Fancy a spell with an Aston Martin as your company car? John Challen looks at what you’d be getting your hands on.

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Who doesn’t love an Aston Martin? So iconic for so many reasons, yet out of reach for the vast majority of drivers. Sadly, in the case of the DBS name, it’s the end of the (production) line. Synonymous with performance thanks to its V12 twin-turbo engine, the model will be going out with a bang after seven years with the DBS 770 Ultimate edition.

Aston is quick to point out that the last DBS is the most powerful production car it has ever built – the 770 referring to PS (690hp) on tap, as well as 900Nm of torque. With the increased power comes exterior styling changes such as a new front splitter and deeper rear diffuser. These components aid engine cooling and also improve the aerodynamics of the Ultimate – providing that level of performance takes a lot of planning and attention to detail.

Meanwhile, the 770 Ultimate also features upgrades and improvements to the suspension, steering, transmission and the whole of the car’s underbody. The result, says Aston, is a car that improves the feel, response and agility of a model that had all of those things in spades in the first place!

The tech details: the 770 Ultimate’s engine is described as ‘ferocious’ – and that’s pretty spot on. The 5.2-litre V12 – with all those horses – can potentially reach 211mph, helped by an 7% increase in maximum turbo boost pressure. The 900Nm of torque is available between 1,800rpm and 5,000rpm. If the promo video that went out with the news announcement is anything to go by, the resulting sound from said engine is amazing. An 8-speed automatic transmission – complete with unique calibration to maximise shift efficiency – and a mechanical limited slip differential also feature. However, the carbon ceramic brakes are one of the carry-over items from the other DBS models, such is their performance.

Those steering upgrades include a new steering column for improved precision and response. According to the blurb from Aston Martin, the changes mean drivers can ‘enjoy a more precise connection with the road ahead, feeling what the front tyres are doing with utmost confidence and accurately gauge available grip’. While it sounds impressive, there’s a hint of washing powder adverts that promise a ‘whiter than white’ outcome, thereby doing the predecessor a slight disservice. Let’s not forget that the standard DBS is an impressive thing – hence the need for an even higher bar to be set by the car’s final fling.

As for the interior, there are numerous touches that help the 770 stand out, but enough familiarity for fans of the original layout to stay happy. Drivers and passengers will sit in leather- and Alcantara-clad seats, all featuring a bespoke quilt material and pattern. Elsewhere around the cabin there are more obvious reminders about which model you’re in – including a laser-etched 770 Ultimate logo on the centre arm rest and sill plaques denoting the model and production run number.

The chances of getting hold of one – in the short-term, at least – are slim; virtually impossible, in fact. The global production run for the 770 Ultimate has been limited to 499 models – 300 Coupes and 199 Volantes. What’s more, there’s all accounted for and the order book has already closed, with deliveries starting in Q3 2023.

Possibly because of all of those facts, a price doesn’t appear in the official communications about the car.

DBS 770 Ultimate – In Numbers:

Price: Check the second-hand market – it’s sold out!
Powertrain: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 with 770PS
Maximum torque: 900Nm
Number of models built: 499
DBS variants after this one: None
Special edition reminders: Plenty!

Likelihood of making it onto the fleet – 0.07/10