New DBS Superleggera

[Gameface]

That green one is beautiful. I think they are ruined by that screen though. Can't believe that go through to production. Shocking.

The only way I can think to retrieve it would be to have Aston Works or Q or whatever it's called cover the plastic surround in leather or alcantara.

I assume that's possible.

[mhurley]

I can see a Bamford Rose DBSS interior mod coming out :-)

[CSK1]

I think the screen surround is already covered in leather as standard.

[Gameface]

Looks like plastic to me.

[V8LM]

IMG_0614 by v8lemon, on Flickr

IMG_0615 by v8lemon, on Flickr

[TR-Spider]

Indeed the interieur is a sad story.

I have seen the DBS"s" recently and must say that the outside appearance is really well done:
muscular, but still elegant. IMO the best of the new Astons.
The interieur, especially the dashboard is a letdown with its plastic vent frames etc.
And that's the parts you will see all the time you drive it...
Probably, as has been said, a aftermarket retrofit will be offered as upgrade.

Happy to see people already replaced the rear "Aston Martin" lettering with the appropriate wing.
Oh, and please leave away/remove the "Superleggera" writing, it's just not right on a car weighting 1860 kg ...

[anonymous-user]

TR-Spider said:

Oh, and please leave away/remove the "Superleggera" writing, it's just not right on a car weighting 1860 kg ...

This crops up quite a lot, because of the assumption that it means the car is a lightweight special. While the DBSS does have some weight saving going on, the name is there for heritage reasons primarily.

Unfortunately, many believe Superleggera is a Lamborghini term and means a stripped out / no carpets, trackday special, and not one from Aston's past (DB5 and so on).

A DB11 V12, with fluids tips the scales at 2 tonnes, so to have lost ~140kg while retaining the level of interior trim, while adding a chunk of power (and associated enlarged cooling provision), is pretty good going I thought.

[cayman-black]

Absolutely, plus I love those Superleggera badges on the bonnet. I do not like the dash too much but that's about it the rest is just lovely.
Obviously all black for me, please.

[CSK1]

NFC 85 Vette said:

TR-Spider said:

Oh, and please leave away/remove the "Superleggera" writing, it's just not right on a car weighting 1860 kg ...

This crops up quite a lot, because of the assumption that it means the car is a lightweight special. While the DBSS does have some weight saving going on, the name is there for heritage reasons primarily.

Unfortunately, many believe Superleggera is a Lamborghini term and means a stripped out / no carpets, trackday special, and not one from Aston's past (DB5 and so on).

A DB11 V12, with fluids tips the scales at 2 tonnes, so to have lost ~140kg while retaining the level of interior trim, while adding a chunk of power (and associated enlarged cooling provision), is pretty good going I thought.

The weight difference between DB11 and DBSS is given at 72KGS, still quite good but far from the 140KGs you are mentioning.
I think it is the DB4 which started the Superleggera designation on an Aston, a construction technique used under license from Carrozzeria Touring (aluminium bodywork over steel tubes).
I think it is a nice touch to bring this designation on a modern Aston again, although as you say it is being used now more for heritage (and marketing) reasons than a construction method used for weightsaving purposes.

[TR-Spider]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superleggera

I get the "heritage" part - on the same day I saw the DBSs, I also saw a DB4GT, a real "Superleggera".
With that in mind, the "heritage" fades a lot into marketing...nevermind...

[RobDown]

TR-Spider said:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superleggera

I get the "heritage" part - on the same day I saw the DBSs, I also saw a DB4GT, a real "Superleggera".
With that in mind, the "heritage" fades a lot into marketing...nevermind...

Hate to break this to you but the Superleggera badge on the DB4/5/6 was always a bit of marketing. As an ex-DB5 owner I can assure you the only light thing about it was the bonnet!

Everyone will have different opinions but I personally have got no issues with Aston Martin using it on the DBS. As mentioned above it is a significantly lightened version version of the DB11. While AML could have come up with a new monicker - would people have preferred DBS Superlight instead? Or DBS SL?

