| New Range Topper | Frankfurt Motor Show | Aston Martin DBS |

Ignoring its brief on-screen cameo last year, Aston Martin has finally revealed its new DBS. Although Aston Martin is keeping the price to itself until the Frankfurt Motor Show next month, the numbers that really matter are as follows: six litres, 510bhp, 0-62mph in 4.3 seconds and a 191mph top speed. What's perhaps surprising is that Aston Martin hasn't toppled the outgoing Vanquish S's 200mph top speed. Aston suggests that the DBS has been geared specifically for in-gear performance, the new two-seat flagship claimed to bridge the gap between the DB9 road and DBR9 track cars.

Unsurprisingly, carbon-fibre has been extensively used in its construction. Sharing the same basic architecture as Aston's other cars, the DBS has been developed to be stiffer with a sharper focus on the driving experience. Sitting on a wider track than the DB9, the DBS also rides on 20-inch wheels. Behind these sit carbon ceramic discs, a first for an Aston Martin road car. The suspension also features a new Adaptive Damping System (ADS) that allows instantaneous control of the damping to balance comfort and performance. It offers several options, including a 'track' mode where the DBS is stiffened to the maximum for circuit driving.

Clever dampers, switchable stability control

The electronic stability system also offer variable control. Press the button controlling the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) for two seconds and its thresholds are raised to allow the driver more control. Hold it for four seconds and the system is completely disengaged.

Aston Martin claims that the front-mid engine layout combined with the rear transaxle means some 85% of the DBS's weight is contained within the wheelbase. Lighter than the DB9 (but not that much), with a kerbweight of 1695kg, the weight loss has been helped a good deal by those carbon ceramic brakes and the use of carbon-fibre body panels. The latter are more aggressively styled, highlighting the DBS as the most sporting range-topper. Time was spent in the wind tunnel to improve aerodynamic efficiency and stability, resulting in a flat undertray culminating in a rear diffuser. This is combined with a prominent boot spoiler incorporated into the carbon-fibre bootlid. The DBS also features a new, lower front splitter with larger air intakes in the bumper and wider wings covering those larger wheels.

Focussed interior for two

Inside, the DBS's more sporting focus is clear, too. White on black instrumentation, a heavily sculpted steering wheel with a position-ahead marker stitched into the top of its rim all feature. If that's not quite sporting enough, Aston Martin is also offering its customers the option of lightweight Kevlar seats. But it's perhaps the alloy gearlever mated to a conventional six-speed manual that's the most interesting aspect of the new DBS. Aston's outgoing flagship Vanquish was only initially offered with a paddle-shift; the return to a conventional manual is an unusual - though not unwelcome - move. However, it's not unreasonable to expect a paddle-shift system in the future.

Its unveiling this week at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is particularly relevant, not least because the USA is likely to be the DBS's biggest market. It also explains Aston Martin's over exuberant 'Emotion Control Unit' description of the fob you need to insert before pressing the starter button. We think we'll just call it the key here...

Kyle Fortune - 18 Aug 2007