By: Ray Massey
London - Touted as “the first car in Aston Martin's Second Century plan” and built on an all-new lightweight platform, the DB11 marks a new dawn for the British sports car specialist. The first customer units are due to reach South Africa around November and while prices can't be cast in stone due to fluctuating exchange rates, it's likely to start in the region of R4.5 million. Our British correspondent Ray Massey got behind the wheel recently and as far as he's concerned, there's a lot to look forward do.
THE GOOD STUFF
1. The arrival of this gorgeous new 320km/h DB11 stirs the blood of men and women alike. And first deliveries are just in time for Christmas. You're sorted.
2. A worthy successor to the outgoing DB9, it follows the styling route set by the DB10, which starred in the last Bond film, Spectre, but never went into production, and is a spiritual successor to the classic DB5 of the Sixties. I put this new '2 plus 2' grand tourer through its paces on all manner of roads in the suitably cinematic setting of Tuscany, in Italy - sadly without Miss Moneypenny in the passenger seat.
3. It is blitz quick, whip-smart, corners well, and is the most powerful production Aston Martin ever.
4. Great pulling power from the new 448kW 5.2-litre twin turbo-charged V12 engine matched to an eight-speed automatic ZF gearbox. Real excitement as it propels the car from rest to 100km/h in just 3.9 seconds and up to a top speed of 320km/h. I switched to the manual paddles for even more fun.
5. I loved the roaring soundtrack from the exhaust. Three driving modes let you progressively crank up the tempo. 'GT' grand touring mode is fine for everyday driving with a simmering exhaust note. 'Sport' tightens the sinews and sound, and gives you a more muscular ride on winding roads. 'Sport-Plus' gives a no-holds-barred experience with full-throttle roar. Avoid waking the neighbours with a 'quiet start' option.
6. Gorgeous proportions and a beautiful, but faintly menacing, stance plus LED running lights that say: 'Don't mess with me.'
7. The svelte, sculpted design is possible thanks to a new, lighter, stronger, more flexible aluminium sub-structure that requires fewer compromises when matching looks to performance, allowing the engine to be pushed further back to improve weight distribution for better handling.
8. The beautiful interior is a gloriously contemporary take on traditional crafts and the high-backed sports seats are extremely comfortable over long distances.
9. The clean, simple, uncluttered full-colour electronic instrument cluster is a delight with its easy to read electronic dials. A large, centrally mounted 8-inch screen for satnav and a rotary control or optional touchpad above the central transmission tunnel.
10. Push-button control is simple to master. Press the larger central button to fire up the engine, then choose one of the four others to select automatic drive, reverse or neutral mode.
11. More anti-lock braking, traction, and stability control systems than Q-Branch could dream up - and you feel the handling benefit.
12. Each bonnet badge is individually hand-crafted in traditional fashion in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter by specialist Vaughtons.
13. Indulge yourself with the wide palette of exterior colours- but Cinnabar Orange and Lightning Silver really caught my eye.
14. The aerodynamic shape is not just for show. Helping keep the car on the ground by reducing front-end lift are gill-like vents called 'curlicues' integrated into each forward wheel arch lining. They are linked to the side-strakes - those familiar metal flashes on the side of the car - which now also channel air.
15. A trade-marked 'AeroBlade' system creates a virtual rear spoiler by pushing air through the bodywork, then venting it as a jet-stream out the back.
16. It cuts fuel consumption by shutting down one bank of cylinders during low power demand, such as when cruising. Stop-start technology also helps.
17. Grips the road well with specially created Bridgestone S007 tyres.
18. Good for small families as the first Aston Martin with fully integrated rear Isofix points for two child seats.
THE BAD STUFF
- Unlike Bond, it won't save the planet. Despite green technology, expect hefty fuel bills with average economy of just 25 mpg and high CO2 emissions of around 265g/km.
- It may have a licence to thrill - but at 320km/h, how long will you keep your licence to drive?
- Unless you are a small child, you wouldn't want to go far squished in the back.
- Limited luggage space. The boot will take two soft holdalls and some carry-on baggage - just.
Follow us on Twitter