Aston Martin is winding down production of its most powerful car, the DBS. A new flagship is most likely waiting in the wings to replace it, but in the meantime Aston decided to give the DBS a sendoff. The DBS Ultimate could be the last DBS, but will it be the last word in performance? Will it be “ultimate” in more ways than one?
As a special edition, the DBS Ultimate is more like an options package that customers can add to a regular DBS. It is available as a coupe or convertible (Volante), and with either a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission. The Ultimate gets the same engine as every other DBS: a 6.0-liter V12 with 510 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque.
The choice of color is much more limited. There are only two available colors: Silver Fox Quantum Silver (must be a very intense shade of silver) and Carbon Black. Buyers actually have more color options for the brake calipers, which come in red, yellow, or black. The wheels are silver with polished black accents.
For an “ultimate” car, this DBS is actually pretty subtle. For example, Aston added some carbon fiber, but only on innocuous areas. The BMW M3 shows off its carbon fiber roof, and SRT leaves a patch of carbon fiber around the Viper’s taillights exposed for the same reason. Aston, on the other hand, was content with its carbon rear diffuser, taillight inserts, mirror caps, and dashboard trim. It’s nice to see a car company exercising restraint, didn’t Aston want to send the DBS out with a bang?
The company might not want to steal the thunder of whatever is replacing the DBS. Aston is also working on a limited-edition model to celebrate its centennial; that car could be the DBS replacement, or another DBS variant. Regardless, if the Ultimate really is the ultimate DBS, Aston should have used more than special paint and carbon fiber trim to distinguish it from lesser models.
It might be better to forget the “ultimate” name and think of the DBS Ultimate as a more unique version of an already great car. After all, the regular DBS is the ultimate Aston Martin. It’s also a movie star; it was James Bond’s ride in Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace.
Still, some people always want more caché, and that is where the DBS Ultimate delivers. It will be exclusive: only 100 will be made. The price will be $287,576 for the coupe and $302,576 for the convertible. Aston will deliver the cars sometime next year.
