First Drive: Aston Martin DBS Carbon Edition

Ah, the Aston Martin DBS: forever to be know as the James Bond Aston. It may frustrate the living daylights out of you, but the connection is so ingrained, it really will have to die another day.

But it’s not all about Bond (you’ll be deeply relieved to hear): the appeal of an Aston Martin is actually in its friendly people-pleasing desirability. The cars are ultra-expensive and super-rare, yet they still somehow elicit cheery admiration and respect in passers-by, rather than the envious sneers and preconceptions about your character that some rivals rouse.

Maybe this is thanks to Aston’s decision to trade its cars as luxury goods rather than simply expensive ultra-focused sports cars. The 2012 DBS Carbon Edition perfectly showcases this approach: it’s a DBS enhanced not by more power or more ability, but by more bespoke detailing and more richness of finish.