For what Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer Dr Andy Palmer described as "not only the most important car that Aston Martin has launched in recent history, but also in its 103-year existence", the DB 11 saw its global debut at the 86th International Geneva Motor Show, and was simultaneously launched at the Aston Martin showroom in Singapore at the same time.
The unveiling heralds a new chapter in Aston Martin’s 103-year history, as DB11 is the first product launched under the company's "Second Century" plan.
Built upon a new lighter, stronger, and more space efficient bonded aluminium structure, DB11 is the most powerful, most efficient and most dynamically gifted DB model in Aston Martin's history.
It is, by all the standards, the most significant new Aston Martin since the introduction of the DB9 in 2003.
Heralding a new design era for Aston Martin, DB11 is the latest landmark in a remarkable aesthetic journey, preceding icons such as the DB2/4, DB5 and, most recently, the DB10 developed specifically for James Bond.
DB11 re-imagines the relationship between form and function with a series of fresh design signatures. Foremost amongst these are the front-hinging clamshell bonnet, distinctive LED headlights and accentuated lines of the iconic Aston Martin grille.
The profile is equally dramatic, thanks to the roof strakes that flow uninterrupted from A-pillar to C-pillar. The clean lines continue at the rear, with a sloping decklid that smoothly blends into boldly sculpted tail- lights to create a new and unmistakable graphic.
Innovative aerodynamics play their part in this aesthetic revolution with clever management of airflow both over and through the bodywork, aiding stability while preserving the DB11's uncluttered surfaces. Front-end lift is reduced by the gill-like Curlicue, which releases high-pressure air from inside the wheel arch via a concealed vent within the redesigned side-strake.
Meanwhile, rear-end lift is reduced by the Aston Martin AeroBladeTM, a virtual spoiler fed by discreet air intakes located at the base of each C-pillar. Air is ducted through the bodywork, before venting as a jet of air from the aperture in the rear deckled.
Unlike any Aston Martin before it, the DB11's heart is a 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12.
Designed in-house, this new engine develops 608 PS1 (600 BHP1) and 700Nm1 of torque, making DB11 the most powerful production DB model ever. Naturally, it is the most dynamic and most accelerative too, with a top speed of 322km/h1 and a 0-100km/h time of just 3.9sec1.
Dr Andy Palmer concludes, "The DB11 rightfully places Aston Martin once again as a leading brand in the luxury automotive market"
We might just have to agree.
