In March 2007, at Geneva motor show, the long-waited DBS will come to reality. Based on the DB9, with higher performance and handling capabilities, the street version of the concept that stars in Casino Royale will go on sale in fall 2007. The new DBS will replace the Vanquish in the Aston Martin line-up. The car will be limited to 300 units.

aston-martin-dbs

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: aston-martin-dbs

2008 Aston-Martin DBS

Specifications
  • Engine/Motor: V12
  • Horsepower: 530
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Although there were rumors at some point that the car will be called DBRS9, which is just the name of a DB9-based racer that is not, and never will be, street legal.

DBS will have performance and handling capabilities that exceed that of the current DB9. The new sports car will be powered by the same 6.0-litre V12 engine, which is found also on the V12 Vanquish S. Comparing to DB9 the DBS will have an output of 530 hp (80 hp more than the 450 hp of the DB9). Power is sent to the rear axle via a six-speed Graziano manual. The rear track is widened by 40mm to handle the extra power, while ceramic brakes make their Aston debut to rein in the additional performance.

Aston Martin execs describe it as a thinly veiled race car adapted for the street. It looks like a DB9 on steroids, with added scoops, strakes and bulging fenders. And comparing to DB9, the new DBS will get a wider track and lower ground clearance, a deeper air dam, larger side vents, larger wheels, bold scoops and air intakes in the front and aerodynamic modifications all around.

The DBS is built on the same aluminum "VH" chassis as the DB9. But it will get new upgrades including a 1.5-inch-wider rear track, ceramic brake rotors and reshaped bodywork front and rear. To keep it light the DBS will not only pare some of the DB9's luxury features, it will also use carbon fiber for the hood, trunk lid and front-quarter panels.

DBS will come with a six-speed manual transmission as a standard, and also a paddle-shifted automatic will be offered as an option.

We want to believe that the intention of Aston Martin was to build one of the most beautiful cars in the world, and they really succeed. To bad that the DBS won't get the Bond gadgets: the glove box has a cut-out for a pistol (a Walther PPK in typical Bond fashion) and various special buttons and switches sprinkled throughout the central control panel.

The 530 hp and also the lost of 440 lbs comparing to the DB9 will help the DBS to make the 0 to 60 mph sprint in just 4.2 seconds. Expect the new model to have a top speed of almost 200 mph.

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History

The Aston Martin DBS is a GT car that was originally produced from 1967-72 and that featured in the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

1967-1972 Aston Martin DBS

The DBS was the successor to the famed Aston Martin DB6. Powered by a straight-6 engine, it lasted from 1967 until 1972, before being replaced by the Aston Martin Vantage.

When the William Towns designed DBS was unveiled in 1967, everyone must have known that the car was without the V8 engine that had surfaced in the racing Lolas earlier that year. Thus the large coupe therefore was powered by the same six cylinder engine from the DB6.

In standard form with triple SU carburetors and a 8.9:1 compression ratio, the six was quoted as producing 282bhp. As a no cost option, triple Webers with Vantage tune (9.4:1 compression ratio and hotter cams) was quoted as producing 325bhp. Some cars were also made with AE Brico electronic fuel injection.

The DBS has a top speed of141mph and makes the 0-60mph sprint in 7.1seconds. Only 860 examples of the DBS with the six-cylinder engine were produced.

There are two series of DBS as distinguished by the AMOC. Series 1 cars have louvers in the 'C' post behind the rear side windows and a plain panel under the rear screen. On introduction of the DBS V8, the DBS was modified; these later cars are easy to spot as they have no louvers in the 'C' post, but do have louvers under the rear window. Other changes to the series 2, introduced in January 1970, are deepening to the panels under the nose and tail, and a deeper stainless steel sill covers.

Aston Martin DB9

The DB9, is a Grand tourer launched by Aston Martin in 2004 and is the first new car to be built at Aston’s Gaydon facility. The DB9 is available as a two-seat Volante convertible or a 2+2 coupe with. It replaced the preceding DB7 in 2004. Production is limited to 2,000 units per year worldwide.

Using a radical new aluminum-bonded body frame, the DB9 is one of the most sophisticated and technically advanced sports cars in the world. It is powered by the latest version of Aston Martin's 6.0-litre V12, producing 450bhp and a top speed of 186mph.

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Competitors



2008 Ferrari F430 Challenge Stradale

The new F430 CS will go on sale in early 2007. The F430 CS will be powered by a V8 engine, the same as the F430, but with an output of 520 hp, 30 hp more than the F430.

The 430 CS will feature Magnesium sport wheels and the carbon grille in the back. The exhaust pipes are located further up in the middle and not on the side like in the F 430. The brakes are upgraded with bigger discs, the soft Pirelli P-Zero tires give the car enormous grip, and the interior is completed with deep sport seats. Carbon-fiber components will be used in the quest for reduced mass: the inside of the doors for example will be made of carbon fiber.

Lamborghini Gallardo

The Gallardo made its word debut in 2004 and although it may like the larger Murcielago, when you put the two hip-high supercars next to each other, the Gallardo immediately appears more compact and blunter.

The Gallardo is powered by an aluminum V10 engine with an output of 520 hp at 8,000 rpm and 376 pound-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm. It launches the car from zero to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. The gasoline consumption is estimated at a 10 mpg city / 19 mpg highway rate. The V10 features an 18-degree offset crankshaft for even firing, continuously variable valve timing, dry-sump oiling and a variable-length induction system. All the V10 power is fed to the pavement through an AWD system that can vary front-to rear, if necessary, as the suspension front and rear is a double-wishbone design. The stopping duties are handled by the Beefy Brembo brakes that have eight-piston calipers clamping things down up things.

Porsche 911 GT3 (997)

This is Porsche’s most powerful naturally aspirated 911 ever. Horsepower is 415, or 115.3 horses per liter, the world’s best specific output for a non-turbo/supercharged engine, according to its maker. The 3.6-liter flat six revs to 8400 rpm, 200 more than the previous Porsche 911 GT3, with the peak horsepower coming in at 7600 rpm.

In the 911 model range, the abbreviation GT3 stands for pure, unadulterated driving pleasure. With its uncompromising dynamics, this model impresses not only in normal day-to-day driving but also on the racetrack. The 305-kW (415-bhp) 3.6-liter flat-six engine produces a specific output of 84.7 Kilowatts (115.3 bhp) per liter of displacement. This performance places the new-generation GT3 in its displacement class at the pinnacle of road-legal production sports cars with naturally aspirated engines.

The GT3 makes the 0 to 60 mph sprint in 4.3 seconds and has a top speed on 192 mph.