All good things must come to an end. It's a cliché of the highest order, but it perfectly sums up the Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate. The car you see here represents the pinnacle of production for the current-generation DBS, which is a prestigious way of saying this is the end of the line. Whether the nameplate returns with pure V12 power is uncertain, but in 770 Ultimate trim, it exits stage left as the most powerful DBS of all time.
As such, you can probably guess what 770 stands for. That's the metric horsepower rating of its twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 which equates to 759 bhp. The only way to get more bhp from Gaydon is through electrification, so the DBS 770 Ultimate certainly lives up to its name.
Engineers massaged the engine's intake and ignition for a 7-percent increase in boost pressure. Additional fine-tuning of engine parameters contribute to the final power rating, which incidentally is enough to push the big GT car all the way to 211 mph. A special transmission calibration for the 8-speed automatic helps, too.
Upgraded power usually requires upgraded brakes, but the standard DBS ceramics are already up to the task. As a refresher, those are 410 millimetre (16 inch) discs in front and 360 mm (14 in) at the back. The steering is upgraded though, courtesy of a new solid-mount steering column that increases both precision and driver feedback. The chassis is also a bit stiffer, and Aston Martin says the suspension gets special calibration that increases "control and composure without compromise to ride quality."
Gallery: Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate
Visually, the DBS 770 Ultimate rides on bespoke 21-inch wheels available in three finishes. The long bonnet incorporates a new "horse shoe" engine vent. A new front splitter is in play, and there's plenty of carbon fibre with the cantrail, windshield surround, mirror caps, and wing/fender louvres. Moving rearward you'll find new carbon fibre sills, and a unique diffuser holds station at the back.
Inside are standard-issue Sports Plus seats shod with quilted leather and Alcantara. A special contrast trim is exclusive to the 770 Ultimate, and of course you'll find special badging identifying each car's place in a production run of 499 vehicles.
One More Round With The Aston Martin V12:
Mind you, that's 499 for the entire world – 300 coupes and 199 Volantes. Aston Martin doesn't share pricing information, but it doesn't matter because we're told each one is already sold. Production begins later in the first quarter of this year, with deliveries commencing in the summer.