The DBS was officially unveiled at the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance on 16 August 2007,[5] which featured a brand new exterior colour (graphite grey with a blue tint) which has been dubbed "Lightning Silver".

With a kerb weight of 1,810 kg (3,990 lb), the Volante is heavier than the coupe due to chassis stiffening modifications.

Available as both a coupé and Volante (convertible), it had a choice of three body colours (Flame Orange, Ceramic Grey, Carbon Black) with glass veneer appearance (optional satin lacquer paint finish), 10-spoke gloss black diamond turned wheels with a reversed diamond turned (optional full gloss black) finish, black (optional yellow, orange, red or grey) brake callipers, warm black grille, carbon fibre mirror heads, carbon fibre rear lamp in-fills, smoked rear lights, obsidian black or maranello orange semi-aniline leather upholstery, leather-quilted headlining, carbon fibre trim with a carbon weave positioned exactly to follow the form of the dashboard, unique carbon fibre special edition sill plaque with laser etched metal inlay, Aston Martin Garmin satellite navigation system and beam blade windscreen wipers.

It has 24-carat gold plate on nickel-coated Aston Martin wing badges affixed to the bonnet and rear of each car, bright finish front grille, bonnet meshes and side strakes; choice of three unique 10-spoke designs lightweight forged wheels with a special silver finish, Black brake callipers, a choice of 3 body colours (Amethyst Red, Volcano Red, Champagne Gold) with matching interior upholstery colours (Spicy Red, Deep Purple, Chancellor Red interior for Amethyst Red, Volcano Red, Champagne Gold body respectively), Sahara Tan thread stitching, Piano Black facia trim with a unique gold inlay pattern at dashboard, glass switchgear, headrest embroidery design with rendered using four thread colours (Metallic Gold, Cream Truffle, Winter Wheat and Kestrel Tan) inspired by the Nine-Dragon Wall in Beihai Park, unique laser-etched sill plaques bearing the number and designation, Presentation Box wrapped in the same leather as the interior of their car and lined with Ivory Alcantara (box lid bears an embroidered dragon, with Aston Martin wings embossed on to the front of the lid and a replica sill plaque on the inside of the lid; each box contains an Owner's Guide with gold detailing, two glass ECUs with leather pouches, a pair of customised Bang & Olufsen earphones with laser-etched Aston Martin wings in a leather pouch) and a 1,000-Watt Bang & Olufsen audio system.

The DBS Volante Dragon 88 was unveiled at the 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition and production was limited to 88 units.

[14][15] At the firm's 100 year anniversary in Kensington Park, Zagato presented a unique car based on the Aston Martin DBS.

[20] In 2007, the British motoring show Top Gear tested the DBS around their Top Gear test track with a lap time of 1:23.9; 3.2 seconds faster than its predecessor, the Vanquish S and a second faster than the comparable Bentley Continental Supersports.

Due to the structure, 85% of the weight of the car is kept between the wheels, which results in increased handling, responsiveness and feel during tight cornering.

[21] Aston Martin has also developed an Adaptive Damping System, or ADS, which alters the suspension in order for the car to cope with the driver's desired driving mode according to the road/weather conditions.

When turned on, the ADS automatically alters the suspension settings to ensure the driver has high levels of control at all times.

The interior of the DBS is a blend of carbon fibre, Alcantara, leather, wood, stainless steel and aluminium surfaces, depending on the buyer's specified options.

The only in-car gadget featured in the film is a glovebox/safe that contains a spare pistol, silencer, and a medical kit with a defibrillator in its compartment.

The DBS returned for the pre-credits car chase around Lake Garda in the 2008 Bond film Quantum of Solace.

Some confusion over the name of the production version occurred when some test mules running around the Nürburgring were given DBRS9 badges.