According to Aston Martin's CEO, Dr Ulrich Bez, the new DBS is like Muhammad Ali. It is, in other words, all about grace, elegance and power. Having been introduced to us in the James Bond movie Casino Royale, the DBS is finally available for (rich) mere mortals to buy. The first customer cars will be delivered in November and will cost $265,000. Aston claims already to have orders for a thousand cars, equivalent to two years production...
The lucky few will be buying a car that looks like a DB9 on steroids. The DB9's elegant, subtle curves are now littered with aerodynamic addenda, including bonnet scoops, a carbon-fiber chin spoiler and a rear venturi. These features are not only functional, they also show allegiance to Aston's DBR9 racecar, which won its class at Le Mans this year. Inside, the cabin architecture is shared with the DB9 and V8 Vantage, but the center console detailing is new. One of the most intriguing features is the starter system - instead of a traditional key, owners are given a stainless steel and sapphire ECU, which must be inserted into a slot on the dashboard.
Starting the car means giving life to a tuned version of Aston's familar 5.9-liter V12, which now delivers 510hp (up 13 percent on the standard DB9). Aston reckons this is enough to propel its flagship from zero to 60mph in 4.3sec and on to 191mph. The transmission is a six-speed manual.
Aston customers teased into buying a DBS will also be offered a unique watch. Aston has a relationship with the Swiss watchmaker Jaeger-Le-Coutre, who've produced a special AMVOX2 Chronograph DBS watch. Only 380 will be made and you can only buy one if you've bought a DBS. It costs a hefty €22,000 (around $26,000) but it does have a unique feature: prod a button on the side of the watch and it will open or lock the car -- very James Bond. -- Alistair Weaver, Contributor
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We need to get this car and the matching watch together with James Riswick! That would be, "Groovy, baby!" Sorry, wrong British crimestopper! What I meant to say is that would be an awesome full test!
You never heard of Toyota's key Integrated watch? Only approx. 280 USD, then you can pretend to be 007 in ur ordinary corolla.
That watch looks goofy. I wouldn't wear it if you gave it to me for free.
The keyless entry function is interesting, but nowadays I don't even wear a watch, my BlackBerry serves that function.
No thanks.
I'll take the car, though. :o)
Geez, Suby, you beat me to the punch there. I was just about to type "Please deliver both the car and watch immediately to James Riswick, Desk 3047, Edmunds.com"
Could there be anything cooler than walking up to your Aston Martin DBS and unlocking it with your watch? No, the answer is most definitely no.
I always thought a key-watch combo would be really practical, but I never mentioned it because I knew someday Aston would steal the idea. *sigh*
I hope the idea funnels down toward more mortal cars.
Wow, that watch looks great, and the car too off course :D. I found a great picture of this Aston Martin http://www.carchannel.be/nl/artikel/aston-martin/aston-martin-dbs-bond-zei-u , really beautiful! :D