Aston Martin DB11 prototype Quick Review

TELL ME ABOUT THIS CAR

The Aston Martin DB11 will go on sale in late 2016 and is powered by a turbocharged V12 engine – a first for Aston. With 447kW and 700Nm it’s far brawnier than the outgoing DB9, and with design that bears more than a passing resemblance to the so-called DB10 that Daniel Craig’s James Bond drove in his last outing.

The DB11 has an aluminium chassis and body and will have an eight-speed automatic gearbox as standard. The company reckons it will have a 0-100km/h time of just 3.9-seconds. We will have more details on price and specification ahead of the car’s on-sale date.

STRENGTHS

• Much faster than the DB9; the turbo engine provides effortless punch.
• Chassis generates huge grip, but it’s not hard to drive it fast.
• Beneath the ratty disguise of the prototype we drove it’s a stylish beast.

WEAKNESSES

• Doesn’t sound quite as good as the current non-turbocharged V12.
• No chance to assess refinement in this development prototype.
• Certain to be seriously expensive when it lands here.

ANY RIVALS I SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER?

Despite its rarefied image and what’s certain to be a lottery win pricetag, the DB11 is set to be launched into a well-populated part of the market. It’s most obvious competitor will be the Bentley Continental GT, with the two British heavyweights likely to be close on both performance and price. The Mercedes S-Class coupe is also a serious challenger, or – for those looking for something slightly sportier – the Porsche 911 Turbo S.