It wasn’t even a world debut — that was last month at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours event in  Monterey, California — but such is the charisma of this resurgent British brand that the crowds surged around for the first public unveiling on this side of the Atlantic of the shapely Aston Martin DBS.

Though its introduction is concurrent with the end of Vanquish production, Aston doesn’t want you to think of the DBS as a replacement for that ferocious beast of a car. It is, they say, “a completely different animal: with more sensitivity, more comfort, more quality.” And it’s designed to fulfill a specific and different role: bridge the gap between the DB9 road car and its full blown racing development, the DBR9.

Based on the DB9, but thoroughly upgraded, the DBS is lighter, with extensive use of carbon fiber body panels and the first use of carbon ceramic brakes in an Aston road car (which alone saves 27.5 lbs.). Not only is it more agile, the DB9 has a wider front track, aerodynamic 20-inch wheels with specially developed Pirelli tires, a redesigned bumper, air splitter, diffuser, and a larger trunk spoiler.

It’s also more powerful than the DB9 with the 6.0-liter 510-horsepower V12 engine that's fitted with reprofiled air inlet ports and other output-boosting refinements. Even the steering wheel and carpets are revised, while lightweight Kevlar and carbon fiber seats based on aircraft technology are options.

The DBS has a rather unusual starting system — instead of a key, it has a jewel-like sapphire and steel fob. When placed in a recess in the dashboard, it glows red “in delicious anticipation of the glorious sound of the V12 engine.”

According to its maker, the car is “a seductive blend of refinement and raw power. . .the ultimate expression of Aston Martin’s engineering and technical ability.” Marketers are overly fond of describing their latest product as the “ultimate.”

Well, whether or not it’s the last word in automotive achievement, the DBS is certainly an intoxicating cocktail: aloof yet emotionally powerful, it’s a classy and exclusive mix of high tech and tradition, analogue and digital, engineering and craftsmanship, luxury and restrained aggression. The ideal car, in fact, for Mr. Bond — cool but not cold-blooded.

Also announced at Frankfurt is a special edition Jaeger LeCoultre AMVOX2 DBS watch. Available only to DBS owners, it contains a transponder that will unlock and start the car — all very Bond. At €22,000 (approx. $30,500 U.S.), it makes a pricy but hard-to-resist accessory for the €240,000 DBS (approx. $333,400 U.S.).

However, if the DBS is not for you, there were two special editions on the Aston stand to consider instead.

Marginally more modest, but visually very similar to the DB9, the V8 Vantage N400 is an upgraded version of Aston’s V8-engined car. It has been created to mark the car’s success in the 24-hour race organized at the famous Nurburgring circuit by Germany’s ADAC motoring club, where the N400 recently breached the significant 8-minute lap barrier.

On the other hand, you could have an even more uncompromising sports car. The DB9 LM Coupe is a DBR9-based model with additional content and a unique color and trim package, inspired by another sporting triumph — the DBR9’s GT1 class victory at the Le Mans 24-hour endurance race in June 2007.