Aston Martin has taken the wraps off the new DBS 770 Ultimate as a radically enhanced swansong for the firm’s brutish V12 grand tourer – as well as an enticing statement of intent for the marque’s future sportscars. The Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate will receive an extended build run made up of 300 coupe and 199 convertible variants, each of which has already sold out ahead of deliveries that start in late summer.
- DBS 770 Ultimate debuts on 75th anniversary of DB nameplate
- V12 engine now produces 769hp – most powerful Aston ever
- No replacement for DBS planned yet
Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate: uprated engine
The new DBS 770 Ultimate is now the most powerful production Aston Martin ever. Its 769hp puts it some way clear of the standard DBS, which has 725hp. Even the 8-speed ZF gearbox has been re-tuned to give quicker shifts and to better convey a whopping 900Nm (available from just 1,800rpm) to the rear axle.
There have been more potent road cars to leave Gaydon in recent years – not least the 1,176hp Valkyrie hypercar and 847hp Aston Martin Victor coupé – but they have been highly limited and ultra-expensive propositions.
The 5.2-litre, quad-cam V12 engine’s extra grunt comes primarily from a 7 percent increase in turbo pressure and tweaks to the air and ignition pathways, as well as careful fettling of the power and torque delivery curves. Aston claims a 0-100kph sprint time of 3.2sec (in coupé form) and a top speed of 340kph.
Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate: mechanical upgrades
As with the similarly outrageous Aston Martin Vantage V12 launched last year, its added firepower arrives alongside an extensive chassis and drivetrain overhaul that's aimed at bolstering engagement and tightening up the handling.
The adaptive dampers have been recalibrated at all four corners, for example, to give improved control without denting rolling refinement (Aston has sought to preserve the DBS’s long-distance appeal). A new solid-mounted steering column has been fitted, which Aston says, allows the driver to enjoy a more precise connection with the road.
Aston also claims that the front-end stiffness is up by 25 percent, courtesy of a tougher new crossmember, while a thicker undertray at the back is said to increase rear-end rigidity by 3 percent.
Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate: exterior and interior updates
As with the similarly uprated Aston Martin DBX 707, the run-out DBS is told apart from its standard sibling by an aggressive design makeover that also serves a level of function. A substantial horseshoe-shaped bonnet vent enhances engine cooling, while a newly designed splitter, increasing downforce at the front, is flanked by a pair of larger new air vents that boost airflow and nod to the previous-generation DBS.
Other core differences over the standard DBS include a raft of carbonfibre body components, a bespoke rear diffuser and a new 21-inch wheel design modelled on those worn by the Valkyrie and Victor.
The interior is less radically reworked but comes furnished as standard with top-rung leather and Alcantara sports seats, a unique colour split for the cabin trim and stitching, and laser-etched DBS 770 Ultimate badging.
Will the DBS nameplate return in the future?
Aston would not be drawn on specifics of a successor to today’s DBS. The company’s product and marketing boss, Alex Long, went only so far as to confirm to our sister publication Autocar UK that “this is the end of the DBS – the last DBS produced”, but stopped short of confirming whether or not the nameplate could be redeployed in the future.
He did confirm that Aston “will always have a flagship”, and ex-CEO Tobias Moers’ affirmation last year that “there’s still room for a V12 in our sports car generation” suggests that Aston is not yet ready to retire its largest engine, opening the door for a new generation of 12-cylinder, front-engined grand tourers.
The V12 is “synonymous with the brand”, according to Long.“It’s an incredible engine, and in this particular iteration it’s the most sporting, with the most dynamic character."
“People still love the ‘twelves’. As much as the electrification revolution continues, it’s a different use case. And it’s still very much a huge emotional connection for our customers.”
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