edo race Aston Martin DBS-luxury sports car

The edo competition always seems a bit different for the German tuning company. On the one hand, the Ahlen-based clothing will not only adjust German cars, but also other things. Take their latest project as an example: take Aston Martin's DBS seriously.

Of course, like seemingly all German tuning firms, edo competition has to do something funny with their name. In edo’s case, they have to go all e.e. cummings and their name is in all lower case. That aside, what about their take on the Aston flagship?

They started off pretty far up the mountain. The Aston Martin DBS already produces 517 horsepower from its 12-cylinder residing under its front bonnet. That’s enough for the British beast to top out at more than 300 km/h (186 mph). So what did edo do?

edo got into the engine control unit and modified the software and also added a new exhaust system, special catalytic converters and high flow air filters. So the power output was bumped up to an impressive 550 hp and 600 Nm (442 ft-lb). Allowing the edo competition DBS to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.1 seconds and now top out at 320 km/h (199 mph).

edo seems to be especially proud of the exhaust layout. The exhaust system incorporates butterfly valves allowing it to tune the engine note, and the power and torque output, on the fly. The exhaust comes with a programmable control system that monitors back-pressure inside the exhaust and opens the 70 mm butterfly valves when a pre-determined level of back-pressure is exceeded. The advantage of the system is that it provides better torque at low engine speeds without sacrificing top-end horsepower. The exhaust system is made from stainless steel (natch) and has chromed exhaust tips (just as natch). The driver can adjust the sound of the DBS at any time using a remote control. This reminds me of something that I’ve seen other tuners and manufacturers starting to do, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see more systems like it in the future. I’m not saying I condone it, exactly, but I understand it.

Naturally, edo competition worked the suspension too. Unlike the exhaust, which they allow the customer to fiddle with on the fly, any time, day or night, edo implies in their presser that although the suspension is tunable, they set it to the customer’s specs and then leave it at that. Which strikes me as a very smart thing to do. The suspension system is adjustable in height, compression and rebound damping, and it can be “matched to the customer’s driving style.”

Naturally, edo competition offers exclusive wheel/tire combinations. The DBS is equipped with three-piece 21 in. racing wheels with stainless steel outer rims. The customer can choose the stock tire dimensions or go with a set of Continental tires that are 255/ 30 ZR 21 (front), 295/ 25 ZR 21 (rear).

Yes, they upgraded the brakes too. Up front: 405 mm rotors with 6-piston monoblock calipers and performance brake pads and out back there’s 380 mm rotors with 6-piston monoblock calipers and performance brake pads, including braided stainless steel brake lines.

The interior design of the DBS can be spiced up with the available carbon fiber shifter and shifter console, or the customer can opt for a custom interior in any color or material he desires, including handmade leather interiors.

Photo: edo competition