(continued from above)
Aston Martin has a history of launching new cars at the Villa d'Este event in
Italy. The One-77 made its public debut there in 2009 and last year the new V12
Zagato was previewed as a concept car.
The latest Villa d'Este car, the AM310 Concept, is understood to be based on the
latest development of Aston's familiar VH platform rather than an all-new
architecture. While the new concept car was being paraded at the Concours
d'Elegance, the most production-ready test mules of the new car were caught
testing at the Nurburgring.
Details of the car's powertrain remain a secret at this stage, although Aston
has confirmed it will carry over the 6.0-liter V12 from the current model. Power
is tipped to increase to 573 hp, putting the new DBS in striking distance of
supercars like the Ferrari 458 Italia.
As ever, the flagship Aston's styling will take an evolutionary step forward,
with the Project AM310 drawing inspiration from the One-77 supercar. The
headlights and grille have been tweaked while the bonnet gets a more muscular
bump and the bumper a new aerodynamic grey carbon-fiber splitter.
Along the side, the stylized indicators and vent dividers extend deep towards
the trademark Aston Martin door handles, while the rear-end gets piercing
tail-lights, an integrated spoiler, and a broad, grey carbon-fiber diffuser.
Carbon-fiber will be used extensively throughout the construction and body
panels of the new DBS, reducing weight and increasing its strength and
stiffness.
Aston kept the interior of the new concept under wraps at Villa d'Este. But it
is understood to be all-new both in design and technology, addressing one of the
main problems of the current DBS.
The DBS replacement will go on sale in 2013, leading Aston Martin's centenary
celebrations. The chassis, engine, styling and interior improvements introduced
first on the new Aston flagship will then be rolled out across the rest of the
range before the middle of the decade.
