James Bond’s Aston Martin DBS
Thursday, September 21st, 2006
There’s not long to wait until we see a brand new Bond with actor Daniel Craig slipping into 007’s tuxedo. He’ll also be sliding behind the wheel of this, the new Aston Martin DBS. We spotted one, wearing DBRS9 badging, testing at the Nurburgring.
The standard DB9 on which the new car is based has been shaken and stirred. The already impressive 6.0-litre V12 has been uprated by a not inconsiderable 80bhp, taking total output to 530bhp. At the same time the car has shed weight and height losing close to 200kg through the use of lightweight materials and a stripped down interior and sitting 25mm closer to the road.
Bond’s new wheels sport a muscular bodykit penned by Aston designer Marek Reichman. Wider front wings feature cooling cut outs behind the wheels and a bulging bonnet adds scoops to help feed air to the beefier engine. A deep front spoiler directs more air into an oil cooler which has been enlarged over the standard item. Further cooling ducts direct air over the brakes, which, for the first time on an Aston, will be ceramic to up their stopping power.
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The deep side skirts feature deep grooves which appear to be there to channel hot air away from the brakes. A subtle spoiler, which pays homage to the old DB6, has been added to the bootlid and works in conjunction with a flat undertray and a diffuser to increase downforce at the rear. This is where all that power is sent, via a six-speed Graziano manual gearbox, as opposed to the DB9’s standard autobox. Mighty 20-inch bespoke alloys and a rear track 40mm wider will do their level best to ensure Bond arrives at his destination with the car in the same shape as when he set off. The sprint to 60 should comfortably undercut the DB9’s 4.7 seconds.
Bond’s car will be finished in unique ‘Casino Ice’ paintwork and will no doubt have plenty of hidden extras fitted by Q. Aston Martin chairman and chief executive Dr Ulrich Bez said: “The DBS continues our proud and lengthy association with James Bond. The DBS is not of the understated elegance of a DB9, nor the youthful agility of the V8 Vantage. It is explosive power in a black tie and has its own unique character which will equal that of James Bond.”
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Production may be limited to 300 cars, but Bond would never be able to afford one on his civil service salary. The car will go on sale next year after debuting at the Detroit Motor Show in January and cost in the region of £160,000. Bond’s other car will be rather more suited to undercover work however, it’s a humble Ford Mondeo. Which is rather fitting when you consider that the Aston’s rip-snorting V12 is effectively two Ford V6s mated together. We’ll all get a sneak preview when Casino Royale opens in cinemas on November 17.
Tags: dbs, aston martin dbs, bond, james bond, 007, james bond car, 007 car
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