What We Like
Achingly beautiful
Comfortable, luxurious and well-executed interior
Stunning pace
Engaging driving experience
Epic theatricality
What We Dislike
Rear seats more usable for luggage than passengers
If there's one thing that we absolutely know about Aston Martins, it's that they are all beautiful. After all, as Aston Martin Chief Executive Officier Dr. Andy Palmer said, "We aspire to make the most beautiful cars in the world."
However, you could make the case that the recent run of Astons have outdated mechanical parts that sit beneath beautiful sheet metal. The brand, facing multiple ownership changes and struggling sales, has been building cars on a barely updated platform for the past 10 years, and automotive technology has come a long way since.
This brand new DB11, a product of renewed investment in the company, is purportedly the brand's most important car to date. Designed from the ground up, it features a new aluminium platform, pioneering aerodynamics and a brand new engine, and marks the beginning of the brand's 'Second Century' plan. So, the brand has a lot riding on this model's success.
Is the DB11, the latest in an illustrious bloodline, the car to herald in the new era of Aston Martin?
Captivating beauty
If there is one aspect Astons never disappoint, it's in the visual drama. The DB11 is absolutely and achingly beautiful. Viewed from any angle, the car will consistently turn heads and drop jaws. As a showpiece, it's as stunning as they come.
As is part of Aston Martin's design philosophy, the DB11 features minimal shut lines on its exterior. Ingenious design allows lines to vanish into nothingness, creating a sense of fluidity and seamless unity. Take for example the clamshell bonnet - it's been designed this way to eliminate the traditional shut lines created by a standard bonnet. And of course, it's an epic piece of theatre as well, as all Aston Martins should be.
However, you could make the case that the recent run of Astons have outdated mechanical parts that sit beneath beautiful sheet metal. The brand, facing multiple ownership changes and struggling sales, has been building cars on a barely updated platform for the past 10 years, and automotive technology has come a long way since.
This brand new DB11, a product of renewed investment in the company, is purportedly the brand's most important car to date. Designed from the ground up, it features a new aluminium platform, pioneering aerodynamics and a brand new engine, and marks the beginning of the brand's 'Second Century' plan. So, the brand has a lot riding on this model's success.
Is the DB11, the latest in an illustrious bloodline, the car to herald in the new era of Aston Martin?
Captivating beauty
If there is one aspect Astons never disappoint, it's in the visual drama. The DB11 is absolutely and achingly beautiful. Viewed from any angle, the car will consistently turn heads and drop jaws. As a showpiece, it's as stunning as they come.
As is part of Aston Martin's design philosophy, the DB11 features minimal shut lines on its exterior. Ingenious design allows lines to vanish into nothingness, creating a sense of fluidity and seamless unity. Take for example the clamshell bonnet - it's been designed this way to eliminate the traditional shut lines created by a standard bonnet. And of course, it's an epic piece of theatre as well, as all Aston Martins should be.
Without lines to disrupt the car's surface, the DB11 looks like a piece of sculpture, almost like it was carved out of a single block of aluminium.
Deutsch polish
Step into the DB11 and it's clear that it has benefitted from a German touch - the brand's partnership with Daimler is most evident here, with recognisable Mercedes-Benz elements such as the touchpad, indicator stalk and the infotainment system, complete with a 360-degree birds-eye camera (immensely useful when negotiating multi-storey carparks).
This translates to an interior that feels immediately cogent and accessible, with functionality to match the visual pizzazz. And pizzazz the DB11 certainly has - the interior is swathed in a coddling mix of supple leather and smooth Alcantara. The lush, comfortable interior fits with the car's GT sensibilities, which make it perfect for long drives.
The attention to detail is also clear, down to what Aston calls the car's 'sonic identity'. Our favourite aspect of the interior is the paddle shifters - clicking the tall, girthy shifters has a great haptic quality to it. There is an immensely satisfying chunkiness to gearshifts, accompanied by loud click-clack. Never has shifting gears in a car (purely to pull the paddles) felt so unnecessarily exciting.
Deutsch polish
Step into the DB11 and it's clear that it has benefitted from a German touch - the brand's partnership with Daimler is most evident here, with recognisable Mercedes-Benz elements such as the touchpad, indicator stalk and the infotainment system, complete with a 360-degree birds-eye camera (immensely useful when negotiating multi-storey carparks).
This translates to an interior that feels immediately cogent and accessible, with functionality to match the visual pizzazz. And pizzazz the DB11 certainly has - the interior is swathed in a coddling mix of supple leather and smooth Alcantara. The lush, comfortable interior fits with the car's GT sensibilities, which make it perfect for long drives.
The attention to detail is also clear, down to what Aston calls the car's 'sonic identity'. Our favourite aspect of the interior is the paddle shifters - clicking the tall, girthy shifters has a great haptic quality to it. There is an immensely satisfying chunkiness to gearshifts, accompanied by loud click-clack. Never has shifting gears in a car (purely to pull the paddles) felt so unnecessarily exciting.
