Aston Martin is quite cocky about this DBS. "Truly great luxury sports cars are few and far between. In a world where innovation is all too often hampered by compromise, pure performance is a rarity available only to the genuinely discerning. Designed as the ultimate driving experience, the Aston Martin DBS bridges the gap between road and track ? DB9 and DBR9. Equally at home on a twisting mountain circuit as on the open road, the DBS is a true thoroughbred.

"The Aston Martin DBS is a 6.0-litre V12 powered, race-bred, two-seater shaped by the aerodynamic demands of high performance, with an exquisite interior that marries beautifully hand-finished materials with the very latest in performance technology. A combination of elegant design, innovative manufacturing processes, race-derived materials and components and Aston Martin's unrivalled hand-build expertise makes the DBS a luxury sports car without equal?"

Quite a story, eh?

Then you see it.

My wife has one of these as her screen saver. No toy boy or beau star. A DBS. And when you approach this car you will immediately see why. I often parry car designers about how awful so many modern cars look. This car is the prime reason I do that.

If all cars looked just a bit like this, we'd live in a much more beautiful world. Defining the future through classic details and keeping oh so faithful to the brand, the DBS has to be the most stunning looking car on the road. End of story.

Then you sit in it.

Typically Aston, the doors lift a little up at the end as they open outward ? so svelte, so chic. And they open up a sensuous cabin that beckons you inside.

OK, it's compromised, a bit tight and typically hand-made rudimentary in parts, but it's so cool in there. The pop-up navi screen doesn't open all the way to 90 degrees and the key fob is, well, not so user friendly ? none of us could figure out exactly how to work it as efficiently as it may well do. But like everything else, the key is beautiful.

It's a proper two-seater but that never prevented both the kids from squashing into the back, although that was only for novelty ? there is no way you can use the back daily. So I got myself comfy and enjoyed the little start-up repertoire once the key was into the slot.

Press it all the way in and the party starts. A roar as the V12 barks to life, settles into a growling idle that sets the tone. And anybody who possibly hadn't seen it yet soon shows up to check what's going on.

And then you drive it.

The car was warm when I got in ? it'd just arrived. So once out of the gate, I gave it straight away.

Floor the throttle, drop the clutch and all hell breaks loose as that V12 wails in support of those 500 wild horses. DBS launches violently, the rear end well alight as it snakes superbly forward.

Snatch second and the rear end slews the other way before settling down to business. It's crisp, responsive in every possible way from a delightful Le Mans-bred steering feel and taut, racy suspension, while that V12 is sensuous, sonorous and sensational.

Drive it hard and DBS responds like a rowdy nymphomaniac. Floor it and as it passes 4000rpm, it winds up the rear end like a giant dirtbike, but it's perfectly set up to work at its best like that. A couple of corners on and I was at one with this beautiful beast ? my every command this car's absolute pleasure.

And it's not just inside where the action is. Local pedestrians, pump jockeys, street vendors, other motorists and the public at large respond to this thing way different to how they would any other car I have ever driven.

Alerted by the scream of that not so subtle V12 exhaust note and witnessing this beautiful machine in full flight prompts a rapturous applause even if the crowd comprises just one. DBS makes them yell, whistle and clap in approval.

If it were any other car, they'd be gesticulating, swearing, taking the registration down because you're driving like an idiot?

I have on occasion called Aston Martins truck like. I am sorry. This thing is anything but.

On the flipside, while it's gruff, quite workmanlike and full of performance intent, DBS settles down to be a quite civilized ride around town or on the open road. Only being allowed the car overnight after having to twist their arm for weeks, our time with DBS was short, but that never prevented us from taking it for a memorable late night drive just for the sake of driving ? no destination, no mission, no agenda ? just driving an awesome motorcar for the sake of driving it.

And at the end of it all, we couldn?t help but spare a thought about how it would ever be possible to afford such a R3.6-million privilege. Not now, anyway.

But if we did have the money or the means at hand, I have no doubt that it would be one of these in our dream garage long before anything else.

After all, it's on that screen saver already, so there's no need to convince anyone that we're getting a Porsche, a Lambo or a Ferrari. And somehow, I don't think it'd be too difficult to convince the missus to choose one of these in any home, so long as there's the means to do that. But that's just the problem, isn?t it?

One day though ? I promise?