Aston Martin DBS. James Bond car
Aston Martin DBS is a ‘Gran Turismo’ class supercar, which has been produced since 1967 by the British company Aston Martin in ‘coupe’ and ‘convertible’ bodies. You could buy the third generation of this unique car of the 2018 model year in Israel in 2020.
The letters ‘DB’ in the name come from the initials of David Brown, who is the owner of the company at the time. DBS is the second model of the company to appear in the James Bond films. It was the 1969 film ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’. A limited edition of 50 copies of the latest Aston Martin DBS Superleggera in anniversary edition was released in 2019 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the film’s release. Each car was valued at £ 300,000.
First generation
It was produced from 1967 to 1972. The first DBS coupé designed by William Townes was built on the DB6 chassis, but was lower, wider and shorter than its predecessor. At the rear, it was equipped with a De Dion-type suspension, providing much greater comfort. With two molded rear seats inside, the car was presented as a fully four-seater. Customers liked the modern lines of the new model, especially those who needed a roomy interior. The 4-liter inline 6-cylinder engine was under the hood of the first DBS. It was assumed that the new sports car will be equipped with a much more powerful V8, but it could not be possible to finalize it. That’s why the speed characteristics of the first generation of DBS left much to be desired. But the new rear suspension allowed for more dynamic cornering. Overall, the supercar was well received by the public. A total of 1193 first-generation cars was manufactured.
Second generation
It was produced from 2007 to 2012. The second DBS was a sporty version of the DB9 and replaced the Vanquish in the place of Aston Martin’s flagship. The new DBS coupe first appeared in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale. It was officially launched on August 17, 2007 at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Sales began in the 1st quarter of 2008. The roof could be opened / closed while driving at speeds up to 48 km/h. In the same 2009, both coupe and convertible models received new wheel designs and a new 2 + 2 seat configuration. The second DBS was equipped with a back-wheel drive 6-speed manual transmision or optional 6-speed automatic transmission ‘Touchtronic’, a Bang & Olufsen BeoSound DBS multimedia system with 13 speakers.
Third generation
It has been produced from 2018 to the present. (data for 2020). The new DBS received a prefix to the name, and now has the proud name DBS Superleggera. The name ‘Superleggera’ pays tribute to the Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, which helped Aston Martin create some of the greatest supercars in the 1960s and 1970s. The new supercar that replaces the 2012 Aston Martin Vanquish is a heavily redesigned version of the DB11. It comes with a lowered chassis with re-tuned springs and dampers, an electronically controlled limited-slip differential, carbon ceramic brakes (six-piston front and four-piston rear) and 21-inch wheels.
The new DBS Superleggera accelerates from 0 km/h to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and develops a top speed of 340 km/h!
The flagship 2018/2019 DBS Superleggera features a new front bumper, a larger center grille for improved engine cooling, two air extractors on the sides to cool the brakes and two bonnet vents to aid in the engine cooling process. The supercar is powered by a 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12 engine that produces 725 hp. at 6500 rpm and 900 Nm of torque. With it, DBS Superleggera can accelerate from 0 km/h to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and reach a maximum speed of 340 km/h. GT, Sport and Sport Plus driving modes are available. They adjust the car’s responsiveness.
To optimize the center of gravity and weight distribution, the V12 unit was installed as low as possible and as far back as possible in the chassis. The supercar is equipped with a new transmission with a shorter gear ratio. The car has excellent aerodynamics and it is equipped with Aston Martin’s innovative Aeroblade system that improves aerodynamics with a dual diffuser in the spirit of the F1. It helps the car generate 180 kg of downforce, the highest ever Aston Martin series production. A new four-pipe titanium exhaust system delivers improved engine sound. And the use of carbon fiber has helped to reduce the weight of the car to 1,693 kg.
Compared to the DB11, the 2019/2020 DBS Superleggera Coupé is distinguished by the steering wheel, dashboard, seats and trim. Plus, the novelty has a richer list of standard equipment. For example, the upholstery of a sports chair is originally leather, not combined. There are also all-round cameras and a multimedia system with navigation and Internet access. In addition to the coupe, the Volante convertible has been produced since 2019. And the DBS AMR is expected to be released with a 5.2-liter V12 engine with a capacity of over 800 hp.
