 6500 rpm and 570 N·m (420 lb·ft) of torque @ 5750 rpm. The engine also includes an active bypass valve which above 5500 rpm opens and lets more air into the engine resulting in increased performance. Compression ratio is 10.9:1 which combined with the above propels the car from 0-62 mph in 4.3 seconds all the way up to 191 mph (307 km/h). In 2007, the British motoring show Top Gear sent the DBS around their famous test track and recorded a lap time of 1:23.9, a second faster than the comparable Bentley Continental Supersports.

Handling

As with the DB9, Aston Martin uses the same VH (vertical horizontal) structure which provides strength and rigidity to the whole car. Thanks to the structure, 85% of the weight of the car is kept between the wheelbase which results in increased handling, responsiveness and feel during tight cornering.

Aston Martin DBS V12 in London, 2011.

Aston Martin has also developed an Adaptive Damping System or ADS which alters the suspension in order for the car to cope with the driver's desires and road/weather conditions. When turned on, the ADS automatically alters the suspension settings to ensure the driver has high levels of control at all times. Apart from the suspension getting stiffer, throttle and braking response is increased and also steering is sharpened.

The DBS is fitted with Pirelli P-Zero tyres which have been developed especially for the car, along with lightweight, aluminum 20" wheels.

To keep the weight as low as possible, Aston Martin has made extensive use of carbon fiber throughout the whole car. The bonnet, the boot, the front wings and the door opening surrounds are all made by carbon fiber. The carpets are also made by special thin layers from carbon fiber. The roof and the doors are made by aluminum. The result of all that is a 30 kg (66 lb) weight reduction from a regular DB9. The car is also fitted with a carbon fiber splitter at the front wings to increase handling and a carbon fiber rear diffuser to increase high speed stability.

The brake discs are carbon ceramic, which shaves a significant 12.5 kg (28 lb) from the unsprung weight. In the front, there are 398 mm (15.7 in) ventilated and drilled brakes with 6-piston alloy monobloc calipers. In the back, there are 360 mm (14.2 in) ventilated and drilled brakes with 4-piston alloy monobloc calipers.

Interior

The interior of a DBS is a blend of carbon fiber, alcantara leather, stainless steel and aluminum surfaces. The seats are made from semi aniline and alcantara leather and both bear the DBS signature. The door panels are carbon fiber and the facia trim is as a standard, matrix alloy and iridium silver center console or as an optional extra piano black facia trim and center console. The key to start the car is the "Emotion Control Unit" which at start was specially developed for the DBS but from 2008 is available for the DB9 and V8 Vantage as well. The key is made from stainless steel and glass and is inserted to a special hole in the dashboard.

Bang & Olufsen has developed a 1000-Watt sound system for the DBS which consists of 13 speakers located in 10 different locations throughout the cabin.

DBS Volante

Aston Martin announced on its website and Facebook page in February 2009 that the DBS Volante would be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on 2009-03-03.^[1] The convertible version was introduced in August at the 2009 Concours d'Elegance at Pebble Beach, California.^[2] The roof is electronically controlled by a button in the center console and can be fully gone in 14 seconds after the press of the button. The roof can also be opened or closed while moving but vehicle speed must not exceed 30 mph (48 km/h). Apart from the roof, changes include a new wheel design available for both the coupe and volante versions and 2+2 seating configuration also available for both versions.

Special editions

As of Q3 2010, Aston Martin has released 2 special editions of the DBS. One is the "Carbon Black" edition which is available only for the DBS and the V12 Vantage models, and the other is the "UB-2010 Limited Edition" which is available for the both the DBS Coupe and the DBS Volante versions.

The "Carbon Black" edition is a package which includes unique carbon black paint job, Touchtronic gearbox, obsidian black interior with silver stitching and lightweight seats.

The "UB-2010" edition is named after Dr. Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin Lagonda Limited and it commemorates the 10th year of Dr. Bez as CEO. This edition is limited to only 20 coupes and 20 convertibles. This edition comes with the Touchtronic gearbox or the manual upon request, azurite black exterior color, blue brake calipers and a bronze-colored interior.

Film appearances

The DBS was first seen in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale, the first film in which Bond was played by Daniel Craig, as a result of a product placement deal with Aston Martin's parent company at the time, Ford.

Although the company sold over 90% of Aston Martin Lagonda Limited in 2007, the DBS returned for the pre-credits car chase around Lake Garda in the 2008 Bond film Quantum of Solace.^[3]

A CGI Aston Marton DBS appears in the animated Transformers: Prime as the vehicle mode of the Decepticon Knock Out.

Naming confusion

Some confusion over the name of the production version occurred when some test mules running around the Nürburgring were given DBRS9 badges. However, it would seem that this was only a trick played by Aston to confuse spy photographers.^[4] The official name of the vehicle has been declared to be Aston Martin DBS.

The first cars ever to hold the name Aston Martin DBS were originally produced from 1967 until 1972. One of them featured in the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

References

1. ^ "Aston Martin to premiere DBS Volante - Canadian Driver". Blackriverpost.com. http://blackriverpost.com/read/news/4316/aston-martin-to-premiere-dbs-volante/. Retrieved 2010-09-30. 
2. ^ "Aston Martin DBS Volante - A beautiful idea - Detroit News/LA Times". The Detroit News. http://www.detnews.com/article/20090829/AUTO03/908290301/1148/AUTO01/Aston+Martin+DBS+Volante++A+beautiful+idea. Retrieved 2010-09-30. 
3. ^ "Aston Martin DBS to star in new James Bond film". Aston Martin. 2007. http://www.astonmartin.com/thecompany/news?a=14d34f22-1324-4ca5-acbb-764f80c7d7f2. Retrieved 2007-12-11. 
4. ^ "Spied 2008 Aston Martin DBS". Car and Driver. http://www.caranddriver.com/carnews/11852/spied-2008-aston-martin-dbs.html. Retrieved 2010-09-30. 

External links

• Official Aston Martin Page for DBS Volante
• Official Aston Martin Page for DBS Coupe
• Official Used Car Locator