PISTONHEADS SCOOPS NEW ASTON MARTIN

We catch DBS pounding the Autobahn

DBS testing halts while driver grabs a pie. This is the new Aston Martin DBS, scooped by PistonHeads. Ignore the faux DBRS9 badging, this car is destined to take over the mantle of Aston range-topper from the Vanquish.

The big coupe was spotted in a parking area close to an Autobahn in Germany where it had been undertaking some high speed testing before the model goes on sale in October of this year. Although the Vanquish line closes this summer, sources at Aston Martin are refusing to call the DBS a successor to the old flagship.

Diffuser part of new aero kit

Precise details on its exact specification are still sketchy, but expect the 6.0 litre V12 to push out around 520bhp. Coupled with a weight loss of around 100kg, and the fitment of a six speed manual gearbox, the DBS is claimed to be the quickest production Aston ever.

Featuring a restyled DB9 body, and an aero kit made from carbon fibre, the DBS also sits 20mm lower than the standard DB9 and runs on new 20-inch alloys. Nevertheless, the chassis is still a variant of the VH alloy architecture that underpins both the DB9 and the V8 Vantage. As can be seen in one of the photos, carbon ceramic brake discs will be available.