Aston Martin DBS

Styling/Image
Despite the familiar, DB9 inspired design, your money buys a lot more when choosing Aston Martin’s flagship model. But while it’s impossible to pin the car’s appeal down to one single thing, the engine note is amazing, and the performance exhilarating. There’s also a unique sense of Britishness to the product, missing from many rivals.

Interior/Practicality
Beautifully trimmed, and more generously proportioned than any other Aston, the DBS offers drivers a blend of luxury and sportyness. Chief among details is the sapphire key fob, which must be inserted into a hole in the dashboard before the car can be started. Sports seats are comfortable, but there is no room in the back for passengers.

Engine/performance
Fire up the 510bhp 6.0-litre V12 engine. Erupting with a deep, deafening bark, it wouldn’t sound out of place in the pitlane at Le Mans – and it gets even better on the move. The engine develops 70bhp more than the DB9’s and offers a 0-60mph sprint time of 4.3 seconds. Top speed is 191mph. It’s at its best above 4,000rpm, though equally as happy at low revs.

Driving experience
The steering is accurate, the engine responsive and the brakes are powerful. Whats more, the Aston’s new two-mode adaptive dampers offer an impressive blend of comfort and grip. In the default ‘comfort’ mode, the suspension is surprisingly compliant – especially considering the lower ride and 20-inch alloy wheels. Select the harder setting, and they stiffen further, making the car ideal for use on smooth roads or race tracks. Grip in both modes is absolutely incredible.

Ownership costs
The car costs £160,000 to buy, uses only the finest sports tyres and best components. Meanwhile, the 6.0-litre V12 guzzles fuel, and the car’s servicing regime is as expensive as it is strict. However, depreciation is not as savage as you might expect, and if you hold on long enough, it’s just possible your investment in the car could make you a mint! Consider that a 1960s DB4 is now worth in the order of £250,000.

Safety/environment
Not  the cleanest car of its type, those who would like to keep emissions to a minimum would be best to select the automatic Touchtronic model, which emits 367g/km and returns 18.2mpg. Though no official safety statistics are available all models are extremely robust thanks to their aluminium and carbon composite chassis. All are fitted with driver and passenger airbags.