Aston Martin DB11 2018 Review

If looks were everything the Aston Martin DB11 V8 coupe would be all you could ever need.

This glorious piece of automotive sculpture oozes down the road. When it’s stationary, you just want to lick it.

The DB11 is the latest 2+2 grand tourer from the tiny independent British sportscar manufacturer. It’s been around since 2016 as a 5.2-litre V12 and the cheaper, slower V8 model has been added in the last year.

Having said that it still makes 375kW and 675NM and accelerates from 0-100km/h in a launch control-assisted four seconds, driving its rear wheels via an eight-speed ZF transaxle automatic and a limited slip diff.

Drill further down and you’ll find a new generation bonded and riveted aluminium monocoque, double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension, adaptive Bilstein three-mode dampers, electromechanical steering, 400mm steel front discs clamped by six-piston calipers and 20-inch alloys shod with staggered Bridgestone Potenza rubber that generate lots of grip … and lots of noise on coarse surfaces.

Incidentally, the DB11’s mid-front mounted 4.0-litre V8 is the Mercedes-AMG ‘hot vee’ twin-turbo, albeit with revised intake, exhaust and sump. The Germans also supply the electrical architecture, which is a significant development saving for Aston Martin.

The DB11 coupe will set you back $368,000 before on-road costs. The 447kW/700Nm V12 version is $395,000 and the V8 convertible (Volante) $398,495.

While blind spot monitoring is available there are no other high-end drive assist systems such as autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control or lane keep assist. At this money that’s incredibly poor form.

Safety and driver assistance equipment you do get includes front, side, curtain and knee airbags; front and rear parking sensors, a birds-eye camera, tyre pressure monitoring and LED headlights.

Saying the DB11 is trimmed in leather doesn’t do its justice. Its cocooned in a particularly rich, soft variation of the stuff. The seats are decorated a bit oddly, like a Maori face tattoo. But up-front they are powered, heated and very supportive.

Other equipment includes dual-zone climate control, an infotainment system that includes Apple iPhone integration but no Android Auto.

There’s a semi-squared off steering wheel and single digital dial in the centre of the instrument panel for both speed and revs. I struggled to figure out where the redline was marked.

Running costs? Aston claims a 9.9L/100km fuel consumption average for the DB11. We managed low 10s, which was pretty respectable. It comes with a three-year/unlimited warranty and there are servicing packages available.

You should buy it if you are super-rich and like really, really beautiful cars that attract an enormous amount of attention standing still, let alone rolling down the road.

Hang on, if I’m super-rich and I like beautiful cars shouldn’t I get the V12? Isn’t it only a little more expensive in relative terms? Sure, but if you also appreciate handling balance then the V8 is the better choice of the two.

The V12 is a little nose-heavy by comparison with the 115kg lighter V8, which turns into corners more cleanly and sharply.

Having said that even the V8, which measures up at 4705mm long and 1950mm wide (and a slinky 1290m high) feels its size and 1760kg kerb weight in tighter stuff. It’s happier on big, fast bends. Or even better (I’m betting) on big, fast freeways with very high speed limits.

If you’re looking for 911-like razor sharp steering response and hyper handling that’s not the DB11’s go, not even when you take the suspension out of reasonably supple GT mode into firm Sport or too-firm-for-bumpy-roads Sport+.

You can wind up drivetrain performance separate to suspension, from mildly wild in GT to crackle-bang crazy in Sport+. Sport + it is then! The soundtrack is interesting, with a real hammer to it very different from the AMG ‘NASCAR’ boom. Flappy paddles shift quickly and add an extra layer of control when pushing along. Otherwise the ZF slurs through the gears surreptitiously.

Perhaps the toughest thing to do in the DB11 is steer away from the paraphernalia of modern urban roadways; Because it’s low, wide and hard to see the far edges of, wheels could easily be scraped. Not by me this time thankfully!

The DB11’s electronic links to Benz are pretty obvious. The non-touch media screen has the same Comand graphics, sits similarly out of place at the top of the centre stack and is driven in the same way by dial, track pad or voice. It’s outdated tech though, at least one generation behind where Benz is at, let alone other opposition.

Below the screen is a row of buttons for selecting gear in the auto transmission. That’s all a bit Valiant AP5 isn’t it? And it all looks a bit scrunched in too, given the Coke bottle shape of the centre stack.

The seat controllers are similar concept to the Benz, but mounted on the transmission tunnel rather than on the door, where they are hard to see and operate. One upside is the old Benz cruise control stalk. It’s so easy to use.

If you have to transport people in the rear seat definitely look elsewhere. Storage? Well there’s a sizeable bin with a powered sliding lid between the seats, a couple of cupholders and shallow door bins. The boot is an afterthought.

The DB11 range is on-sale now, but there is another model coming in the form of the V12-based AMR.

AMR stands for Aston Martin Racing and any cars with this designation have been worked over for more engine and chassis performance.

Pricing is set at $428,000 plus on-roads and it goes on-sale in quarter four 2018. Get your order in early to avoid the rush…

Clearly, the price of the DB11 V8 means it has a very select clientele. A very healthy bank account is required.

If you like this car then close rivals to consider include the recently overhauled Bentley Continental, Maserati GranTurismo and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class coupe, which is due for a refresh very soon.

But you could quickly broaden that net to all sorts of cars – Porsches, Ferraris, McLarens and so on.

Very few test cars visiting the humble Newton abode have attracted such interest or comment. The DB11 really is that striking and beautiful. The overall shape is glorious, the details exquisitely crafted.

Of course, it’s not worth the money being charged for it. No car at this pricepoint is. That’s even before you consider the shameful lack of modern safety assist systems and the aging info-tech.

In the case of the DB11 the value of beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder.

How much is an Aston Martin DB11 V8 Coupe:
Price: $368,000 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 turbo-petrol
Output: 375kW/675Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.9L/100km
CO2: 230g/km
Safety Rating: N/A