Aston Martin V12 Vantage and DBS Carbon Black Editions: first official pictures

Aston Martin has unveiled rather aggressive-looking special versions of its V12 Vantage and DBS supercars, under the Carbon Black Edition banner. No prizes for guessing they're black and laced with carbonfibre trinkets.

The Carbon Black Edition V12 Vantage and DBS are coated with black metallic paint that takes 50 man-hours to apply, says Aston. Unique to the Vantage – buyers of which will be invited to Aston’s Performance Driving Course – is a carbonfibre strake over a black mesh side vent, as well as gloss black diamond turned alloys to complete the sinister image.

The interiors are clad in – you guessed it – black leather, which is hand stitched with silver thread at Aston’s Gaydon headquarters. Beneath the hide are carbonfibre and kevlar seats that save 17kg over the standard items, while the centre consoles and stacks of both Vantage and DBS are finished in glossy piano black.

Meanwhile, audio needs in the V12 Vantage are taken care of by a 700-watt Aston Martin system, with the DBS boasting a Bang & Olufsen set-up. As fine as they may be, we do question the need for trick sound systems when the voice of God is speaking from 12 cylinders beneath the bonnet. 

Nope. These special editions are more about extra posing than performance. Mechanically, both the Carbon Black Edition V12 Vantage and DBS are standard 510bhp brutes. For the former that means 0-62mph in a savage 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 190mph, while the DBS manages 4.3 seconds and 191mph. 

The order books are now open for both versions of the Carbon Black Edition. Prices have yet to be confirmed but Aston says both will be about 5% more expensive than the standard models. Expect, therefore, to pay around £142,000 for a top-dog Vantage and £167,000 for the Carbon Black Edition DBS.

By Tim Swietochowski