This is Aston Martin’s most important car for a very long time. The brand is hoping it will lift its fortunes again, along with its planned SUV, the DBX. You see SUVs sell in big numbers but an Aston Martin means performance comes first. Never more so than in the new DB11. Its new 5.2 litre twin-turbo V12 is Aston’s first turbo-charged unit and the most powerful production DB model to date. It has 600 bhp to be precise and 516lb of torque through a much needed new ZF eight-speed transmission. The engine features cylinder deactivation which helps keep down fuel consumption when you’re not demanding high loads from the engine. It hits the supercar performance stats easily with 60 mph coming up in 3.9 secs and a 200 mph top speed. The DB11 weighs a reasonable 1770 kg and at an entry-level price of £154,900 it is competitively priced for an icon supercar.
The design language is a totally modern interpretation of ‘Aston retro’ particularly to the rear quarter and back, whilst subtle aerodynamics add function to beauty; such as the side strake on the front wings discharging heat from the front wheel-arch. There’s also an AeroBlade air intake at the rear preventing the need for a rear end spoiler that would interfere with this car’s fine lines. The cockpit is an all-new design too with an eight-inch LCD screen located centre top. Under the metalwork is a heavily revised chassis housing technology designed to be readily adaptable to future developments in steering, suspension, and electronics. The wheelbase of the chassis is longer than the DB9 it replaces, allowing the engine to be set further back to maximise the centre of gravity.
The car is slightly wider too, both achieving more passenger cabin space as a result. Three driving modes are selectable, GT, Sport and Sport Plus with requisite adjustments to steering weight, adaptive damping and throttle speed. The order book is open for the car with first deliveries expected at the end of the year. Order yours now and it’ll be mid-summer 2017 before it arrives. That’s good news for Aston Martin, and the DB11 will be worth the wait.
