Going out for a ride in the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera

Aston Martins are the superlative of British automobiles. Each one of their machines follows not a set recipe, but rather aims for the same result which Aston describes in three words: power, beauty, soul.

They aren’t really supercars, despite having the price tags to match. With a focus on traditional luxury and modern style, this is a brand which appeals to a wider audience. However if you’re one of the few Aston-lovers wishing for a bit more oomph, there might just be a solution for you.

Premier GT recently gave me the chance to hop in the passenger seat of their 2018 DBS Superleggera, which can currently be bought for £179,995.

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What is it?

Introduced in 2018, the DBS Superleggera is the successor of the highly-praised Vanquish. Despite being based on the rather toned down DB11, the DBS is an Aston Martin unleashed - this becomes evident as soon as you open the bonnet.

Powering the slower DB11 is a 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine which produces 630 horsepower but this engine has always been capable of so much more, and the Superleggera proves this. Under its mammoth bonnet lays the exact same 5.2-litre powertrain except - thanks to some tinkering to its ECU - it produces an incredible 725 horsepower.

Exterior

Closing the bonnet allows you to fully appreciate the sheer beauty of the DBS Superleggera. It looks to have the anger of a cornered possum but the precision of a Swiss watchmaker; it doesn’t look like the DB11 or any of its siblings, despite maintaining the signature Aston Martin outline. This is all because everything has been designed with aerodynamics in mind.

At VMAX, the DBS produces 180kg of downforce - the most ever produced by a series production Aston Martin. This is achieved thanks to the car’s clever aerodynamics which are inspired heavily by the Vulcan and Vantage GTE race car.

Starting at the front, there’s a rather bold honeycomb grille which cools the engine; below which resides the car’s front splitter. Working together with the airdam, the function of which is to deflect oncoming air, it produces an immense amount of downforce whilst helping to cool the car’s carbon ceramic brakes. Further along the car are the side strakes which - despite looking rather similar to other modern Astons - have been uniquely designed to suit the DBS Superleggera, increasing stability at higher speeds. Air can also exit from behind the front wheels via what Aston Martin call the ‘curlicue’.

At the back of the car, you’ll notice a double diffuser which generates downforce which - with the assistance of the Aeroblade II - hunkers the rear of the car down.

Although it’s not as flamboyant as a Ferrari or Lamborghini, the DBS Superleggera still attracts a lot of attention - people really do stop and stare. And the ones who don’t will turn in sheer amazement after hearing the car set off.

No name is quite as illustrious as ‘Aston Martin’ which is why I was rather amused with the different names for the reds of this DBS Superleggera. The striking exterior paint is called ‘Hyper Red’, and the contrasting interior stitching has for some reason earned the name ‘Spicy Red’. ‘Hyper’ and ‘Spicy’ are two words which tend not to belong to an Aston’s vocabulary, but the colours work nonetheless. All the carbon fibre on the outside complements the paint in almost perfect fashion, and the stitching helps to continue the theme in the cabin. The wheels are the optional 21” Forged Y Spoke alloy wheels which are finished in satin black.

All this extra go for the DBS certainly means a lot of extra show. Each of the car’s carbon fibre body panels bulge as if they’re muscles; it looks alive. But then again, the DBS doesn’t look too loud - like a Lamborghini - and retains the normal refinement and sophistication of a normal Aston Martin; it’s absolutely brilliant.

INTERIOR

Opening the swan - or flamingo doors as I immaturely call them - reveals the Superleggera’s one of a kind cabin. Here, Aston Martin have managed to create a dialogue between modern technology and traditional British luxury. As you step in, you’ll notice the brushed aluminium door sill which says ‘DBS’, reminding you of the beast you’re about to enter.

Like all other Astons, the interior is certainly beautiful and because many of its components are borrowed from Mercedes, everything actually works. What took my breath away however was the stupendous attention to detail. If anything looks like metal, it is - such as the paddles on this particular model. Additionally, the hand-stitched centre armrest doesn’t move like it does in a typical car. Instead, it moves back and forth electrically - which is just so unnecessarily cool.

The Bang & Olufsen speaker system is loud, but not quite loud enough to drown out the sound of the V12 situated just in front of the passenger. Speakers located next to the windscreen rise up, which to me almost makes the car seem like a Transformer - Optimus Refined perhaps.

On the road

Arousing the DBS Superleggera finally gives you the chance to drool at the sound of its magnificent V12 engine, the sound of which is loud enough to shatter the glass of the multi-million pound countryside mansion you’re most likely about to leave behind.

As mentioned, the DBS has 725 horsepower and 900 Nm of torque. These immense figures give the DBS Superleggera what it needs to get from 0-62mph in just 3.4 seconds, and 0-100mph in 6.4 seconds. Getting from 50-75mph in 4th gear takes just 2 seconds. 2.2 seconds after that, and you’ll be travelling at 100mph. From then on, the DBS will continue to thunder down the road until it maxes out at 211mph - it is simply relentless.

And it feels absolutely incredible. The car gets a bespoke set of gear ratios, despite borrowing its 8-speed automatic transmission from the DB11; making for a much more violent and energetic experience which - even as a passenger - is noticeable.

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Should you find yourself reaching a bend, mash your foot on the brake pedal and you might just end up flying out the windscreen due to the huge carbon ceramic brake discs (410mm at the front, 360mm at the rear).

The car’s cornering is one of its best aspects, and yet it’s also something which I’m not too fond of. The 180kgs of downforce and forged double wishbone suspension at the front means that car remains planted in the corners and this is where my main criticism of the Superleggera’s handling comes in.

However, the main thrill of a supercar - such as a Lamborghini Aventador - is the fact that you need to have some skill in order to get the full experience. By contrast, the DBS almost tries to eliminate every challenge one might face behind the wheel. Of course this does mean that more people are able to experience 100% of the car’s performance, but that just makes everything feel a bit less special.

The damping can be controlled separately from the car’s driving mode. For instance, even if the car is in its most athletic setting (Sport Plus), the damping can still be set to the most comfortable road; diluting performance and comfort how an Aston Martin should.

Compared to its main rival, the Ferrari 812 Superfast, the DBS Superleggera is superior in almost every department. Soon after launch, the DBS actually accelerates faster despite the Ferrari being both lighter and more powerful. Additionally, the DBS will lap any circuit in less time than the 812 Superfast but - for me - things get rather numb when it comes to the actual thrill. Aside from that however, Aston Martin really have nailed the driving dynamics of the DBS Superleggera.

Price

The starting price is a whopping £225,000 - that’s almost £80,000 more than that of the DB11. Factor in the extra £30,000 in options for this particular DBS, and you’re looking at a figure of over £255,000.

With just 5,600 miles on the clock, Premier GT are selling this car for a smudge under £180,000, which I think is incredibly good value for money. That might sound rather odd seen as Premier GT also happens to have picked up a DB11 which, at £99,995, is almost half the price. However, the DBS is the everything about an Aston Martin amplified to insanity - it is incomparable to anything else on the road today.

Many thanks to Premier GT for inviting me to their showroom and for taking me out in their wonderful DBS Superleggera. If you’re interested in purchasing the car, find out more information by clicking here. You can also view the entirety of Premier GT’s inventory by clicking here.