Here’s a little piece for context. Aston Martin’s last road-going DB model was the DB9 GT Bond Edition that’s powered by a DBS-sourced 6.0-litre naturally aspirated V12. It was good for 539 hp and 620 Nm of torque, numbers that are not so good for fuel economy.
Then, the natural progression would lead anyone to think that the succeeding model should in fact be the DB10, right? Well, yes and no. The DB10 was a bespoke-built model; just 10 will ever be made, and one was just recently auctioned off for close to RM15 million! So the closest you can get to owning a Bond car is this, the all-new Aston Martin DB11.
The DB11 is important to Aston Martin because it’s the first model introduced under the Gaydon-based company’s ‘Second Century’ plan. It doesn’t look quite like the DB10, but the DB11 is charming in its own right. The clamshell hood hinges at the front, its headlights and tail lights lit by energy-saving LEDs while the fascia gets the iconic Aston Martin grille.
Another remarkable engineering feat is making the DB11 as slippery as it is aerodynamic. Its outer body, particularly the roof strakes spanning between the A- and C-pillars, sit flush and flow smoothly into the tail lamps. There are functional air inlets built within each C-pillars, and what this does is feed air to the rear spoiler (Aston Martin calls it the AeroBlade; these Brits really know how to sound sexy) which contribute by increasing downforce. Front-end lift is dealt with ducts that release high-pressure air from inside the wheel arches.
Aston Martin is also not spared from the downsizing trend. The countless of hours spent back at the drawing board helped conceive a brand new 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12, and it’s entirely designed in-house. It makes 600 horsepower and 700 Nm of torque, making it the most powerful production DB model ever. If you’re not using all that power, the engine deactivates an entire bank, effectively making it a 2.6-litre Bond-mobile.
The engine is mated to a ZF-made eight-speed automatic transmission which sends drive to the rear wheels only. Aston Martin said the DB11 will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and has a claimed top speed of 320km/h. There are several drive modes as well, such as GT, Sport and Sport Plus – all of which progressively intensifies damping stiffness, throttle and gearbox characteristics.
Inside, the DB11 gets a fully digital 12-inch LCD instrument cluster, whereas the centre dash gets a smaller 8-inch head unit. There’s a rotary knob and an optional touchpad that supports alphabetical and numerical recognition, as well as multi-touch and gesture support. Many of these in-car infotainment system are the result of Aston Martin’s partnership with Daimler AG, their technical partner. If that’s not enough, the DB11 also comes with auto-park assist and 360-degree all-view camera. And because it’s a Grand Tourer, the rear seats come with Isofix mounts for two child seats.
If you’re planning on getting one, we suggest you look through their extensive list of optional accessories. Here’s what Aston Martin wants to tell you:
“Your personalisation choices are virtually limitless. Nexus quilting and Celestial perforation add layers of beautiful complexity and intrigue, while ornate leatherwork, such as intricate brogue detailing, creates areas of visual and tactile delight.”
Yes, we’re sold too.
The price for a brand new Aston Martin DB11 will set you back from £154,900 in the UK, and a quick conversion indicates a starting price of just over RM900k. Cars sold in the UK and Germany will come packaged with a 5-Year servicing plan, but US-bound DB11 won’t share the same fortune. Deliveries will commence during Q4 later this year.
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