Aston Martin released the DB11 in 2016, offering a successor to the much-loved DB9 and promising to catapult the nameplate into a future filled with sporty good looks, modern technology, and no shortage of speed. Under the hood is a V-12 powerplant pushing a top speed of 200 mph. But while the specs are impressive, the DB11 still has some pretty big shoes to fill. With that in mind, the question is obvious – how does it get on in the real world? Top Gear’s Chris Harris decided to find out, and snagged the above-featured silver example of Gaydon’s latest and greatest for a quick spin in this seven-minute, 48-second video review.
The review starts on the street, where the DB11’s grand tourer chops are tested on a damp, rainy U.K. two-lane. Harris is immediately pleased to report that the DB11 fulfills its role with a supple, comfortable ride. Tackling public asphalt is a joy behind the wheel, with the cabin providing a lovely place to sit, despite the ageing Mercedes infotainment set-up. But no Chris Harris review would be complete without liberal application of counter steer, so after the road test, the car heads to the racetrack for a little tail out action. Make that a lot of tail out action. “It’s a really, really playful, fun car, with heaps of balance, and much easier to slide around than I ever expected!” Harris exclaims. “And it feels like it could do it for a long, long time. It feels robust!”
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All told, this is another classic Chris Harris review. The host provides all the info you need in a quick, easily digestible format as he casually drifts around each and every corner. Good stuff.
As for the DB11 – it looks like it does a fairly good job in modernizing the DB nameplate. Making it go is a twin-turbo 5.2-liter V-12 engine that connects to the rear axle by way of an eight-speed gearbox from ZF. Yes, that’s correct – it’s got two turbos on it, but according to Harris, the power delivery is still buttery smooth. Then there’s the curb weight – this thing is heavy, with the DB11 tipping the scales at a two-ton skirting 3,900 pounds. However, Harris dives into the tunable engine and suspension settings for a more performance friendly response, and finds it almost immediately. Sure, it’s hefty, but the DB still has the chassis refinement to do the sideways shimmy without breaking a sweat.
As is, the DB11 still looks like a big, bad GT car with the potential to carry the DB torch into the next generation. What do you think? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to check out our full written review of the Aston Martin DB11.