T
Left:Astonwins the torquebattle, its 664lb ft eclipsingthe Ferrari’s 529, but
the Superfast counters with 789bhp(at 8500rpm!) to the Superleggera’s 715
ASTON MARTIN DBS SUPERLEGGERA v FERRARI 812 SUPERFAST
HIRTYSECONDS ORSOISALL ITTAKES
for the Ferrari 812 Superfast to decimate
everything youthinkyouknowabout front-
enginedGTcars. Notionsofgiant,effortless
strides that swallow time and distance, of
engines thatfeelimperious and havesuchvast
reservesthatevenrapidprogressseems simple
and devoidofthe stressesand strains oflesser
machines, of deliberate handling where the
massesare obvious but wonderfully managed
withrippling muscularity. GTcars asalmost tidal,
unstoppable forces.
That’s notthe 812 Superfast’s style.Along-
legged gait isreplacedbya frenzyofactionso
extreme itfeels almostchaotic, the engineis
savagelysharp and doesn’t somuchswallowjourneyswhole
asattackthemlikea swarmofpiranhasripping ata carcass,
andthe culturedheavyweight chassis withcalm, measured
dynamicsmakes way for extreme agility and a manic,hyper-
alert personality. Forget tidal. Attimes it can feel likeyou’vebeen
caughtinthe thrashing,disorientating, furious break ofa 100-
footwaveasit hits a rocky coastline.
Sosettle intothe Aston MartinDBS Superleggeraina half-
euphoric, half-terrified dazeand – for what feels likethe first time
since you started the Ferrari’s 789bhpV12 – takea breath. Some
ofthe detailing is perhaps a shade fussy, but the architecture –
a dashthatseems toreach out and envelopyou,high-shoulders
and animposingcentral tunnelthatstretches backtowards the
transaxle – is somehowreassuring. Thenyou pressthe smooth,
cool glass starter buttonand the 5.2-litre twin-turbochargedV1 2
starts witha yobbish(butheart-warming)howlthat dissipatesto
a softly bassy, powerfulrefrain.
A pressofa little toggle switchmarked‘S’ onthe right-hand
spoke ofthe steeringwheel selects Sport orSport+modeand
lets the V12 find its voice, but stillthe noteis deeperand calmer
thanthe digitally sharpenedFerrari’s V12.Youcouldguess
their respectivetraitsbeforeeventurning a wheel, I suspect.
The Aston soundslikeit’s superheatedwithtorque, whereasthe
Ferrari seems tobespittinghighlystrungpower directly out
ofits exhausts. Fromthis disparate starting point the carsonly
diverge further. Picking a winnerhereisn’t really about combing
meticulouslythroughthedynamicsofthesetwo monsters.
Ferrari and Aston Martinhavethrowntheir completely different
philosophies at the sameproblem.Sowhich one doyou buy into?
I’msureit’s a dilemma we’dalllove toface.And although
the performance,mechanicallayoutandpricesbarelybegin
totell the story,it’s worthdelving deepjusttomarvelatwhat
Ferrari and Aston Martinare offering. Let’s start withthe Aston.
‘Superleggera’ might notbeliteral inthiscase,but evenwith
1770 kgofaluminiumchassis and carbonfibrebodywork tohaul
the V12 undoubtedly has the minerals. It produces 71 5bhpat
6500 rpm,backedupbya faintly ludicrous 664lb ft from 1800 to
5000 rpm.Hookallof that upand you’ll crack 0-100mphin 6.4sec.
It alsohas adjustable dampers (GT, Sport and Sport+modes) and