Aston Martin Revs Up Lightweight Supercar

Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd. says its new DBS Superleggera supercar is the fastest and most powerful production model in the British marque’s history.

Due later this year, the 2+2 coupe will replace the outgoing Vanquish S as Aston Martin’s flagship model. The DBS Superleggera (Italian for super light) will be built on the DB11 AMR’s aluminum chassis and sport carbon fiber body panels to keep its dry weight down to about 3,700 lbs.

The all-new supercar gets a modified version of the DB11’s 5.2-liter V-12 twin turbo engine. Output in the DBS Superleggera has been hiked to 715 hp and 664 lb-ft of torque, compared with 630 hp and 516 lb-ft for the DB11.

Mated with a new 8-speed transmission, the engine can propel the supercar from zero to 62 mph in 3.4 seconds and hit 100 mph in 6.4 seconds. Top speed is listed at 211 mph. To highlight the performance, the car will feature a quad-exhaust system that is 10 db louder than the DB11.

The car’s aerodynamics package features a front splitter, extensive underbody work, and a rear diffuser and wing. The combination generates nearly 400 lbs of downforce—the most ever for a production Aston Martin.

To further differentiate it from the DB11, the Superleggera gets a wider and bolder grille, and new headlights and taillights. Instead of the brand’s winged logo, the Aston Martin name will be spelled out on the trunk lid.

Aston Martin will publicly unveil the DBS Superleggera at next month’s Goodwood Festival of Speed in England. Pricing in the U.S. will start at $305,000.