Aston Martin back in black

Both the range-topping 12-cylinder DBS and Vantage coupes have received a sinister-looking makeover to deliver the Carbon Black limited-edition series.  The pair are meaner and leaner with lashings of carbon fibre to reduce weight and enhance handling.

Just four cars are earmarked for Australia, three Vantages and one DBS.  Aston Martin's sales manager for Australia and New Zealand, Marcel Fabris, says the cars will arrive around April.

"At present, this allocation of special edition vehicles remains unsold, however we don't expect them to last long now that their availability has been announced," he says.  Fabris says pricing has not been finalised.

"However they will be priced within 5 per cent of the normal vehicles' prices," he says.  This should push local pricing for the DBS Carbon Black above $500,000 and the 6.0-litre V12 Vantage should nudge $400,000.

The V12 Vantage coupe is normally $379,251 and the V12 DBS is $485,606.  Fabris says the prices will include the drop in duty, which came into effect from today.  "Aston Martin is passing on the full 5 per cent duty reduction for all vehicles delivered from January 1," he says.

Each Aston has a specially formulated Carbon Black metallic paint scheme that takes 50 hours of hand painting to complete. For the V12 Vantage the iconic Aston Martin side strake has been fashioned from real carbon fibre backed by a black mesh and complimented with gloss black 10-spoke diamond turned alloys.

A bright finished grille and front parking sensors complete the exterior detailing.  Inside, the black theme continues with lashings of rich black hand-stitched leather highlighted with a contrast silver coarse stitch.  The cars lightweight seats are made from carbon fibre and kevlar, saving 17 kg over the standard seat.

Throughout the cabin there are piano black trim highlights on the centre stack and centre console, anodised black tread plates and unique sill plaques build on the carbon theme.  The Aston Martin 700 watt premium audio system is standard in the V12 Vantage while the DBS boasts a high-end Bang & Olufsen system.

The DBS, which already makes extensive use of aluminium and carbon fibre, was launched in 2007 and the V12 Vantage arrived last year.  Both engines deliver 380kW/570Nm, giving the Vantage a zero to 100km/h sprint of 4.2 seconds and top speed of 305km/h, making it one of the most powerful production Aston Martons.  The DBS hits 100km/h in 4.3 seconds and has a top speed of 307km/h.