I think if they had done that there would have been a load on here saying “missed opportunity- why not resurrect the Superleggera badge- would have been cool?

[DB9VolanteDriver]

Since Superleggera, as used by Aston in their heritage, refers to a very specific construction method designed to achieve lightness, not in evidence on the DBSS, I do not think it is appropriate usage. If the term Superleggera had at the time it was first used meant a lightened version of a standard car, ala Lambo's usage, then it would be fine here.

[RobDown]

DB9VolanteDriver said:

Since Superleggera, as used by Aston in their heritage, refers to a very specific construction method designed to achieve lightness, not in evidence on the DBSS, I do not think it is appropriate usage. If the term Superleggera had at the time it was first used meant a lightened version of a standard car, ala Lambo's usage, then it would be fine here.

As I said opinions will differ

But you’ve got me thinking. The DB monicker was applied to cars because they were built when David Brown owned the company. So really Aston Martin shouldn’t be using that name. Maybe you could change your name tag to UB9 Volante Driver?

And while we’re at it the Martin in Aston Martin refes to Lionel Martin. But he’s no linger involved. Fortunately the hill is still there last time I looked

So maybe the car should be called an Aston Palmer Daimler S Superlight? Or we could stick with DBSS?

[anonymous-user]

DB9VolanteDriver said:

Since Superleggera, as used by Aston in their heritage, refers to a very specific construction method designed to achieve lightness, not in evidence on the DBSS, I do not think it is appropriate usage. If the term Superleggera had at the time it was first used meant a lightened version of a standard car, ala Lambo's usage, then it would be fine here.

The other way of looking at it is that the construction methods of the time involved small diameter tubular space frame dressed in small wall thickness panels. The modern equivalent of this is the use of lighter materials that can transfer loads while appearing to be just panels, mainly carbon fibre (which the DBSS does in several areas, hence the weight loss over a regular V12 DB11).

Ultimately a carbon tub is the natural evolution of a lightweight build methodology, but that's probably not appropriate for a GT car that doesn't want to transmit the noise of every rock hitting the underside of the tub and feel like a race car rather than a luxurious GT. Of course we'd all have liked it to be a full carbon body as per the Vanquish II, and it might have lost another chunk of weight, but then the list price would have climbed further.

[V8LM]

They ballsed-up the use of Vantage so why not continue.

[anonymous-user]

To be fair to Aston Martin, everyone else is in to the heritage naming conventions that dont realy justify the badge, so fair play to them if that is what they want to do. I would want to remove the badge but that's never going to happen as I am not going to be buying one. I don't think it detracts from what is a stunning car.

I see 3 for sale on AT today, ex demos I presume, would have expected them to be pre-sold but maybe in that price bracket buyers want brand new and are not interested in a discount for nearly new? Have AM said how many they are going to produce?

[MO55]

Superleggera, personally, I'm a fan. The method being used today to achieve a lighter version of the DB11 is different from the method used back in the late 1950's (for the first time with the DB2 Mk3) but that I think we must accept.

[RichB]

MO55 said:

Superleggera, <clip> is different from the method used back in the late 1950's (for the first time with the DB2 Mk3)

Bob, just for clarity, Touring's Superleggera construction method was first used on the DB4. The 'Feltham' cars; the DB2, 2/4 and MkIII had a full chassis with the aluminium body but not built to Superleggera style.

[MO55]

RichB said:

MO55 said:

Superleggera, <clip> is different from the method used back in the late 1950's (for the first time with the DB2 Mk3)

Bob, just for clarity, Touring's Superleggera construction method was first used on the DB4. All 'Feltham' cars; the DB2, 2/4 and MkIII had a full chassis with the aluminium body fitted on top.

I bow to your superior knowledge Rich. However, I do know that at around the same time as the launch of the DB4 (1958), there were already a few very rare Touring-bodied Superleggera DB2/4's around.

[RichB]

MO55 said:

<clip> there were already a few very rare Touring-bodied Superleggera DB2/4's around.

No, they were Tickford bodied.