Review : ASTON MARTIN DB11

Aston Martin has long been defined by superlative design. The DB11, a $211,995 grand tourer suited to crossing vast distances at obscene speeds, updates the company’s vaunted design language while retaining the brand’s signature cues. Function follows form, too, from the “curlicue vents” that draw air from the front wheel wells to reduce lift to the AeroBlade™ (yes, it’s trademarked) that improves downforce. The aerodynamic tricks help the DB11 stay stable while achieving a supercar-worthy 200 mph.  The cabin is no less beautiful, with delightful details like perforated brogues on the seats and doors, crushed carbon-fiber details in the center stack and door trim, and gently sculpted trapezoidal shapes that look nothing like Aston’s late, great waterfall center stack and its odiously out-of-date flip-up nav screen. Acres of supple, kitten-soft leather from cows that have never seen barbed wire—which might leave unsightly blemishes—covers everything that isn’t made of carbon fiber, polished aluminum, or timber. Aston finally ditched its Byzantine infotainment system and, making use of its technical partnership with Daimler, appropriated their multimedia system. The menu structure and control wheel/touchpad interface is similar to their application in Mercedes-Benz products (known as COMAND), but the graphics have been personalized for Aston. Although the DB11 is just a bit longer and heavier than the DB9, it feels a lot smaller and lighter, and the suspension matches the engine’s sporting capabilities.MAX EAREY/ASTON MARTIN The central 8-inch TFT screen displays nav and music content with sharp resolution. Below, a haptic touch panel to switch modes and control volume, which is a vast and welcome improvement over the old system. But the 12-inch digital instrument cluster is downright disappointing. Sure, everything from the Acura NSX to the McLaren 650S uses customizable renderings of the tachometer. But Aston, the brand whose legendary, jewelry-like analog tachometer had the audacity spin anti-clockwise, now uses a TFT display to convey engine speed. Turbocharged Power Aston Martin is nothing if not traditional, steadfastly standing by its venerable V12 engine. Still, it must bow to rising fuel economy standards and tightening emissions regulations. And so the engine in the DB11 displaces just 5.2 liters, and relies upon twin turbochargers for added oomph. Purists will wail, but dropping the hammer in the quickest DB ever should shut them up. This car hits 60 mph from a standstill in well under 4 seconds. Six-hundred horsepower and locomotive-like torque can do that.