Aston Martin DBS Superleggera could be the ultimate supercar

Ferrari-fighting supercar makes you feel glamorous, powerful and a little bit dangerous — it’s the quintessential British brute.

This is how supercars are supposed to make you feel — glamorous, powerful and just a little bit dangerous.

If the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera were a film star, Hollywood might cast it as Daniel Craig’s replacement in the next James Bond film.

Its sculpted body certainly looks the part, with eye-catching details and imposing muscle.

Enormous tyres join 21-inch wheels and carbon ceramic brakes at each corner. The bodywork is finished in Diavolo red paint with carbon-fibre trim. Its elegant doors swing out and slightly upward to reveal a cabin trimmed in leather, carbon-fibre, Alcantara and dyed ash veneer, befitting one of the most expensive coupes you can buy.

The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera makes you feel like a supercar should.

But it’s not perfect. The infotainment, pinched from previous-generation Benz models, is functional if somewhat incongruous and driver aids such as adaptive cruise control and autonomous emergency braking aren’t available.

It isn’t hard to find parallels, if cliched, between the British brand and the famed secret agent. But these are important, as those who can drain their bank account of $517,000 — and much more with options and on-road costs — buy into a fantasy of becoming a little like Bond when they press the starter button.

The DBS bursts into life with a dramatic flare of revs, then gurgles from quad exhaust tips before settling into the idle of a dozen pulsing cylinders.

The twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 sings a sophisticated and more melodious tune than V8 alternatives.

A burly twin-turbo V12 engine is the hero of the car.

And the DBS can rock with the best of them, thanks to towering 533kW and 900Nm maximum outputs capable of propelling the coupe to 340km/h. Its claimed 0-100km/h time of 3.4 seconds is a little less impressive, as the Aston drives only the rear wheels and comes with relatively sensible Pirelli P-Zero tyres as opposed to noisy, fast-wearing “semi-slick” rubber that doesn’t work in cold or slippery conditions.

This was great news in mixed weather during our time with the car, as we could actually drive it rather than waiting for clear skies.

The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera is very plush inside.

Scrambling for traction even on dry roads, the DBS surges toward the horizon like few other cars, riding fat waves of torque as you pluck gears from its eight-speed automatic transmission.

Surprisingly supple, the suspension combines with fast and light steering to make the DBS easier to drive than expected, though you’re always aware of its generous dimensions.

The DBS is a different kind of supercar to most 500kW-plus machines — it’s nothing like as ostentatious as Lamborghini’s Aventador, for example.

Instead, the Aston goes for ease of entry, relaxed driving position and excellent outward vision. Then there are the more familiar (to most) dynamics of a front-engine, rear-drive car with a mighty and effortless motor.

It’s an addictive machine, particularly when the brutal peak torque hits from just 1800rpm.

There’s no need to wind the engine out to its 7000rpm redline but, if you do, there’s none of the operatics you’ll get from an Italian V12.

Then again, can you imagine Bond doing a Pavarotti impression?

Verdict 3.5/5

The DBS Superleggera represents the essence of Aston Martin — it’s dramatic, powerful and beautifully finished — but you’ll find better connectivity and safety tech in far cheaper cars.

Aston Martin DBS Superleggera

Price: From $517,000 plus on-roads

Warranty: 3 years/unlimited km

Safety: 7 airbags, parking sensors and cameras

Engine: 5.2-litre V12 twin-turbo, 533kW/900Nm

Thirst: 12.2L/100km

0-100km/h: 3.4 secs, top speed 340km/h

Relatively speaking

The DBS Superleggera is the more muscular cousin of Aston’s DB11 coupe. Carbon-fibre panels trim 72kg, helping justify the “Superleggera” (super-light) name used on classic Astons — but it’s not exactly light at 1800kg. The clever “aeroblade” that funnels air from the window frame through the bodywork to an opening on the bootlid generates downforce at speed. Its beefed-up gearbox allows engineers to extract another 56kW of power and 200Nm of torque from the V12, cementing its place at the top of the Aston Martin range.