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Photo: Kevin Uy, Canadian Auto Press |
If Aston Martin has a weakness, its various designs and the engineering behind them rely too heavily on past achievements. Others, however, will see adhering to tradition
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Photo: Aston Martin |
Enter the DB11, Aston’s first foray into modernism. Radical departure in design: check. Completely new aluminum chassis architecture: check. Wholesale change in mechanicals: check. Totally modernized cabin: check. Replacement of analog primary instrumentation with full digital display: check. Thoroughly up-to-date infotainment: check. Truly, the only noticeable carryover elements include the general shape of Aston’s iconic albeit much larger grille and the brand’s green and white winged badge.
The
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Photo: Aston Martin |
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Photo: Kevin Uy, Canadian Auto Press |
As sensational as the new car’s initial visual introduction is, its cabin is equally pleasing, but let me set the stage by saying I’m not 100-percent on board with all of Aston’s internal decisions. I understand each and every one has a place and purpose, but nevertheless the day I get excited about the most beautiful cluster of analog dials currently available in any car being replaced by a single 12-inch TFT LCD screen is the day I trade in my collection of mechanical wristwatches for a smart watch. The DB11’s primary configurable display is a brilliant, colourful, high-resolution, graphically stimulating modern-day triumph compared to the archaic
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Photo: Kevin Uy, Canadian Auto Press |
You’ll be glad to know the new in-house designed V12 still has snarl. It packs 600 horsepower and 512 lb-ft of twin-turbo 5.2-litre attitude, a 97-horsepower and 59 pound-foot advantage over the DB9’s larger, naturally aspirated 6.0-litre V12, which is good enough for 3.9 seconds to 100km/h and a top speed of 322 km/h, or
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Photo: Kevin Uy, Canadian Auto Press |
There was no way I was about to find out how unfathomably fast 200 mph feels thanks to the cold, windy, thoroughly drenching day that provided backdrop for my drive. Rather, I felt like Nico Rosberg in the wake of Lewis Hamilton at the 2016 Brazilian Grand Prix, although fortunately I wasn’t being hunted down by a testosterone fueled Max Verstappen and could therefore pilot the $254,195 super coupe with Championship lead-preserving conservatism.
Strange to think that Aston Martin now has ties with both Mercedes-AMG and Red Bull, the former, which took a five-percent non-voting stake in the British brand as
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Photo: Kevin Uy, Canadian Auto Press |
A glance around the DB11 cabin will attest to its new three-pointed star partnership, the sizeable eight-inch fixed tablet-style infotainment display atop the centre stack and metal adorned rotating controller and character recognition, multi-touch, gesture-capable palm rest on the lower console very similar to various M-B designs, plus I must say very welcome. It’s as functionally complete and quick responding as such systems get, with superb new satellite navigation, a 360-degree
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Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
The rest of the centre stack is equally improved, with a more cohesive and prettier design that still incorporates the brand’s trademark pushbutton ignition and gear selectors just below a set of HVAC vents near the top of a leather surfaced section, while upgrading the lower half with anodized toggles, touch-sensitive switchgear, crisp, clear backlit script and displays, and more.
The
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Photo: Kevin Uy, Canadian Auto Press |
A slightly flat-bottomed steering wheel with thinner spokes, recalibrated controls, and greater telescopic reach results in a more comfortable fit for my smallish hands and short torso, longer legged body, the seat adjustability ideal, paddles well placed, and overall ergonomics spot on. The DB11 is two and a half inches longer than the DB9 between its axles, which makes it much roomier, especially for
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Photo: Kevin Uy, Canadian Auto Press |
There would be no such outdoor activities today. Wind strained branches overhead and pools of standing water below made the comfortable, supportive and thankfully warmed driver’s seat seem like a protective hug from behind, the raging
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Photo: Kevin Uy, Canadian Auto Press |
Likewise
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Photo: Kevin Uy, Canadian Auto Press |
1,770 kilos is considerable mass to move as adroitly as the DB11, but compared to some German super coupes and a similarly priced British competitor the Aston’s new aluminum body shell feels feather light. No doubt torque vectoring aids
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Photo: Kevin Uy, Canadian Auto Press |
It’s days like this, and surrounding drivers like the many who didn’t seem to appreciate the early production work of art I was respectfully attempting to keep between the confines of my lane, which brought to light the immense braking power available. Applied normally they were as calmly adept as any premium car’s binders, but when full, immediate response was required the six- and four-piston front
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Photo: Kevin Uy, Canadian Auto Press |
Hands down this is the best Aston Martin ever hand built in England, and while it’s refined in ways that cars from Gaydon, Warwickshire have never been, it retains most of the character that fans of the iconic brand have long appreciated. This is, however, where I need to petition the marque for optional analog gauges, maybe something truly fantastic created by horological master Swiss atelier Philippe Dufour, or even better, the Isle of Man’s Roger W. Smith (let’s keep them British, after all), but then again I suppose I need to accept that smart devices are here to stay and it’s yours truly that must adjust. The DB11 is certainly a good way to break with tradition and make the transition.
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