Aston Martin DB11 2016 Review - International

New platform, new powertrain, new technology, plus an all-new look… The DB11 has it all and is a remarkable achievement considering it’s been built without the deep pockets of Aston’s conventional rivals Bentley, Ferrari or Porsche.

Created to stall declining sales, the DB9-replacement has everything riding on it. There is no Plan B, but that's okay, Aston doesn't need it. The first all-new DB in more than a decade is perfectly judged.

Blending a traditional GT with the handling of something far sportier, the DB11 is both fast and comfortable and engaging and willing when you want to have fun. Throw in a glorious V12 with an evocative soundtrack and you'll understand why the latest Aston is at the very top of its class and well and truly, the Best of British.

The battle to relaunch Britain's famous sports-car marque begins with the DB11. Its mission is nothing less than save Aston Martin by turning around a decade of declining sales. It’s so important, that Aston boss and long-time car-guy Andy Palmer is personally inspecting and signing off every DB11 before it goes to its end customer.

If saving the farm is not enough, the DB11 also has to pave the way for an exciting range of models, donating its underpinnings to the new V8 Vantage, Vanquish, next Lagonda limo and, even, perhaps a new SUV.

Its first job though, is to replace the DB9.

Thirteen years is an eternity in the car world, but that's how long the DB9 had to endure. Luckily for Aston, thst car’s timeless well-proportioned design that still turns heads today helped it through, but for the last couple of years it's become tougher and tougher to persuade wealthy buyers to reach for their diamanté-studded chequebook.

If there’s bad news, it’s that the DB11 isn't anywhere near as enchanting on first acquaintance as the DB9 but, in the flesh, you'll find your opinion on the all-new Aston mellows.

Its imposing dimensions look, well, right!

And if, as the saying goes, the devil is in the detail, then the new DB is pure evil. From its one-piece clamshell bonnet, wide strakes that look samurai-inflicted, boomerang tail-lamps and clever aero, the DB11 demands you spend time to absorb its lines. Your brain needs time to process the folds, creases and overall drama of this wonderful new Aston.

Yet perhaps the single most important feature of the DB11 is hidden beneath our car's Frosted Glass Blue painted body -- an all-new extruded and bonded aluminium platform. Despite growing in width and length, the new monocoque is 21kg lighter than the old 'VH' underpinnings but importantly almost 40 per cent stiffer.

There's plenty of other weight-saving throughout the car. As well as the aluminium door skins, roof and wings, the door frames are made from magnesium. Composite quarter panels and boot lid are used. Injection-moulded plastic front and rear bumpers complete the kilo-curbing.

After all that you would hope and expect the Aston to be an absolute featherweight. It isn't because despite all that work, the DB11 is actually around 100kg heavier than the car it replaces.

Now tipping the scales at 1770kg (dry), when loaded with fuel and with one passenger you'll be knocking on the door of two tonnes. Not all that impressive for a rear-wheel drive car that only just has space for two little people in the rear.

The culprit for the added bulk is the new multi-link rear suspension that engineers demanded to improve handling and ride. It also didn't help that under the bonnet the fractionally smaller V12 now comes equipped with two turbos and all the plumbing that goes with them.

Speaking of which, if a twin-turbo 5.2-litre V12 is Aston Martin's idea of downsizing then we're 100% onboard. Most of the time you never feel the need to seriously stir either of the compressors from their slumber, such is the inherent torque of the engine, but when you do, you know about it.

Generating 447kW/700Nm, the V12 offers a mid-range punch of which the DB9 could only dream.

Off the mark, despite its mass, acceleration is strong with the 0-100km dash taking just 3.9sec. Impressive, until you consider the cheaper, less powerful but lighter Porsche 911 Turbo S gets to 100km/h a whole second faster.

At least the Aston owner can reclaim pub bragging rights with the DB11's 330km/h top speed -- 10km/h up on the German superbug.

