For those who secretly “aspire” to become the world most famous MI6 agent, you’re a step closer. Soon, the much sought-after 1964 Aston Martin DB5 from the classic James Bond movie, Goldfinger, will be available in Singapore – and it can be yours for a mere US3.5 million dollars. There’ll be a wait, of course.
For those who want the drop, though, the new Aston Martin DBS Superleggera – soon to be announced as Bond’s newest ride for the next movie due late 2019 – could be yours sooner. The third instalment of the brand’s Second Century Plan to revamp its existing two-door sports models, following the Vantage and DB11 AMR, is based on the DB11. The distinguish moniker, Superleggera (super light in Italian), in this latest edition uses lightweight carbon-fibre bodywork, carbon fibre panels with optional carbon fibre trims and a titanium exhaust aided by a chassis that was evolved from the latest generation of lightweight bonded aluminium first seen on the DB11, with forged double wishbones at the front. The new composition shaved an impressive 160lb (72kg) off its overall weight.
At the heart of this beast beats a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 engine, commanding a whopping 715hp and 900Nm of torque from 1,800 to 5,000 rpm. With a combination of an upgraded engine and the new light-weight construction, the British marque accelerates from stationary to 100kmh in just 3.4 seconds (a second faster than the Ferrari 812 SuperFast) and reaches a top speed of approximately 340 kmh.
Aesthetically, it’s a good proportion of athleticism and aggression. The provocative and aerodynamic styling is matched by an imposing black-mesh grille and a pronounced front lip spoiler – with air ducts that extend like wings – and a F1-inspired double-diffuser.
There’s a modest spread of features and equipment that comes standard with the ride, including keyless entry, a tire pressure monitoring system and a 360-degree camera with Parking Distance Display and Park Assist. An in-car infotainment system operates from a central LCD screen, which can be controlled via a central dial. The audio setup is wired for DAB plus Bluetooth audio and supports phone streaming from iPods, iPhones and via USB playback. There is also an integrated satellite navigation system and wi-fi hub.