Aston Martin DB11

Aston Martin DB11 Overview

Aston Martin is a luxury sports car manufacturer as much as it is a British cultural icon. From a rich racing pedigree dated back to 1913 to becoming an indispensable feature in the iconic James Bond films, Aston Martin is quintessentially British.

Successor to the Aston Martin DB9, the Aston Martin DB11 marked the beginning of a new chapter in the company with a newly developed bonded aluminium chassis, slightly bigger dimension over its predecessor and two new turbocharged engine options, making it the first turbocharged series production Aston Martin in the history of the company.

The new twin-turbo 5.2-litre V12 engine made its debut in the DB11 back in 2016 and was joined a year later by the AMG-sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. The new generation DB11 is the most powerful and efficient ‘DB’ production model in Aston Martin yet.

Priced from ‘around’ RM 2 million for the base V12 model and RM 1.8 million for the base V8 (without options), the four-seater Grand Tourer in its coupé form goes head-to head with rivals in the likes of the Bentley Continental GT, McLaren GT and the Maserati GranTurismo.

Aston Martin DB11 Design

The Aston Martin DB11 design is all-new with a hint of styling cues from its predecessor. Up front, the iconic Aston Martin grille is more prominent, flanked by a pair of redesigned LED headlight with integrated daytime running light, housed within the massive forward hinged one-piece clamshell bonnet.

The V8 model is differentiated by its two vents on the bonnet rather than the V12’s quartet, dark headlamp bezels and the unique alloy wheel finish. Aston Martin’s clever AeroBlade design means less requirement for tacky aero body works such as a big rear wing to harness the same amount of aerodynamic downforce. 

Air is channeled through disguised air intake near the rear windows and released through the vent with a small active spoiler at the trailing edge of the boot lid, creating an ‘invisible’ rear wing. Racing car inspired gill-like vent installed in each front wheel arch lining, known as the ‘Curlicue’ reduce unwanted front-end aerodynamic lift by channeling the high-pressure air from the front through the recessed apertures located behind the signature Aston Martin side strikes.

The beautifully proportioned GT silhouette is further accentuated by a broad shoulder haunch and the slopping roof structure that runs a steep arc from the A-pillar to the C-pillar. Round the back, the C-shaped LED light blade taillights draws inspiration from the Aston Martin V8 Vanquish and the twin exhaust pipe outlet rounds up the overall look of the rear.

Aston Martin DB11 Dimension

The Aston Martin DB11 is positioned between the Aston Martin Vantage and the Aston Martin DBS. Weighing in at 1,870 kg for the V12 model and 1,760 kg for the V8 model, the Aston Martin DB11 is considerably lighter than the Bentley Continental GT and just slightly pipped by the McLaren GT.

Aston Martin DB11 Interior

The Interior of the DB11 is completely revised with new interior design direction. Aston Martin’s partnership with Mercedes-Benz is apparent here especially on the multimedia displays and behind the scenes electronics. Behind the oddly shaped sports steering wheel lies a 12-inch fully digital instrument display. 

A second centrally mounted 8-inch display on the centre console is powered by the Mercedes-sourced COMAND infotainment system and controlled via a rotary dial and touchpad system commonly found in previous gen Mercedes-Benz models.

The cabin is fully carpeted and upholstered in black smooth rolled leather with contrast stitching, accented by satin silver interior trims and leather inlay. The seats are detailed in Nexus quilt and Celestial perforation with embossed Aston Martin Wings on the headrests.

Front seat occupants enjoy 10 mm of extra headroom and a 54 mm increase in headroom and 87 mm more legroom at the rear compared to its predecessor. However, the massive transmission tunnel makes fitting adults at the back quite an impossible task.

Thanks to the ISOFIX points two child seats, the rear seats will not go redundant. And staying true to its Grand Tourer roots, the space in the luggage compartment behind the long-distance cruiser is large enough to swallow two golf bags with ease.

