RE: New Bond car for Daniel Craig - official pics arrive
Monday 8th May 2006
Aston Martin launches DBS
New Bond car for Daniel Craig - official pics arrive
  Aston Martin DBS for James Bond |
Aston Martin has unveiled the new DBS, to be driven by British secret agent James Bond in the next 007 film, Casino Royale.
In true Bond style, specific details of the new DBS remain top secret, although Aston Martin Design Director, Marek Reichman, said: “This car encapsulates a link between our elegant DB9 road car and the powerful DBR9 race car. It signals an evolutionary development of Aston Martin’s world renowned style and elegance. While hinting at our future design direction, the DBS also has very clear links with our heritage – it is instantly recognisable as an Aston Martin.”
Aston Martin boss Dr Ulrich Bez said: “The DBS continues our proud and lengthy association with James Bond. The DBS is not of the understated elegance of a DB9, nor the youthful agility of the V8 Vantage. It is explosive power in a black tie and has its own unique character which will equal that of James Bond.”
Starring Daniel Craig as James Bond, the film is scheduled for release in November 2006.
Discussion
Now I know it's an Aston & all that goes with it but.... does anyone else think that Astons are beginning to suffer from the same "designer DNA" that typifies most Porsches ? To paraphrase J Clarkson Esq re the latter "the most underworked design studio in the motor industry" 
Perhaps AM should have gone further with the Bond connection & asked "Q" to have a hand in it..
Perhaps AM should have gone further with the Bond connection & asked "Q" to have a hand in it..nickjm said:
I would look at it as more of a souped up DB9, rather than a new model.
Quite. Think back to the progression of the DB series 4,5, 6 etc & then the original DBS & what a diversion that was. Not to mention beasts like the Virage Vantage etc- for my money the ba..siest looking AM of all.
Future Design Direction? Same as the last few years then, in the looks department! Many of the manufacturers are coming up with designs that from a distance look like their bigger or lesser siblings and this can't be good for the industry. Look at a C Class Merc from a short distance and the previous S Class coming at you, and unless you can see the shape of the headlights clearly, they could be one and the same. The same is true for the previous Boxster and 996, save for the orange indicator part on the Boxster's headlight unit.
Now with the add-on body kits for some models, you can make a lesser model car look just like it's more costly alternative. Good for the person who can't afford the more expensive car but degrading to the guy who just forked out twice as much.
The car manufacturers need to bring in some real differentials. I am being drawn to the more obscure manufacturers who make only one model today, but I know that they too will fall into this trap.
Oh well, we are all doomed to drive the same little boxes that you can have in Coupe, Saloon, Estate, Convertible, Pick-up, Van. Make mine a red one like the rest of them!
>> Edited by bridgland on Monday 8th May 12:17
Now with the add-on body kits for some models, you can make a lesser model car look just like it's more costly alternative. Good for the person who can't afford the more expensive car but degrading to the guy who just forked out twice as much.
The car manufacturers need to bring in some real differentials. I am being drawn to the more obscure manufacturers who make only one model today, but I know that they too will fall into this trap.
Oh well, we are all doomed to drive the same little boxes that you can have in Coupe, Saloon, Estate, Convertible, Pick-up, Van. Make mine a red one like the rest of them!
>> Edited by bridgland on Monday 8th May 12:17
On an aside, the teaser trailer has been launched...
www.sonypictures.com/movies/casinoroyale/
Looks awesome, a return to proper Bond movies!
www.sonypictures.com/movies/casinoroyale/
Looks awesome, a return to proper Bond movies!
Firstly, this is a fantastic looking car! DB9, DBR9 and V8 Vantage are all superb looking cars and this sure is too. But as everyone's said so far, that is the problem. DB9 looks roughly the same as the Vantage looks roughly the same as this DBS. Yes they're fantastic looking cars, but get over yourselves and make something that looks lovely but different, as I'm sure such an accomplished design house as Aston are more than capable of.
Report: B plus. Shouldn't rest on previous laurels. Could do better. Must try harder.
Report: B plus. Shouldn't rest on previous laurels. Could do better. Must try harder.
I thought I saw a DB5/6 in the teaser. Maybe this new DBS will feature for all of about 10 seconds on film. Either way, I think Sony have more issues with who is playing Bond and not what car he is driving. Is it just me or does Daniel Craig always look like he's just bitten into a lemon?
ErnestM
ErnestM
They aren't really trying very hard are they? Yawn... They all look the same, sure its a very nice design, but couldn't they try something different? I know they're pitching it as an evolution of the DB9, but really, they haven't done much to it. I'll be curious to see future Astons to see if they can come up with something new.
I can't disagree with the main theme of this one. This is an over-egged pudding, or a gilded lily, whichever you prefer. I was most disappointed when I see it. Like some of the other posts here, it looks like AM spent the Christmas party budget at Halfords. 'Spose it was a bit much to expect a radically different car, but they coulda tried a bit harder.
What's up with y'all? All I see on this comments page is talks about HOW IT LOOKS. Me, when I'm in a car, what matters is HOW IT DRIVES.
