Cosmic Girl

The DB11, which succeeds the sexy DB9, is an Aston Martin that’s out of this world.

- Jeremy Chua

IT is hard to believe that the Aston Martin DB9 has been around for 12 years.

Twelve years is an eternity in the motoring world. But the DB9 doesn’t look like it has aged a day. Its lines are still beautiful, and the car remains as desirable as ever.

But if you’ve been aching to acquire a DB9, you will only be able to land a used model, because Aston Martin has halted its production to make way for the DB11.

If you’re wondering why the DB9’s successor isn’t called the DB10, it’s because the latter only exists on the silver screen. It was driven by fictional secret agent James Bond in Spectre.

Like the DB9, the DB11 is crafted to impress. It has many gorgeous lines. But it’s also more athletic-looking and has sharper, more well-defined curves.

Try as I might, though, I don’t find the DB11’s face appealing. But I do find myself constantly ogling its rear end.

All this bodywork hides some neat aerodynamic tricks. Those curlicues by the front fenders are actually vents that release air pressure from inside the wheel wells to reduce front-end lift.

To mitigate rear-end lift, the car has an AeroBlade system. This consists of vents hidden at the base of the C-pillars, which channel air through ducts and out towards a discreet aperture on the boot lid.

The DB11 is only marginally longer and wider than the DB9. Its wheelbase, however, has been stretched by 65mm and now measures 2805mm. This bodes well for interior space.

Settle into the driver’s seat, however, and you’ll feel rather cocooned. The low seating position and steeply raked windscreen contribute to this.

As expected, the DB11’s cockpit is exquisitely finished. Six cowhides are needed to upholster the entire cabin. Even the ceiling is finished in a mix of leather and Alcantara.