There are certain supercars I want to get in the moment I see them and throw it around a corner or just race away.
As fast as possible please, but I don't get that feeling with an Aston Martin. You first need to walk around an Aston Martin to look at every...
beautiful detail. And this DBS Superleggera Volante isn't an exception.
Take this vent for example. It's supposed to get the lift out of the wheel arch, so that the air can flow besides the car and generate downforce.
The downforce at top speed is 177 kg, which is only three kg shy of what the coupé produces.
It's nice isn't it, every DBS having the 'Superleggera'-name. Both the open and closed versions. It's Italian for 'lightweight'.
Just like Ferrari uses the English word 'Superfast' for their 812, Aston Martin uses an Italian term for their DBS.
However, I wouldn't really call this DBS Volante Superleggera truly 'superleggera', because it certainly isn't light. Almost 1.860 kg.
The Q Carbon-pack is very special as well. Every badge on the car will be made out of carbon if you select that.
And if you look at it for the first time, it almost looks like it's worn out already. Like it's very old or like somebody's polished it too hard.
That's what Q Carbon gets you, besides costing €10.000. It's very cool though.
Before we start up this mighty machine, it might be a good idea to look at what powers this beast.
It's Aston Martin's own engine. A 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 producing 725 horsepower and 900 Nm of torque. Something to think about.
The fact that this is a GT-car is pretty clear. When you start it up, it's already in GT-mode.
With the button on the steering wheel I can put it in S or S-Plus, which means it'll take it up a notch. When it comes to sound for example.
The gearbox'll become bitier, the throttle response will be better, the steering will adapt...
I mean, a twin-turbo V12 with 900 Nm of torque on the rear wheels. It's really difficult to drive it inbetween the rain showers.
We're pretty unlucky, that's clear. Last year, when we drove the closed Superleggera in Germany, it rained as well.
Now we're driving the Volante, and in the two days it's in the Netherlands it's raining again. Great.
It still feels special though.
The ZF automatic gearbox is usually in Manual-mode. You can put it in 'D' on the steering wheel, but you'll be flappy paddling for most of the time.
When it's in 'D' however, you won't find it changing back a lot. It'll do its job from lower revs. Even when you suddenly put your foot down.
It really feels like a manual. However, don't expect the high-pitched whine from an Italian V12.
An Aston Martin does what it needs to do from down under. Working the torques. It redlines at 6.500 RPM.
And you can feel it pushing you forward.
You know what the thing is with an Aston Martin? It never gets rude or anything. People around you don't mind you driving this compared...
to other brute machines. Speaking of brute, I don't think this color is very fitting with this DBS. Not a lot of people will choose this color.
So what makes an Aston Martin DBS a true GT-car? Well, you have a separate button for the damping-settings.
With that, you can tighten it up to your taste. And even when you put it in Sport Plus, like I've done now, it doesn't get hard as nails or anything.
It'll remain a very nice car to cruise with. Sure, it can have a rough edge, but nothing you can't overcome.
The noise then. When you let go of the throttle, all kinds of small bangs will be audible. Lovely.
Aston Martin uses lots of parts from Mercedes-Benz these days. Take the V8 from the Vantage and DB11 for example, that's built by AMG.
This V12 however is built entirely by Aston Martin. But if we look at the interior, we can spot certain Mercedes-elements.
And that's not a bad thing. The indicator-lever and the handle to operate the wipers and cruise control are from Mercedes.
Just like the multimedia system. And it's all surrounded by a rich, contemporary, leather interior like only the British can make.
I still think it's all about two things in an Aston Martin. It's the engine and the looks. You're not going to whine about small details in the interior,
you just don't buy a car like this for that.
An open GT with a V12. Where do we position this car? Well, you've got two Italian exotics in the form of the Ferrari 812 GTS and the...
Lamborghini Aventador Roadster S. Both are convertibles with a V12 producing over 700 horsepower. The Ferrari even produces 800...
horsepower, whilst the Lamborghini produces 740. So the Aston Martin stays behind with 725, but they're entirely different cars.
Those are even bitier, even sportier, more supercar than GT really. Also, this has two rear seats, which those Italians don't have.
Bentley Continental GTC then? It's available with a turbocharged 12-cylinder as well, producing over 600 horsepower.
Sure, it has four seats but it's an entirely different car again. It's bigger, bulkier and in a different price category.
The Aston Martin has its own party. And you can join that exclusive party for the price of €400.000.
However, this particular version with a few options on it will set you back €465.000.
And there's another thing this car possesses, which the Ferrari and Lamborghini don't.
You're able to drive this car in a very quiet manner. It won't tempt you to smash the throttle. I found that out yesterday.
I drove it from Eindhoven to my home, which was about 125 kilometres, and I never once thought about putting my foot down.
I think I wouldn't have felt the same in the Ferrari or Lamborghini, and if you know me in the slightest, you'll know that's quite the achievement.