Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante spied testing

-    Aston Martin announced the DBS Superleggera moniker as a replacement for the Vanquish.

-    Here we have the Volante (open-top) version of the flagship spotted testing near the ‘Ring.

-    The DBS Superleggera will be revealed later this year followed shortly by the Volante.

Aston Martin announced the resurrection of the DBS Superleggera moniker for the Vanquish’s successor last month. The new flagship from Gaydon will be revealed later this year. Similar to the previous DBS and Vanquish flagship models, a Volante variant is expected to follow as well. And here we have the first exclusive images of an early test mule of the DBS Superleggera Volante spotted testing near the ‘Ring.

The test mule bears the same design language seen on the DB11. But it has a completely new grille design. It is massive and, just like in the Vantage, it is the new defining element of the all-new Aston Martins. The front-fender is exactly like the DB11. The new DBS Superleggera seems to have taken on the regal design cues of the DB11 and has added sporty elements to it for an aggressive flagship appeal. 

The soft top is ordinary without any drama. But at the rear, we can see a deployable spoiler which is in its early stage of development. The rudimentary spoiler on the test mule could be a stylish addition to the elegant rear of the Volante. There was a quad-exhaust set-up as well, but the outer exhaust tips were again very basic and not production prototypes. 

There are more aggressive elements present on the test mule such as the front splitter, rear diffuser, and the pair of bonnet vents. The headlight design is straight from the DB11, while the tail lights are very similar to the outgoing Vanquish. The test mule was riding on massive wheels wrapped in Pirelli PZero rubber. 

The single peek that we managed to catch inside the cabin goes to show that the DB11 inspiration continues on the inside as well. The centre console picture here is scrounged directly from the grand tourer but the contrast red stitching hints at the sporty nature of the DBS Superleggera.

Aston Martin has promised to reveal the DBS Superleggera in the latter half of 2018. Hopefully, the soft-top convertible Volante should arrive in the summer of 2019. The British marque seems quite busy lately. The carmaker has already revealed the new-gen Vantage and DB11 AMR this year already. It will be followed by the Rapide AME in 2018. In a couple of years’ time, we also will see Aston’s first SUV based on the Lagonda concept.