Aston Martin DB11 Features

Standard features include 12-way adjustable front sports seats with memory and heating function, 2x2 twill gloss carbon fibre and leather steering wheel, electronic instrument cluster with mode specific displays, 8.0-inch COMAND infotainment system hooked up to a 400-watt Aston Martin Audio System, laminated windscreen with clear noise-insulation layer and keyless entry and go featuring push start button made of glass.

Optional trim inlays include Piano Black, Light Ash Open Pore, Dyed Tamo Ash, Satin Chopped Carbon and Satin 2x2 Twill Carbon Fibre. Standard exterior features include gloss black lower body package, dark anodized brake calipers, enamel wing badges and a deployable spoiler with Aston Martin Aeroblade system. The V8 model is fitted with 20-inch 10-spoke silver-coloured cast wheels while the V12 model is fitted with similarly sized 10-spoke directional wheels finished in gloss black diamond. 

On the more technical side of things, the car is fitted with electric power assisted steering rack, limited slip diffential, Positive Torque Control (PTC), Dynamic Torque Vectoring (DTV) and Adaptive Damping System (ADS) with Skyhook technology with three driving modes: GT, Sport & Sport +. In terms of safety, the Aston Martin comes equipped with dual stage driver and passenger front airbags, curtain side and knee head airbag, pelvis and thorax seat mounted airbags, blind sport detection and 360-degree birds-eye camera.

Aston Martin DB11 Driving Performance

Engine

The Aston Martin DB11 V8 model is powered by a 4.0 litre twin-turbo V8 engine developing 535 PS at 6,000 RPM and peak torque of 675 Nm from 2,000 RPM. Century sprint is completed in 4.0 seconds flat and up to a maximum top speed of 309 km/h.

The V12 on the other hand is powered by a 5.2 litre bi-turbo V12 developing 639 PS at 6,500 RPM and a peak torque of 700 Nm from 1,500 RPM. 0-100 km/h is completed in an eye blinking 3.7 seconds before maxing out at a top speed of near as makes no difference, 334 km/h (203 mph).

The Mercedes-Benz sourced turbocharged engine features technology like the Intelligent Cylinder Bank Activation, making it the cleanest, most fuel-efficient DB ever made by Aston Martin. No matter your engine choice, the DB11’s engine is effortlessly potent and deliver a rich and characterful sound all the way to 7000 rpm. Three driver-selectable dynamic modes - GT, Sport and Sport Plus alters the intensity of the drive.

GT mode enhances ride quality for that long distance cruising while Sport mode adds firmness and agility to the drive. Sport Plus dials it up to eleven with stiffer suspension, quicker steering, a more aggressive shifting pattern and Torque Vectoring system that prioritize traction and handling.

Transmission

Power is sent to the rear wheels via the rear mid-mounted, tried and tested ZF 8-speed automatic transmission with shift-by-wire control system. Combined with the V12 powertrain, the DB11 is the fastest and most accelerative DB model in Aston Martin yet. 

Aston Martin DB11 Ride Comfort

Developed by a former Lotus engineer, the DB11 is not made for the track but instead is tuned more for ride comfort. That said, the new bonded aluminum body structure that underpins the DB11 is designed to be stronger, safer and crucially more dynamic. The 65 mm increase in wheelbase meant that the engine can be positioned further back for that near-perfect weight distribution.

Both models come equipped with front independent double wishbone and rear multi-link suspension system, featuring Adaptive Damping System (ADS) with Skyhook Technology. The ride character can be altered by alternating between the three driving modes available.

Aston Martin DB11 Fuel Consumption

Aston Martin DB11 Conclusion

Some may argue that the Aston Martin DB11 no longer is a thoroughbred British icon no thanks to the obvious German influence. And as sacrilegious as it may seem to replace the naturally aspirated engines to turbocharged ones, there is no denying that the beautifully executed DB11 managed to retain much of the true Aston Martin spirit. With its beautifully executed exterior paired with the characterful engine and comfortable ride, the Aston Martin DB11 remains one of the best Grand Tourer for the road.