The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera is the most powerful front-engined grand tourer in current production, with a 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine producing 725 hp and 900 Nm of torque in a body that weighs 1,693 kg. The name references the Superleggera coachbuilding tradition of Touring Milano, whose lightweight construction philosophy influenced Aston Martin's use of carbon fibre composite body panels on the DBS. For FFGR clients who wish to experience the Riviera in the context of a genuine GT car — two occupants, two doors, an engine note that is part of the landscape — the DBS is offered as a chauffeur vehicle for point-to-point transfers where the journey is itself the occasion.
725 hp Twin-Turbocharged V12
The DBS Superleggera's 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 is the most powerful engine Aston Martin has fitted to a production road car in the front-engined configuration. The 725 hp and 900 Nm figures represent a 60 hp increase over the DB11 AMR from which the architecture descends, achieved through larger turbocharger units, revised intercoolers, and a recalibrated engine management programme. The eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission routes power exclusively to the rear axle — the DBS has no all-wheel drive — meaning the rear tyres carry the full torque load, a characteristic that requires the FFGR chauffeur assigned to this vehicle to have specific training in rear-drive dynamics at the limit.
The active exhaust system uses electronically controlled bypass valves that open progressively with engine load and driver mode selection. In GT mode — the softest of the three drive modes — the exhaust produces a subdued note appropriate for urban sections. In Sport mode the bypass valves partially open, producing the mid-range V12 bark that is audible from inside the vehicle and distinctive on the coastal roads between Monaco and Menton. In Sport Plus mode all valves open fully; this mode is not used in chauffeur service but is available to the principal on request for specific segments of the journey.
Carbon Fibre Superleggera Body Construction
The Superleggera suffix references the use of carbon fibre composite for the DBS's body panels, including the bonnet, front wings, boot lid, and roof. The carbon fibre construction reduces the body mass by approximately 72 kg compared to an equivalent aluminium construction and contributes to a weight distribution of 51:49 front to rear — the same as the DB11 despite the DBS's larger engine. The natural weave of the carbon fibre is visible in the bare carbon exterior option; the FFGR fleet vehicles carry it in Aston Martin's Magnetic Silver finish, which captures light differently at different angles as the car moves.
The interior carries carbon fibre elements in the transmission tunnel trim, the door sill plates, and the optional carbon fibre seat backs. The bridge console that spans the transmission tunnel carries the drive mode selector and the start button in a horizontal orientation that is unique to the DBS. The instrument panel uses a dual-cowl design with individual binnacles for the speedometer and tachometer, and the infotainment display is a portrait-format touchscreen that retracts flush with the dashboard surface when not in use.
The Riviera Route — Monaco to Saint-Tropez
The coastal route from Monaco to Saint-Tropez passes through some of the most photographed road sections in Europe: the Grande Corniche above Eze, the descent to Villefranche-sur-Mer, the Cap d'Antibes peninsula, and the climb over the Col de Gratel above Fréjus. The distance is approximately 130 kilometres by the coastal route; in the DBS, with moderate traffic, the transfer takes approximately two hours. FFGR operates this route for clients who require a morning departure from Monaco for a Saint-Tropez lunch arrival, combining the journey with the specific character of the DBS on the Corniche roads.
The DBS's skyhook adaptive damping system uses accelerometers in the chassis to continuously adjust damper rates, providing a comfortable ride on the straighter coastal sections and firm body control on the Corniche switchbacks. The electronic stability system in the DBS uses a rear-bias calibration that allows the rear axle to move slightly before intervention — a characteristic that experienced drivers describe as communicative rather than intrusive. FFGR chauffeurs assigned to DBS transfers complete a specific route familiarisation programme on the Monaco to Saint-Tropez itinerary.
Two-Passenger Grand Touring Format
The DBS Superleggera is a 2+2 configuration in which the rear seats are legally occupiable but practically suited to occupants under approximately 1.70 metres for journeys under 30 minutes. FFGR offers the DBS as a chauffeur vehicle in the two-passenger configuration: client in the front passenger seat, no rear occupation. This arrangement places the principal at the same level as the driving experience and provides the most direct engagement with the car's environment — the engine note, the lateral acceleration through the Corniche corners, the exhaust note under the Monaco tunnel.
For principals who prefer the more conventional rear-seat position, the DBS is not the appropriate choice — FFGR would recommend the Bentley Flying Spur or the Maybach S680 instead. The DBS is offered specifically for clients who request it by name, who understand the two-passenger format, and who want the Riviera experience in a car that is genuinely part of the Côte d'Azur landscape rather than merely traversing it.
