Aston Martin might be favored by a certain famous super-agent but even the likes of James Bond can’t save the brand if it isn’t able to compete with the leading lights of the automotive industry. Thankfully this Geneva Motor Show, the company brought out a grand tourer that may just close the gap between them and their biggest direct competitors such as Ferrari and McLaren. The DB11 is the long-awaited replacement for the once glamorous but now long-in-the-tooth DB9 and promises all the high quality performance with the latest in technology.
“This is not only the most important car that Aston Martin has launched in recent history, but also in its 103-year existence” claimed Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer. There are good signs indicating that. The new twin-turbocharged 600bhp 5.2-liter V12 speeds from standstill to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds, topping out at 200mph, putting it on par with the new Ferrari GTC4Lusso. This engine makes it the most powerful production car in the company’s history and the new chassis and suspension set-up, plus an automatic transmission with torque vectoring means that it could also be one of the best handling.
Furthermore, being both longer and wider than the DB9, the DB11 has enough space for the family, with a full 54mm greater head & 87mm greater legroom, and ISOFIX mountings for fitting child seats.
Aston Martin may have been behind its competitors in terms of dashboard technology in the past, but the DB11 aims to fix that. It gets park assistance, a 360-degree birds-eye view camera system and a host of other high-tech touches including a new infotainment system, voice recognition and gesture controls thanks to its business relationship with Mercedes parent company Daimler.
“We aspire to make the most beautiful cars in the world” said Palmer. The cabin still holds true to the application of craft and skill, with leather from Bridge of Wier still being put to good use, but this model has an added tastefulness to its design with open-pore wood finishes and a more refined make of upholstery.
“The DB11 is the absolute embodiment of what an Aston Martin should be and we have worked tirelessly to ensure that DB11 combines both exceptional design with the latest technology throughout” noted Palmer. What we have seen so far looks pleasing enough for those who may have the misconception that the company has lost its mettle. The DB11 is the supercar that may be hard to beat.
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