Aston Martin DBS Superleggera (2018–present) Price Guide

The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera is the most powerful front-engined car Aston has ever produced; 715bhp and 900Nm from a 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12, in a car styled to look like it belongs on the Mulsanne Straight rather than the motorway. The name pays homage to Touring of Milan’s Superleggera lightweight coachbuilding technique, and while the modern car is not especially light, it handles as though it were.

The Car

Launched in 2018 as the successor to the Vanquish, the DBS Superleggera sits above the DB11 as the range-topping grand tourer on the VH bonded aluminium platform. The 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 is cast by Grainger and Worrall in the UK, while assembled in Cologne. It is the same architecture as the DB11’s engine but tuned to 715bhp through an additional 4.4psi of boost and a higher-torque-capacity ZF 8HP95 eight-speed automatic with a shorter 2.93:1 final drive ratio. The torque figure of 900Nm arrives from 1,800rpm and sustains to 5,000rpm. A carbon-fibre propeller shaft inside an aluminium torque tube transmits power to the rear wheels through a mechanical limited-slip differential and torque vectoring system. The bonnet, bootlid, front wings, front splitter, and rear diffuser are all carbon fibre. Top speed is 211mph. A Volante convertible arrived in 2020.

What Goes Wrong

Early cars carried over some of the DB11’s electrical reliability concerns; infotainment freezes and phantom warning lights are the most common complaints. The carbon-ceramic brake option (CCM) is standard on most specifications and lasts well in road use but the pads produce a groan when cold that unnerves owners unfamiliar with the material. In wet conditions the rear wheels can overwhelm the tyres under power. So much so, the stability control calibration was revised on later cars. Coil pack wear on the V12 is the recurring mechanical issue to monitor. The Touchtronic paddle-shift can feel hesitant at low speeds in Normal mode; Sport or Sport+ resolves this. Interior similarities to the DB11 were noted at launch as a criticism given the price differential.

Buying

The DBS Superleggera has depreciated substantially from its six-figure new price, making used examples a compelling proposition. A 2020-onwards car with the revised stability software is the safest starting point. The Volante commands a premium. Special editions including the 007 Edition and Superleggera TAG Heuer Edition attract collectors. Avoid cars with service gaps as the twin-turbo V12 demands adherence to Aston’s service schedule. Aston Martin Works at Newport Pagnell provides heritage and specialist support across the range.