The 2007 DBS takes the DB9 base and pushes it into a very different realm of image and intensity. The `517 hp` naturally aspirated `V12`, standard carbon-ceramic brakes and much more aggressive presentation make it the Aston of the period that comes closest to a supercar without giving up grand-touring refinement. It is also the one many people immediately connect to the James Bond world, which explains part of its present value against a more rational Porsche 911.
The car still remains more GT than track special. The engine likes to rev, the steering keeps real mechanical weight and manual versions offer a character that is highly prized today. `Touchtronic` suits road use better, but the philosophy stays the same: travel very fast with a lot of nobility in a car that demands serious follow-up on brakes, tyres and cooling.