Aston Martin are reviving a pair of names for a new super grand touring machine; DBS and Superleggera. Built on the DB11 platform, the DBS Superleggera takes its name seriously as the focus is more power and speed combined with added lightness.
Instead of aluminum, the body panels are crafted from carbon fiber. We’re not dealing with a machine that’s just about 160 pounds lighter than the DB11. All the better to make use of the increase in power, of course. It’s the 5.2-liter V12 engine deployed here and it breathes through a pair of turbochargers. While the top-spec DB11 makes 600 horsepower, the DBS pushes right on past that to a mighty 715 horsepower. Torque is 664 lb-ft and it comes on in full at just 1,800 rpm.
What should be a lovely song is sung through a quartet of exhaust outlets. They’re paired with active valving so you can be silent when needed and loud the rest of the time. Seriously though, just push the button and be loud all of the time.

Aston Martin have evolved the chassis to suit the DBS Superleggera. The adaptive damping suspension system is standard on the super coupe, and it will react suitably in GT, Sport, or the Sport Plus driving modes. Pop the car into Sport Plus and you’ll rip off a 0-62 mph time of 3.4 seconds.  Should you have enough room, or a disregard for those around you, the DBS Superleggera will bring you to its top speed of 211 mph.
The journey there should be smooth too. Aston Martin have made use of fresh bits of aerodynamic tech. Inspired by F1, the DBS Superleggera wears a double diffuser. There’s also the venting at the rear of the front fenders and the aeroblade that extends out back. All together, you’ll find 397 pounds of downforce at top speed. That’s the greatest amount of such force ever produced with a production Aston Martin vehicle.

Aston Martin have currently enjoying quite a good run. Sales are up, and production is climbing to match. The list of available models is growing without a need to sacrifice what the automaker stands for, and that includes a future addition of a manual gearbox at some point (not on this car, but on the Vantage). Sure, AM are joining the crossover/SUV fray in the near future as well, but that’s a necessary evil that allows the rest of the lineup to continue to grow.
With the DBS Superleggera, Aston Martin looks to climb to the top of the super grand touring space. This car should allow the automaker to stand firmly atop that space as it’s lovely, potent, and a proper Aston Martin machine.
Oh yes, it’s also expensive… The DBS Superleggera starts at $304,995. I like that they decided to shave $5 off and keep it below an even $305,000, to start.