Driven: Aston Martin DBS Carbon Edition
The clue is in the title with this latest upgrade to the gorgeous DBS
By calling it Carbon Edition and giving it carbon fibre door mirrors and rear lens inlay panels, a carbon weave centre console finish and 'Carbon' kickplates, that's how. Carbon count: through the roof (oddly, not carbon).
Orange paint or not the DBS turns heads
Guessed the theme yet?
Meanwhile, within, more choice is offered by the interior leather - black or orange (not as horrendous as it sounds) - while there's now a quilted rooflining for upmarket effect. Major changes? Well, no. And although all this makes the Carbon Edition (the follow-up to an earlier Carbon Black model) sound like one half of hot air, it's actually quite a sensible approach for Aston to take, as I'll argue in a bit.
There's no escaping the stuff
The Cologne-built V12 still produces 510hp, giving 0-60mph in 4.3 seconds and, as an auto, a top speed capped to 183mph. The gearbox, supplied by ZF, has six ratios and a Sport mode that sharpens shifts and gives blipped downshifts. Fixed magnesium steering wheel paddles (with, you guessed it, carbon fibre stick-on panels) apart, it's an able transmission that's preferable to the meaty manual.
Heart of the matter
As you'd expect, the engine sounds wonderful. It's a V12 oozing in creamy, woofling mannerisms and mechanical overlay, with a complex bark further up that's like a classic car soundtrack replayed through a surround sound stereo. The bellow it makes from outside is thunderous.
Stand here for the best sound effect
The familiar Vertical-Horizontal chassis is, as we well know, up to this. Enhanced by Aston's Adaptive Damping System, years of development give a more optimal state of tune than ever, meaning the DBS is a peach to drive. Less so in normal mode, mind: it's a little lacking in focus to realise the best we know VH can offer. It's fine, but not as good as it can be.
Easily fixed: press the glass button with the suspension damper on. This engages a more focused 'Track' setting, which firms everything up, makes the DBS turn in and change direction with unexpected vim. Basically it makes it the taut, easy-thread V12 you hope for.
DBS shows its class on bumpy B-roads
85 per cent of the VH's weight is positioned within its wheelbase, undoubtedly a big reason why this large 1.9-metre wide and 4.7-metre long V12 GT supercar can feel almost as wieldy as a roadster. You can't physically overcome its width but it also never hinders you once you've dialled in to the Sport-optimised chassis.
A very British ride undoubtedly helps here. The Aston is firm, particularly in Sport, but it is also very well damped and 'breathes' across gritty B-roads. Undulations don't faze it, pimply surfaces don't jitter it or knock it off course: stoic composure is maintained by the suspension soaking up all the drama with aplomb. How very, err, British.
Only the steering may disappoint. It's firm and assured, yes, but there's not the subtlety you get from, say, a 997 Porsche 911 or Jaguar XKR-S. There's just a bit too much softness about the straight-ahead and, while direct, it doesn't quite have the bite you'd wish for.
Not too shabby in here either
So, that's the DBS Carbon Edition: a DBS, with added, err, lustre. And here's the deal: everyone loves Aston Martin. Heads turn through respect, not envy. This Carbon Edition simply makes a nice car even nicer. The paint means it's even nicer to look at, the interior makes it that bit nicer to sit within. It's all, y'know...
That the bits which have changed are the product of so many man-hours only adds to the feeling this is a bespoke car with charismatic ability that's simply been enhanced further in this latest incarnation. Carbon copy of what's gone before it may appear, but it's still somehow turned into a diamond.
ASTON MARTIN DBS CARBON EDITION
Engine: 5,935cc V12
Power (hp): 510 @ 6,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 420 @ 5,750Rpm
0-62mph: 4.3 sec
Top speed: 183mph
Weight: 1,695kg
MPG: 18.2 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 367g/km
Price: £186,582
Also, with the development curve of everything intrinsic to platforms (structural stiffness, safety,...) having flattened over the past 5-10 years and platformas having become far more flexible in terms of hard points (Astons V-H architecture being a prime example) you will see platforms last over 2-3 vehicle generations with all 'mature' OEMs - just like engines already do. Astons architecture could do with a bit more simplicity and thus, less weight - a hangover from the Ford days when teams responsible for drivetrain, chassis, interior etc. tened to be scattered around the world - but overall there's little to argue with its basic properties for the kind of cars Aston makes.
Both the DB9/variants and Vantage/variants have come a long way dynamically since they first hit the market, which indicates that time and effort spent on dynamic development of the current underpinnings may at this point still give better ROI than putting all of the family silver 9and then some) on the roulette table named 'clean sheet design'.
Sorry, but this is just tacky. And don't start me on the chavy halfords rear lights.
By all means replace items (eg roof a la M6/M3) to reduce weight, but just bolting on carbon all over the place is pathetic.
1/10
All the carbon panels are the same as the regular DBS too I'm fairly sure.
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