Of course, the big Aston lacks the Porsche's all-wheel drive and lightning-quick PDK dual-clutch tranny, but behind the wheel you miss neither and begin to relish the DB11's unique character.

The old DB9 was a decent drive but it always felt compromised. It was overly stiff and was never as entertaining as some of its rivals. It also had the tendency to push wide into understeer. This is something its replacement resists admirably, at least at road speeds.

Thank its platform for the transformation. While the old 5.9-litre hung a pair of heavy cylinders over the front axle, the DB11 places its entire V12 lump front-mid-ship. Neatly balancing the weight of the heavy donk, engineers then mounted the ZF eight-speed automatic within the casing of the rear differential. This transaxle arrangement sees a near 50:50 weight distribution front to rear.

Now when you're pushing on, the DB11 feels more neutral and better balanced - because it is.

Bravely, Aston Martin resisted the temptation when developing the DB11 of targeting the 911 Turbo or even the F12 for handling - that car comes later, says the car-maker. In the meantime, engineers were given more free-reign to create something far more useable, comfortable and enjoyable on a long-distance adventure.

That said, on your favourite country road the DB11 still manages to be fun and engaging and surprisingly agile for a big car. Ultimately, it does begin to run out of body control, occasionally scraping its chin on a really challenging road but only at unmentionable speeds.

The reward, of course, for this softer set-up is ride comfort that was alien to the old car. All models come with adaptive dampers that offer a GT, Sport and Sport+. Unlike almost any other car, all three can be used on the road -- even the latter doesn't prompt a trip to the osteo. Instead, it adds more confidence to push a little harder.

Top marks for Aston's steering too. It's the firm's first attempt at an electric power steering setup. It might be light at first but feels pleasingly precise - reassuring on narrow roads with such a wide car. Braking power is also strong despite the firm not offering any optional carbon ceramic disc brakes. They're expected to come later with the sportier version of DB11.

Away from country roads and on the highway, alas, the Aston isn't the quietest of cruisers, with lots of very audible wind and some tyre noise permeating the cabin at a speed.

However, it's perhaps inside the Aston Martin that the big coupe claws back its final advantage beside the faster 911 Turbo S that so dominates the GT landscape.

Put simply, the DB11 looks and feels special in a way the sober German will never. The design, fit, feel and overall finish is also impressive, although we'd pass on our car's brogue shoe leather seats.

Perhaps the real beauty in the interior is what you can't see. The DB11 is the first Aston to benefit and borrows its electronic architecture from part-owner Mercedes-Benz. The end result is the DB11 has satnav that's as easy to use via the S-Class-style touchpad or rotary controller.

Shame the E-Class' virtual instrument panel couldn't also have been incorporated to the DB11. The Aston's dash is fine, but lacks the clarity and wow factor of the Benz. At least it's readable - something that could never be said for the old car's elegant but indecipherable dials.

One slight fly in the ointment - a software upgrade moments before we drove off in our test car knocked out the air conditioning. It could be reset, but was a recurring fault on our pre-production vehicle. The car-maker says it's fixed the issue for production vehicles.

Priced $60,000 more than a DB9 at $428,032 - it just reinforces how much confidence Aston Martin has in the DB11. At that money it also places the coupe against some serious GT opposition.

It's $60,000 cheaper than a Continental GT and sandwiched between, perhaps its greatest rivals - the 911 Turbo and Turbo S.

Despite its tricky positioning, the DB11 scores. It manages to have the better mix of comfort and agility and wrap it all up in a near irresistible package.

Best of British? You better believe it.

2016 Aston Martin DB11 pricing and specifications:
Price: $428,032 (plus ORCs)
Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V12
Output: 447kW/700Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic transaxle
Fuel: 11.3L/100km (approx)
CO2: 265g/km (approx)
Safety rating: Not tested

Also consider:
>> Bentley Continental GT Speed
>> BMW M6 Gran Coupe
>> Porsche 911 Turbo