Ever since the Bentley Continental GT showed up in the early 2000s, the niche world of luxury grand tourers has been forever changed. Now the select few that can afford such high-end cars tend to be quite a picky bunch, and it isn’t too easy for even the premium marques to satisfy their relentless quest for the best. However, if there’s one brand that has the hereditary quality to cater to the needs of even the most demanding of clientele, it’s most probably none other than Aston Martin. Having its roots in rich history and heritage that’s full of glorious racing victories and other proud achievements, few carmakers have the charm and thorough know-how as this rather small British brand. So, when Aston Martin announced the arrival of the all-new DB11 grand tourer in 2016, everyone was quite excited.
And as it turns out, the DB11 not only looks fantastic, but with its upgraded mechanicals and up-to-date technology package, it’s easily one of the best (if not the best) GT on sale today. The DB11’s platform is so good, in fact, Aston Martin even used it on the new Vantage. In the UAE, the all-new Aston Martin DB11 contends with the Porsche 911, Bentley Continental GT, Maserati GranTurismo, and Ferrari GTC4Lusso.
Exterior
The Aston Martin DB11’s exterior design is simply gorgeous; with its sleek yet powerful lines, sculpted bodywork, bold but purposeful contours and a characteristic that’s shared by all of the great GT cars ever made - a long hood, short overhangs, large wheels and wide rear haunches, the new DB11 possesses all of these qualities. The striking front of the DB11 features debonair LED headlamps with signature C-shaped DRLs, trademark Aston Martin grille and a chiseled bumper with a front splitter. The swooping lines along with the smoothly contoured panels are intertwined with the DB11’s pulled-back A-pillars, slender wing mirrors, front fender-integrated vents and heavily-sloped roof.
The seamless C-pillar merges right into the rear bodywork of the DB11, where one would find contemporary-looking thin but really fancy LED tail lights, neatly-molded bumper and an extensive aero setup and twin exhausts. The Aston Martin DB11 measures 4.739 meters in length, 2.060 meters in width and 1.279 meters in height. It has a 2.805-meter wheelbase and cargo capacity of 270 liters. The DB11 has all the right design ingredients to make it one of the most beautiful cars on the road today.
Interior
The Aston Martin DB11’s 2+2 seating configuration is typical to many cars in its class and that means the rear seats are almost useless if you want to carry adults in the back. However, the front seats are absolutely sublime and get loads of adjustments for the perfect driving position. The awkward shape of the steering wheel and old-school head unit aside, the rest of the cabin of the DB11 looks and feels niche and of high quality. The instrument panel and center console sports a really modern design, and their layout is pretty unique, too. The DB11’s vast features list includes electronically-controlled rear spoiler, adaptive suspension with ride modes, launch control, Alcantara & leather interior upholstery, heated & cooled seats, dual-zone automatic AC, cruise control, push-button engine start, 400-watt premium sound system, internet connectivity, and an 8.0-inch infotainment screen.
Engine and performance
The Aston Martin DB11 can be had with either a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 or a 5.2-liter V12, also with twin turbochargers. The AMG-sourced V8 makes 503hp with 750Nm of torque, while the twelve-cylinder pushes out 600hp and 700Nm. Both powerplants use an 8-speed automatic gearbox and power the rear wheels, only. However, the V12-powered DB11 is ever so slightly faster than the eight-cylinder model, reaching a top speed of 322 km/h. And despite the V12’s higher output, both versions crack 100 km/h in less than 4 seconds.
Verdict
In the UAE, the Aston Martin DB11 retails for between AED 880,000 to AED 989,000 for the eight-cylinder and twelve-cylinder versions, respectively. The Aston Martin DB11 surely provides bang for buck. Minus the dated cabin ambience and some obnoxious design elements, it stands tall against its rivals.
