Motoring fans often talk of owning the ultimate car. It’s a dream for many but also more of a potential reality than might be thought, given the availability of both pre-owned or new models. The Aston Martin brand captures that ultimate experience. For years now the sight and sound of an Aston under power is something special. These legendary sports cars have never lost their allure and none more so than the current model DB11 and flagship DBS. Available as a coupé or as a convertible (Volante) the DBS is the more powerful model but both have proved to be very fine long distance cruisers.
On The Outside
Sometimes we see an Aston Martin standing still. At other times we see one at speed, usually when it overtakes. Whatever happens it is always obvious that it is an Aston Martin. It’s a DB11 when you see familiar elements like the iconic grille, the clamshell bonnet (hood), and the Aston Martin Aeroblade. These same highlights repeat in the design of the DBS, but they will be more accentuated and broader as befits the flagship model. These are some of the standard design features for the respective models.
DB11
·Gloss Black lower body package
·Red tail lights
·20 inch, 10 spoke, gloss black & diamond turned, directional wheels.
DBS
·2×2 Twill Gloss Carbon Fibre lower body package
·21 inch, ten twin spoke, gloss silver wheel
- Dark anodised brake calipers
- Carbon Fibre panels
Whichever, the DB11 design is timeless and celebrates the elegance and performance of the brand. With plenty of standard and available design and technology options (on new models), you can customise the cars and make them your own.
On The Inside
Using a full-colour 12” TFT LCD display, the all-new instrument cluster presents primary vehicle information with absolute clarity, while a second, centrally-mounted 8” TFT screen is dedicated to infotainment. Controlled via an intuitive rotary control, with an optional touchpad offering character recognition, multi-touch and gesture support, the new satellite navigation and audio system have never been more effective, sounded better or been easier to operate. A newly implemented auto-park assist feature and 360-degree birds-eye view camera helps provide safe manoeuvring at slow speeds and is also operated via the car’s infotainment system.
With wider door apertures, there is significantly increased occupant space, especially head and legroom in the rear, and fully integrated rear ISOFIX mounting points for a pair of child seats plus a luggage compartment large enough to accommodate two large holdalls plus carry-on baggage. The DB11 is a genuine Grand Tourer. There’s a vast array of detailing options, so the interior can be perfectly in-tune with your unique personal style. On the seats, Nexus quilting and Celestial perforation add layers of beautiful complexity while ornate leather-work, such as intricate brogue detailing, creates areas of visual highlights.
DBS comes in special editions. For example, the Superleggera features a generous level of standard equipment, including keyless entry, tyre pressure monitoring system and a 360-degree camera with Parking Distance Display and Park Assist. The audio system has DAB plus Bluetooth audio and phone streaming, iPod, iPhone and USB playback. There is also an integrated satellite navigation system and wi-fi hub. All the in-car infotainment systems use a central LCD screen, controlled via a central dial.
On The Road
On the road those compelling curves coupled with advanced aerodynamics and sleek shape ensure the wind is cheated and the car is clamped to the road. Drive to the rear wheels is via a new rear-mounted ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Featuring a mechanical limited-slip differential and torque vectoring for precise, predictable and exploitable handling and a lower final drive for explosive in-gear acceleration. The DB11 and DBS have top speeds of 200 and 211 miles per hour respectively.
Power for both cars comes from Aston Martin’s 5.2 litre twin-turbo V12 engine (aficionados may like to know that a good old-school V8 is also available, but with less power clearly). Set low and as far back in the chassis as possible to optimise the centre of gravity and weight distribution, this high-performance engine develops, in the DBS, 720 bhp (725PS) at 6500rpm and 900Nm of big torque from 1800-5000rpm (608PS (600BHP) and 700Nm on the DB11).
Detailed tuning of the V12 together with a new exhaust strategy featuring active valves and quad tail pipes ensures the car has a commanding and powerful sound character, particularly in the more aggressive dynamic modes, while retaining a level of refinement and civility that compliments the DBS’s role as the consummate Super GT. Frankly, with these performance numbers as above, it scarcely matters which model is selected. What matters is that these are Aston Martin cars and it probably doesn’t get much better than that.
Please contact us here at MHH to find out more about availability and how you can import these fine vehicles from the UK to Kenya, New Zealand and other global destinations via our comprehensive and trusted service.
