Aston Martin DB Series: 10 Masterpieces Of Power And Prestige

From the timeless DB5 to the super-touring 2023 DB12, the Aston Martin DB Series has always perfectly blended opulence with power.

British luxury sports car manufacturer Aston Martin is one of the most popular car-makers in the world. Known for high-end luxury sports cars that turn heads and set fire to the tarmac, Aston Martin's sports cars are status symbols today. Inarguably their most popular lineup is the Aston Martin DB cars, which are named after British industrialist Sir David Brown. In 1947, Brown purchased the Aston Martin brand, and the DB cars, which are true masterpieces, have always honored his name through the decades.

Most iconic due to their mainstay presence in James Bond movies, the Aston Martin DB cars are equal parts luxurious, gorgeous, and sporty. From the very first DB2 in 1950, to the Aston Martin SUV, the DBX today, and the newly-unveiled supercar DB12, the DB name, as well as the brand, has come a long way. In that vein, here are 10 true masterpieces in the lineup's history that have proven to be the greatest and best Aston Martin DB cars over the decades.

The first DB models from Aston Martin were quite good, but the greatness of the lineup truly began with the DB MK III in 1957, a decade after David Brown came to the brand. The straight-six engine was doing a lot of favors for the brand, and in the MK III, it made an impressive 178 hp.

However, the star of the show was undoubtedly the front grille, which looked absolutely stunning. Huge grilles weren't as prominent back then as they are today, and not only did the DB MK III's front fascia look amazingly eye-catching, but it also went on to become a hallmark of the Aston Martin DB lineup going forward.

The Aston Martin DBS, despite having had just three generations and a combined production cycle of just 15 years, is an incredibly popular luxury sports car across the globe. The first DBS, made between 1967 and 1972, became an instant British icon, owing to its looks closely resembling that of an American muscle car.

Armed with a 4.0-liter six-cylinder, the original Aston Martin DBS made 282 horsepower, but it became even more remarkable with the addition of a V8 motor in 1969. With the V8, the ‘69 DBS made a whopping 320 horsepower, thus becoming the fastest four-seater in the world at the time with its top speed of 160 mph.

RELATED: Why The Underrated Aston Martin DB Range Became So Influential In Pop Culture

Perhaps no other car is as important to the marque's history and legacy as the Aston Martin DB4 from 1958. The DB4 boasted the fantastic Superleggera body type, and immediately upon coming off the assembly line, it was a straight hit.

Plus, the DB4 didn't disappoint in the power department, either, making an impressive 240 horsepower from its straight-six power unit. Capable of going all the way up to 140 mph, the Aston Martin DB4 wasn't just one of the fastest cars in the late '50s and early '60s, but also one of the most gorgeous. In fact, one could discern the DB4's design language peeking through modern Aston Martin DB cars even with squinted eyes.

Easily one of the most universally-recognizable classic Aston Martin cars, the DB5 became a pop culture icon thanks to its appearance in the Bond flick Goldfinger in 1964. Even the real-life Aston Martin DB5 had a weapon under the hood, which was a beastly 4.0-liter straight-six engine making 288 hp.

The star of the show with the DB5 was its superior handling, and of course, its breathtaking visual design that turned heads everywhere it went. There could never be enough praise for the DB5, and this timeless class has rightfully earned its place in the automotive hall of fame.

RELATED: This Aston Martin DB5 Looks Ready For The Next James Bond Movie

Another iconic Aston Martin that wowed audiences and gearheads alike with its presence in Daniel Craig's Bond movies Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, the second-generation Aston Martin DBS came out 35 years after its first generation.

The 2007 DBS didn't have a V8 like the old version, but rather a supreme-quality hand-built V12 motor that jetted out a massive 510 hp. Known and loved by enthusiasts across the world for its beautiful exhaust note that is symphony to a gearhead's ears, the 2nd-gen DBS employed an aluminum chassis to keep weight down and speeds high. As such, perhaps no other blended such unbridled power with oodles of class as perfectly as the 2007 Aston Martin DBS.

The Aston Martin DB7 nameplate is an especially important one for the marque, seeing how it brought the brand into the 21st century and the modern era. As cool as the inline-six-powered DB7 was, its Vantage model took things up a notch. After all, this was a 1999 sports car that ran on a V12 engine and pumped out a heart-stopping 420 horsepower.

In fact, Aston Martin couldn't possibly have hoped for a better start to the new century, and the DB7 Vantage was easily the right choice. With a top speed of 186 mph, the Aston Martin DB7 Vantage isn't just a fantastic car, but a revered icon in the hearts of tons of gearheads. Let the Vantage vs Vanquish debate commence.

RELATED: What You Didn't Know About Rowan Atkinson's Aston Martin DB7 Vantage

The Aston Martin DB9 came about in 2004, and yet, even today, its influence on Aston Martin's design language in their most modern cars remains clear as day. Featuring a 5.9-liter V12 motor that cranked out 517 hp, the DB9, especially in its final years, could reach the 60 mph mark from zero in about 4.7 seconds.

A looker even today, the design of the Aston Martin DB9 exudes opulence, importance, and prestige, just as much as it did almost two decades ago. There is simply no denying that the DB9 is an inevitable future classic, and right now, the going rate for a DB9 at auction, according to Classic.com, is about $52,000.

Revived for a third generation in 2018, the Aston Martin DBS perfectly brings to the table the unmistakable vibe of the DBS, along with Aston's modern design language. Riding on a massive 5.2-liter V12 engine, the third-gen Aston Martin DBS is undaunted in the face of hybridization and electrification.

Jetting out a staggering 715 hp, this Aston Martin supercar blazes to the 60 mph mark in just 3.2 seconds. Of course, the speed and power found under the hood of the 3rd-gen Aston Martin DBS isn't the star of the show, but rather its breathtaking curves and road presence. A car you can't ever take your eyes off, the DBS doesn't just bring together a timeless design with modern visuals, but also blends power and prestige like no other.RELATED: 10 Things We Love About The 2024 Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate Volante

The super-SUV trend has gained traction in the past years, with the Lamborghini Urus leading the charge. In fact, the waves and demand for super-luxury SUVs from traditional supercar-makers have been so strong that even Ferrari gave in and built the Purosangue. In that vein, Aston Martin wasn't far behind, with their own super SUV, the DBX, arriving in 2020.

Even though some supercar-slash-SUVs fail to carve a visual identity of their own, the Aston Martin DBX hits it out of the park. An absolute feast for the eyes, the DBX is no slouch when it comes to opulence, in-cabin tech and luxury, and of course, massive power under the hood. Running on a 4.0-liter V8 engine, the DBX cranks out 542 horsepower, with its DBX707 variant upping the ante with 697 hp.

Aston Martin has revealed their latest, the DB12. Touted as the world's first super tourer, the Aston Martin DB12 ditches the V12 for a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 motor from AMG. Making 671 hp with 590 lb-ft of torque, the DB12's engine is hand-built excellence.

Not only does the DB12 going to love a straight road, but it will also be adept in corners with its superior handling. Of course, the star of the show is the DB12's looks, both from the outside and on the inside. The cabin on the 2023 Aston Martin DB12 is to die for. The culmination of the entire DB series' 75-year history.

Sources: Classic.com, Aston Martin

If it has wheels and an engine, Samarveer Singh is going to be obsessed with it. He is a budding Indian motorcycle racer, competing at the national level in his country in his very first year, chasing his dream around every corner of the racetrack. A touring enthusiast, Samarveer is forever stuck between the urge to constantly redline his bike, or save its clutch plates for longer.