Monumental dignity
To be honest, the first 15 minutes driving the car was pretty damn intimidating. It's a wide and long car packing a twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 that sends 600bhp to the rear wheels. Oh, and it costs over a million bucks. A lot to be worried about, then.
Surprisingly, after some time on the roads, the DB11 reveals itself to be a remarkably composed and accessible. Yes, there is an eye-watering amount of power on tap, and with 700Nm of torque available from 1,500rpm to 5,500rpm, the DB11 accelerates like an X-Wing fighter jumping into hyperdrive.
However, because there is barely any turbo lag (largely a function of the engine's huge displacement), the car is less intimidating than the numbers suggest, and responds to your right foot in a linear fashion. With some turbocharged cars with outrageous power figures, there is a certain trepidation as you wait for the turbos to kick. This leaves you somewhat on edge, especially when accelerating from a standstill.
With the DB11, while there is obviously massive power available, you always know where it is and when it's coming, and that's comforting.
The adaptive dampers have three different modes, but even in the hardest of settings, the car never feels crashy. This is made to be a long distance tourer after all, so comfort is (rightfully) of prime importance. The dampers also detect when you are cornering and stiffens up accordingly, allowing for flat and tractable forays into bendy roads.
To be honest, the first 15 minutes driving the car was pretty damn intimidating. It's a wide and long car packing a twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 that sends 600bhp to the rear wheels. Oh, and it costs over a million bucks. A lot to be worried about, then.
Surprisingly, after some time on the roads, the DB11 reveals itself to be a remarkably composed and accessible. Yes, there is an eye-watering amount of power on tap, and with 700Nm of torque available from 1,500rpm to 5,500rpm, the DB11 accelerates like an X-Wing fighter jumping into hyperdrive.
However, because there is barely any turbo lag (largely a function of the engine's huge displacement), the car is less intimidating than the numbers suggest, and responds to your right foot in a linear fashion. With some turbocharged cars with outrageous power figures, there is a certain trepidation as you wait for the turbos to kick. This leaves you somewhat on edge, especially when accelerating from a standstill.
With the DB11, while there is obviously massive power available, you always know where it is and when it's coming, and that's comforting.
The adaptive dampers have three different modes, but even in the hardest of settings, the car never feels crashy. This is made to be a long distance tourer after all, so comfort is (rightfully) of prime importance. The dampers also detect when you are cornering and stiffens up accordingly, allowing for flat and tractable forays into bendy roads.
The DB11 also feels alert, cornering with a keenness that will surprise you. Yes, it's certainly no Lotus, but for a car weighing close to two tonnes, it feels agile and alive.
And when it comes to the car's 'sonic identity', one sound stands above all else - the soundtrack of the car's engine and exhaust note. It is still rich and potent as Aston Martins must be. The high-end scream of a naturally aspirated engine has been replaced by a sound more bassy and growly, but still distinctive and raw. And it's a magnificent and visceral sound that will peel back your cheeks and put a huge grin on your face.
The power to mesmerise
The Aston Martin DB11 is a car that has an abundance of power, beauty and soul. In a long, storied line of Aston Martins, the DB11 is simply the best, better than all the rest.
The DB11 is a grand tourer perfectly capable of long, comfortable journeys, and will delight and captivate you every step along the way. It's an immersive and mesmerising experience for each and every of your senses.
But we reckon its greatest achievement is one of legacy - the DB11 is the first Aston Martin that has the magnificent driving dynamics to match its stunning good looks. It is the car that should allow the brand to break free from being pigeonholed as 'just a James Bond car'.
From conception to execution, the DB11 is something that elicits extreme desirability, fantastic driving dynamism and epic theatricality. It's Aston Martin's most important car to date, and also its best.
And when it comes to the car's 'sonic identity', one sound stands above all else - the soundtrack of the car's engine and exhaust note. It is still rich and potent as Aston Martins must be. The high-end scream of a naturally aspirated engine has been replaced by a sound more bassy and growly, but still distinctive and raw. And it's a magnificent and visceral sound that will peel back your cheeks and put a huge grin on your face.
The power to mesmerise
The Aston Martin DB11 is a car that has an abundance of power, beauty and soul. In a long, storied line of Aston Martins, the DB11 is simply the best, better than all the rest.
The DB11 is a grand tourer perfectly capable of long, comfortable journeys, and will delight and captivate you every step along the way. It's an immersive and mesmerising experience for each and every of your senses.
But we reckon its greatest achievement is one of legacy - the DB11 is the first Aston Martin that has the magnificent driving dynamics to match its stunning good looks. It is the car that should allow the brand to break free from being pigeonholed as 'just a James Bond car'.
From conception to execution, the DB11 is something that elicits extreme desirability, fantastic driving dynamism and epic theatricality. It's Aston Martin's most important car to date, and also its best.
