The Aston Martin DB11 was unveiled earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show, with killer looks that combine sport and luxury into a unique design and stunning specs that include a 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine capable of 600 horsepower and 700 Nm of torque.
The vehicle is the successor to the 2003 Aston Martin DB9, as the Aston Martin DB10 was the car driven by James Bond in Spectre. Is the 13-year wait worth it for Aston Martin's update to the DB9? According to early reviews, the answer is a resounding yes, as the DB11 largely impresses.
According to Motor Authority's Aaron Cole, the DB11 is like any supercar that places style first, with a more sculpted and defined character line that punctuates the golden proportion that was used throughout the vehicle. Cole also noted that the hood of the DB11 is one of the single biggest pieces of rolled aluminum that has ever been produced, with the feat necessary to eliminate the shunt lines and any unnecessary angles.
The vehicle's exterior is not the only aspect that received a modern update, as Autoweek's Graham Kozak also noted the massive changes in the interiors. The DB11 features an all-new chassis, with the vehicle's aluminum platform replacing the architecture that Aston Martin had applied in one form or another over the past decade.
Kozak also mentioned that the in-house design is twin-turbocharged of the DB11 is the first turbo to be installed in an Aston Martin production model, and with it being mounted just behind the front wheel hubs, the vehicle is a true front-midengine car.
So how does the DB11 drive? After spending hours behind the DB11's wheel, CNET's Tim Stevens simply claims that the vehicle is "a damned fine car," with the aerodynamics of the DB11 something that has never been seen in previous generations of the vehicle. This can be partly attributed to the trademarked Aeroblade of the DB11, which acts as a virtual spoiler in place of the big wings that other car manufacturers place at the back of their vehicles.
Stevens also mentioned the very nice sound of the DB11's engine, and the much improved infotainment system that was the result of a partnership with Mercedes-Benz. Stevens, however, found disappoint in the DB11's brakes, due to a long throw experienced when pressing on the brake pedal.
Autoblog's Greg Migliore asks the question whether the DB11 could sway loyal customers of other luxury brands such as Bentley, Ferrari and Porsche to the new vehicle. Migliore claims that the DB11, by simply being fast and standing out, will deliver the promise of Aston Martin's potential in the modern age, with the vehicle to be cross-shopped against the likes of the Bentley Continental GT, the Ferrari California and the Porsche 911 Turbo S.
As Forbes' Karl Brauer said, if the next models of Aston Marin will come with the same high performance, advances features and passionate design as the DB11, then the company's status as the last independent sports car brand will likely continue indefinitely.
The Aston Martin DB11 comes at a starting price of $211,995, with the first deliveries expected to arrive by the end of the year.
