First look: Aston presents DBS support acts

JOINING the new DBS on the Aston Martin stand at this week’s Frankfurt motor show will be two new special editions – the V8 Vantage N400 and DB9 LM, both of which draw inspiration from the British marque’s recent motorsport achievements.

Commemorating Aston’s success at the ADAC 24-hour race at the Nurburgring (with the V8 Vantage N24 production racecar), the N400 benefits from an upgrade to the 4.3-litre engine – now at 313kW (or 400hp, hence the name) and 420Nm – and is claimed to be able to crack the eight-minute benchmark on the Nordschleife circuit of the famous German track.

Also included on the N400 is a Sports Pack comprising uprated springs and dampers, a new rear anti-rollbar (for the coupe) and unique lightweight graphite-finished diamond-turned alloy wheels.

Left: DB9 LM.

Other exterior features include a revised side sill design, “Magnum Silver” bonnet and side strake meshes, HID headlamps, clear rear lamp lenses and a bright finish grille. Three new exterior colours (black, silver and orange) are also available.

The cabin has perforated black leather seats, new aluminium fascia trim and a numbered sill plate, along with satellite navigation and a 700W premium stereo.

As the name suggests, the DB9 LM celebrates Aston’s GT1 class win at Le Mans in June with the DBR9 racecar.

Available in coupe form only with the “Touchtronic” transmission, the LM has a range of cosmetic enhancements including a unique “Sarthe Silver” exterior paint finish, Magnum Silver finishing on meshes and the rear crossbar, and red brake callipers.

Inside, there is black leather, unique “Tertre Rouge” fascia trim and a numbered sill plaque. It, too, has the (DB9) Sports Pack as optional, thus adding colour-keyed diamond-turned alloy wheels.

Pricing and Australian availability for both cars are still to be announced.