Let's hope Aston have sorted out their problems with vague steering, weaving under braking (DB9), and unexciting lack of power (Vantage. Lovely noise, but where's the corresponding oomph?(to use that name in an underpowered car is completely ignoring their history. Vantages of old were terrigyingly powerful beasts, the most powerful versions of their cars, not the cheaper scaled down version)). The only real drivers car (road car) they currently do is the Vanquish.... All the others are more for posing. (spin, the modern disease)
If this is a DB9 with attitude, then let's have it.
Besides, when it comes to looks, there's very little you can do with front mid engined 2+2 and still keep within all the regs these days. And even less if you want people to recognise it as an Aston. And I'll bet that in the flesh it looks different, anyway.
As for the fat bloke who can't drive, who's opinionated and puerile crap has ruined the BBC's once excellent 'programme for petrolheads' (Top Gear)...what a load of tosh saying Porsche's design boys are lazy! That car has been consistently developed for many years, holding the crown time and time again for driving pleasure. The design engineers have worked harder than any other company. AT WHAT MATTERS.
No other company has been this consistent, and still developed. Take any manufacturer you like who has at some time built a true wundercar. They've subsequently gone off the boil. Jaguar, Volkswagen, Audi, Ferrari (yes, we've even had some duff cars from the prancing horse) Maserati, Lancia, Alfa, TVR, Lamborghini....you name it, they've built great cars, and rubbish ones. Look at the new MX5. Ruined. All looks and no substance, no balance, no feedback, no JOY. Lost the plot.
No, you're right, Porsche did lose the plot once that I know of. The remarkable 914! The 924 wasn't really up to much, either (Turbo and Carrera GT excepted) Still, one/two cars in how many?
Come on guys, stop talking about how they look, and get down to some serious driving!
Al
Let's hope Aston have sorted out their problems with vague steering, weaving under braking (DB9), and unexciting lack of power (Vantage. Lovely noise, but where's the corresponding oomph?(to use that name in an underpowered car is completely ignoring their history. Vantages of old were terrigyingly powerful beasts, the most powerful versions of their cars, not the cheaper scaled down version)). The only real drivers car (road car) they currently do is the Vanquish.... All the others are more for posing. (spin, the modern disease)
If this is a DB9 with attitude, then let's have it.
Besides, when it comes to looks, there's very little you can do with front mid engined 2+2 and still keep within all the regs these days. And even less if you want people to recognise it as an Aston. And I'll bet that in the flesh it looks different, anyway.
As for the fat bloke who can't drive, who's opinionated and puerile crap has ruined the BBC's once excellent 'programme for petrolheads' (Top Gear)...what a load of tosh saying Porsche's design boys are lazy! That car has been consistently developed for many years, holding the crown time and time again for driving pleasure. The design engineers have worked harder than any other company. AT WHAT MATTERS.
No other company has been this consistent, and still developed. Take any manufacturer you like who has at some time built a true wundercar. They've subsequently gone off the boil. Jaguar, Volkswagen, Audi, Ferrari (yes, we've even had some duff cars from the prancing horse) Maserati, Lancia, Alfa, TVR, Lamborghini....you name it, they've built great cars, and rubbish ones. Look at the new MX5. Ruined. All looks and no substance, no balance, no feedback, no JOY. Lost the plot.
No, you're right, Porsche did lose the plot once that I know of. The remarkable 914! The 924 wasn't really up to much, either (Turbo and Carrera GT excepted) Still, one/two cars in how many?
Come on guys, stop talking about how they look, and get down to some serious driving!
Al
Why not just bung Bond in the Vanquish?
I still think it's the nicest looking of the cars since the DB7... also rare.
Seen loads of DB9's kicking around, and I'm sure V8's will be as common as muck soon enough, yet rarely see a DB7!
If I were bond I'd be in a Vanquish, the others are far too cheap!
Dave
>> Edited by Mr Whippy on Monday 8th May 17:00
I still think it's the nicest looking of the cars since the DB7... also rare.
Seen loads of DB9's kicking around, and I'm sure V8's will be as common as muck soon enough, yet rarely see a DB7!
If I were bond I'd be in a Vanquish, the others are far too cheap!
Dave
>> Edited by Mr Whippy on Monday 8th May 17:00
Mr Whippy said:
Why not just bung Bond in the Vanquish?
I still think it's the nicest looking of the cars since the DB7... also rare.
Seen loads of DB9's kicking around, and I'm sure V8's will be as common as muck soon enough, yet rarely see a DB7!
If I were bond I'd be in a Vanquish, the others are far too cheap!
Dave
>> Edited by Mr Whippy on Monday 8th May 17:00
They usually like to put him in the latest cars, remembering that the Vanq is 5 years old now and they wouldnt want to re-advertise a car that is being killed off next year. The DBS is very likely to be a much more acomplished car in terms of handling, performance and quality than the Vanquish/DB7.
DB7's were quite common, its just they were all stuck on the side of the road with electronics problems. (zees vas a joke)
No shortage of DB7s here, or new V8s, or old V8s, or DB9s, even the older DB series can't remember seeing any Vanquishes though, now that I think about it, but from what I hear, you basically pay more for an inferior product with the Vanquish, probably why they mainly sell to footballers 
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