Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Concorde Edition celebrates 50 years of supersonic air travel



Fifty years ago, the Concorde, perhaps the most iconic passenger jet ever, took flight for the first time. A technological marvel, the supersonic jet became the inspiration for Aston Martin’s latest member of the Wings series, the DBS Superleggera Concorde Edition.

The bespoke edition was commissioned by Aston Martin Bristol, located about a runway length away from Aerospace Bristol – where British Concorde planes were built. The launch, which happened yesterday, came just in time as it was exactly 16 years since the last Concorde flight, of the registration number G-BOAF, touched down. 

Coincidentally, it is also the centenary of one of Concorde’s two operators – British Airlines. That is why the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Concorde edition sports a livery with the carrier’s blue and red colours painted on the roof strake, rear spoiler, and diffusers. 

A vague silhouette graphic of the supersonic jet is placed on top of the carbon fibre roof, but the iconic delta wing shape can be seen much more clearly on the front fender strakes, milled from solid aluminium.

The British Airlines ‘Speedmarque’ logo is placed as a chrome badge on the front fenders. Other unique touches include an Aston Martin wing badge in the airline’s colours, as well as the G-BOAF identifier painted on the sides. 

Inside, the commemoration continues with the Concorde logo embossed on the seats, a ‘sonic boom’ graphic on the Alcantara headliner, and the supersonic jet’s maximum air speed and altitude embroidered on the driver-side sun visor – the yellow-orange colour mimics that of the display found in the Concorde cabin, which is a neat touch.

The special edition also gets pedal shifters made out of titanium from the Concorde’s compressor blades, seat belt buckle badges milled from solid aluminium, and a unique side sill plates again featuring the aircraft identification number. 

Aside from aesthetic touches, the DBS Superleggera remains unchanged. Under the hood is still the brand’s 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 engine, pushing out 725 hp and 900 Nm of torque. The century sprint is done in just 3.4 seconds, and zero to 161 km/h (100 mph) in 6.4 seconds. Flat out, the DBS Superleggera can reach a top speed of 340 km/h.

Only 10 units of the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Concorde Edition will ever be made, with each receiving a bespoke inspection plaque signed by Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group CEO Andy Palmer and British Airways Chairman Álex Cruz.

Part of the proceeds from each sale will also be donated to the Air League Trust, a non-profit organisation that teaches under privileged children how to fly, as well as offering support for them to work in the engineering field.