Chief Designer discusses DBS 770 Ultimate

"It's one thing to draw something but another thing to realise it in reality"

Chief Designer at Aston Martin, Julian Nunn , speaks about the car that brings ultimate ferocity, the Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate.

Q. When was the DBS 770 first concepted? Was there an insight that sparked the idea/need?

A. Simply put we love DBS and we wanted to celebrate this beautiful brute of a car, and what better way than to create the Ultimate version.

Q. What excites you about working on the DBS 770 specifically?

A. The exciting part is the design process of discovering new shapes/forms and ideas and seeing people’s reactions to those ideas and then realising that in 3d. It is one thing to draw something and another thing to realise it in reality. Working on the clay model with the modellers is one of the best parts of being a car designer.

Q. What key design challenges did the DBS 770 present? If any.

A. With the increased power and ability of the car - we need to focus on a number of key areas around aero and cooling performance, this created a number of design challenges. This included the adding a horseshoe bonnet vent to help increase cooling and aid performance. The challenge with this was to make the vent look considered from a design perspective and not just an add on feature.

Q. What is your favourite aspect of the DBS 770?

A. One aspect of the DBS Ultimate that I’m most proud of is the blend of style and function. The fact that we achieved something which looks as good as it does with the added bonus that all the added details help the car perform so much better than before. That’s what thrills me. To add parts or features on a car just for the sake of change, that’s just styling. To work with all the functions within the business and to make every new element work, really makes me proud of our team that delivered this stunning car.

Q. Is there anything you're particularly proud of in its design? What is it's USP amongst other Aston Martin models or even other brands?

A. I love the wheels, they make such a difference to the character of the car. The honeycomb design is such a good design theme, which is very reminiscent of some of our past racing cars. The USP for the DBS has always been its sheer presence in any environment, whether its cruising on a motorway or cruising around London, it naturally draws the attention of any onlooker from its looks and its engine note, this was just a golden opportunity to add to the legacy of such a great car.