Aston Martin DBS V12 Casino Royale/A Quantum of Solace spec for James Bond 007 (2006/2008)

On the 16th of January 2006, Aston Martin released very limited details of a new sportscar. Very little was said about the new DBS at that time except that it will be driven by James Bond 007 in the forthcoming film Casino Royale scheduled for release in November  of the same year. The new James Bond actor, Daniel Craig, visited the AM Gaydon factory on the 13th January 2006 and had a brief drive of the car. It was almost as if no-one would get to see the car at all until the release of the film. The only image available at the time was this designers sketch.

What was really odd was that Corgi, the British die-cast manufacturer, famous for the ever popular Goldfinger DB5, actually previewed their model DBS at the British Toy Fair held in London during January 2006 - needless to say, pictures flew around the internet instantly. The Corgi DB5 is one of the greatest toys of all time, the Corgi DBS has a tough act to follow.

All photographs courtesy of Aston Martin and must not be reproduced without their strict permission 
Then by surprise, AM released a few select pictures of the car in early May 2006 but virtually no technical details at all. What could be seen was that the DBS was closely based on the DB9 bodyshell but has a new front (with carbonfibre splitter) and rear boot lid spoiler and diffuser, deeper sills and more vents on the bonnet. The interior was covered in Alcantara and the DBS had a conventional manual gear change with the shift pattern illuminated; the six speed Graziano from the V8 Vantage perhaps. The car was a strict two seater with space behind the seats to hold a race helmet (never made production). The DBS appeared also get the side indicator repeaters in the wing vents and clear rear light clusters both as first seen on the Rapide concept.

007 was subsequently re-united with the DBS for the 22nd Bond film, Quantum of Solace, released at the end of October 2008. Four cars were specially supplied just for the special effects, with further cars needed for close-ups. One of the cars was totally destroyed when it was driven into the lake in a freak accident. The example below survived and I was able to photograph it at the BMHT Museum at Gaydon in Autumn, 2009.
Rapide Production Car

DBS