The 715-HP BIJAN EDITION ASTON MARTIN DBS SUPERLEGGERA is the ultimate designer supercar…
For over half a century the DBS designation has been applied to the vehicles at the “pinnacle of the Aston Martin production range,” as the iconic British marque puts it. Now Nicolas Bijan, owner of the legendary Beverly Hills-based menswear and lifestyle brand House of Bijan — recently relocated to a new, larger location on Rodeo Drive — has collaborated with them on the ultimate custom DBS, with the first one finished in his signature shade of yellow.
Based on the new DBS Superleggera, with a 5.2-litre V12 twinturbo engine that produces an amazing 715 hp, and customised in partnership with the brand’s Q by Aston Martin bespoke personalization service, the limited edition grand tourer was unveilled at a special gathering of global Bijan and Aston Martin collectors during Monterey Car Week in California.
“This special edition perfectly embodies everything that is Bijan — the ultimate attention to detail, sophistication, and of course timeless elegance,” Bijan says. We spoke to him about his love of cars and latest automotive creation, which is available by special order through authorised Aston Martin dealers worldwide, as well as at the House of Bijan:
Which cars do you have in your collection?
At the House of Bijan we have had the honour to collaborate creatively with some of the most recognisable and iconic automobile companies in the world. In the collection are a few of these special pieces of drivable art. There is the 2008 Bijan Limited Edition Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Coupe, the 2014 Bijan Limited Edition Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé, and of course the 2020 Bijan Edition Aston Martin DBS Superleggera. The three Bijan Edition automobiles are the most unique and special cars in the collection, however, there are a few others which are a bit more low-key.
Which is your favourite?
The new Bijan Edition DBS Superleggera which was just unveilled to the public this year in Pebble Beach. It represents two years of collaboration between our two companies and is really the culmination of all our previous experience designing special-edition automobiles. It is powerful, elegant, young, and aggressive all at the same time! It is definitely my current favourite.
What sparked your love for beautiful cars?
Ever since I was a young child I have always had a love for beautiful cars. This was something my late father and I shared and bonded over; we would drive together every weekend and I have so many beautiful memories with him. This love and passion for cars expanded and evolved over time into cobranding opportunities. The House of Bijan is much more than a menswear brand; it is a lifestyle brand, so these opportunities were a logical fit.
What inspired you to collaborate with Aston Martin on a bespoke model?
I met with Marek Reichman, Chief Creative Officer at Aston Martin, in 2017 and we hit it off. I was inspired by his talent and saw similarities between Bijan and Aston Martin, for example how the historic brand was now attracting a younger, more dynamic client base. As we explored the possibility back then, it wasn’t immediately clear which model would be most suitable to the clientele of our two brands. I visited the Aston Martin design studio in 2018 and, after seeing the clay model, it immediately became clear their flagship DBS Superleggera would be the best one.
What are the key points of the design and why did you choose them?
Some of the key features in the Bijan Edition DBS Superleggera are the hand-painted tone-on-tone paisley design on the bonnet, touches of colour on carbon fiber detailing, alligator detailing inside the cabin, and of course the owner’s initials monogrammed into the veneer. I felt as if the car is such an aggressive design that we should focus on details throughout the exterior and larger changes on the interior.
What design challenges presented themselves?
I must admit that the team at Q by Aston Martin are so talented that they didn’t seem to be too challenged by these unique design features. I thought for sure they would have difficulty executing the “ghosted” paisley design on the bonnet, but when I finally saw the finished product, I couldn’t believe how beautifully it was made. I was also sure the layout of the alligator leather interior detailing would be a challenge, however they were able to implement this feature perfectly.
Text by JARED PAUL STERN
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