Ever since we first saw the car in action with James Bond at the wheel, we wondered how Aston Martin could improve its DBS  sports car. Well, it seems the engineers at Gaydon have already found a way and mustered up a few improvements for its newly released flagship. Included in the mix is a revised Touchtronic transmission, an available 2+2 seating configuration, a high-power state-of-the-art Bang & Olufsen stereo system, and revised wheel options. Since its inception at last year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, Aston Martin offered the DBS only with a six-speed, close-ratio gearbox. After some necessary reworking of the ZF-built Touchtronic transmission used by the DB9, engineers implemented the six-speed automatic into the bigger DBS. For quicker, more responsive acceleration, a shorter final drive was used (3.15:1 to 3.46:1) resulting in a claimed 0-to-60-mph time of 4.3 sec. Adding to the car's performance and looks are 10-spoke 20-in. aluminum wheels, said to reduce unsprung weight by some 18 lb versus the standard cast-aluminum wheels. As expected, the whole package doesn't come cheap. Prices for the DBS with six-speed manual begin at $269,000, while in Touchtronic form, the car commands a $273,000 price tag

aston martin dbs touchtronic