The Aston DB11 has an evil twin
Lighter, quicker and 47 per cent more sinister, the new DBS Superleggera is a 715bhp rocket pointed at the Ferrari 812
For all those whooping and hollering that the 600bhp DB11 was too soft and too slow (all three of you), allow us to introduce its evil twin – the DBS Superleggera. Efectively a replacement for the Vanquish S, it revives a badge last seen on the car Bond barrel-rolled in Casino Royale in 2006, then adds the Superleggera sufx – a nod to the “innovative lightweight construction methods pioneered by Italian coachbuilder, Touring”.
Yet this is no hollowed-out racer. Full carbonfbre body panels help to make it 72kg lighter than the DB11 V12, but with a kerbweight of 1,800kg, give or take a robust lunch, it’s still frmly a GT… albeit a super one. By simply tweaking the ECU and ftting a freer-fowing (and signifcantly noisier) quad-tipped exhaust system, 715bhp and 664lb ft of torque have been liberated from the remarkably unstressed 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12, and sent to the rear tyres via a carbon-fbre propshaft and an eight-speed auto. That’s 115bhp and 148lb ft – a whole Golf 1.4 TSI – more than the DB11 V12.
Get enough heat in the 305-section Pirelli P Zeros, fnd yourself an abandoned airfeld and the DBS will blitz 0–62mph in 3.4 seconds, 0–100mph in 6.4 and keep going until 211mph – the same top speed as its most natural rival, the 789bhp Ferrari 812 Superfast. Should you fnd yourself at 211mph in a DBS Superleggera, you’ll be pleased to hear it has latest-gen carbonceramic brakes measuring 410mm at the front and 360mm at the rear.
Should you encounter a corner, you’ll also be pleased to hear that the DBS picks up where the subtly honed DB11 AMR left of. The adaptive suspension sits 5mm lower, with bespoke geometry and increased front and rear camber, while a mechanical diferential and torque vectoring by
braking help you get that prodigious power onto the road. If all that means nothing to you, allow us to translate: the
DBS should feel pointier, more alert and stay fatter in the bends.
Or, in the words of Matt Becker, vehicle dynamics chief: “While we wanted to create a very, very fast car, it was crucial that it didn’t terrify less experienced drivers. To this end, we’ve honed the dynamics so that it’s agile and connected, but also linear and progressive as you work towards its limits. Much like we’ve tuned the engine to deliver the meat of its performance at real-world revs, we’ve tuned the handling to engage and reward drivers of all ability levels.” Top bloke, Matt.
And then there’s the way this thing looks. In simple terms, it’s swollen and slashed until it looks like the DB11’s delinquent brother… who’s in a constant state of surprise. That honeycomb front
grille is absurdly big, but on a car with such an absurd engine behind it, it works. In the UK, it’ll be broken up with a front numberplate, too, don’t forget. Power bulges, bonnet nostrils and the Vulcan-esque vent behind the front wheels set the design tone, but the real aero benefts come from the front splitter, deeper side strakes, double difuser and a development of Aston’s ingenious aeroblade spoiler that ejects a curtain of air on the bootlip to help force the rear tyres onto the road. In total, there’s 180kg of downforce at 211mph – more than any standard production Aston that’s gone before.
The price is a chunky £225,000 – £50,000 more than the 621bhp DB11 V12 AMR, or £38,000 less than the 812 Superfast if you prefer to put a positive spin on things. About right, then, for the most super Super GT Aston has ever produced – all mouth and a lot of trouser.