Not what you might expect. Disregard all talk of an Aston supercar: this is an honest old-school GT that’s at its happiest covering long distances. The DBS uses electronic two-stage Bilstein dampers (sport and comfort) and a bespoke Pirelli tyre to produce the most comfortable and capable chassis we’ve experienced from Aston. Weight has been taken from the steering (a good thing), the limited-slip diff is a bit tighter on the over-run and, at 1695kg, the car is around 100kg lighter than the Vanquish.
It’s not a car that likes to be hustled: under duress the steering column moves slightly and there’s a slackness to the chassis, even with the dampers in sport mode, that dissuades you from such antics. In isolation, that’s no bad thing, but within the context of all that carbon and those splittery diffuser things, it’s just not what you expect. It’s also a confusing package because the car’s exterior styling is so aggressive. As ever, looks are a subjective issue, but no-one can deny that a) it looks like a DB9 with a few body modifications and b) it’s a fussier shape than any of the other new-age Astons.
Still, we like the fact that Aston has developed this car to be at its best where most people will use it: on the road. Out on the twisting UK roads is where it comes into its own and nothing compares to the thrill of the tuned engine providing a soundtrack to the pleasant countryside. Despite the uber-sporty look this is a car that is just as easily at home on lazy cross-country routes than it is on the track and, in both cases, has the attributes to attract everyone’s attention.
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