Aston Martin continues testing the successor of the DBS Superleggera at the Nurburgring Nordschleife. The carparazzi have recently spied the most production-spec prototype thus far, a superb-looking machine with quad exhaust outlets rather than a dual exhaust for the Aston Martin DB12.
Pictured on Pirelli tires rather than DB12-specific Michelin Pilot Sport 5 S rubber for the V8-powered sibling, the newcomer features Vantage-inspired headlights with six LEDs for the DRLs per side. We can further notice a pair of large hood vents, a larger front lip spoiler, and a larger radiator grille as well.
No substantial differences between it and the DB12 can be seen from the side view, but Aston Martin did change a lot of things out back. In addition to the quad exhaust, we're dealing with a redesigned bumper, aerodynamic diffuser, taillights that don't look anything like those of the Vantage and DB12, as well as a Vantage-licious upswept rear deck lid.
Based on how it enters the Caracciola-Karussell, the yet-unnamed replacement for the DBS Superleggera may have received the stiffer anti-roll bars and intelligent adaptive dampers of the 2024 model year DB12 and 2025 model year Vantage. Both promise more overall torsional rigidity than the DB11 and pre-facelift Vantage, which suggests that Aston Martin has also worked its magic on the V12-powered gran turismo's bonded aluminum chassis.
Equipped with a ZF-supplied transaxle that enables a top speed of 202 miles per hour (325 kilometers per hour) in the DB12's case, the flagship grand tourer appears to be running carbon-ceramic brakes. The super GT could also follow in the footsteps of the DBS Superleggera with carbon-fiber body panels to shave off a few pounds, and chances are the prop shaft is carbon fiber as well. Why so?
Photo: Baldauf
Think about it for a second. The DBS Superleggera and limited-run DBS 770 Ultimate belt out 900 Nm of tire-shredding torque from its twin-turbo V12, meaning 664 pound-feet in old money. The AMG-supplied V8 in the DB12 and Vantage, by comparison, is rated at 800 Nm (590 pound-feet).
A stupidly handsome car that will certainly pose a threat to Ferrari's replacement for the 812 Superfast, the Aston has to deliver in excess of 800 horsepower at the crankshaft in order to compete against the F167 on equal footing. The 812's heir apparent is believed to make 838 horsepower, up 49 horses from the 789-hp 812 Superfast and up 19 ponies from the 819-horse 812 Competizione.
With the F167's premiere set for early May 2024, the British automaker might reveal the second coming of the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera as early as summer 2024. As far as the cabin is concerned, the biggest departure from the outgoing DBS Superleggera is the infotainment system. In a similar fashion to the DB12 and Vantage, the DBS Superleggera will ditch Merc's COMAND rotary controller knob for a touchscreen.
The next Astons in line for said update are the DBX and slightly punchier DBX707. It's not known whether the first-ever SUV to wear the Aston Martin badge will ever be gifted with the V12 of the DBS Superleggera, but we do know that said engine will go hybrid in the near future.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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