When people look under the hood of the DB9, they always are impressed with the lack of black plastic as compared to other high end cars which are a sea of plastic covers to hide everything. It appears that the DB11 is starting to look like all the other cars...too much black plastic observable when the clamshell is raised.

 

^^ Agreed! The under hood view also suffers from the same affliction as the exterior and interior: it's too busy, and has lost the relatively more simple and elegant look of the first Gaydon cars.

 

Foreign Cars Italia got a DB11 prototype for Saturday last week. I was lucky enough to get to go and see the car in person.

I have to say that in person the lines and body style look amazing. The pictures do not due the car justice.

Over all I do like the car. I like the center stack better that in the current cars, but the gauge pod is one area that while it is more functional, it is not as elegant as the current watch face look.

I did like the dual mode start. I was allowed to start the car, and if you tap the start stop button, it goes in to sport mode and has the wonderful V12 growl startup; however if you push and hold the start button, it goes into quite mode, and is hard to tell that it's running. I was amazed at the two different levels of sound. even when revving it.

Vic and guys at FCI were super, and Edward from Aston Martin was very candid and open to any questions. I'm very interested to see what the new Vantage will be like.










Airblade Ductwork in trunk




Prototype FOB, prod. to get glass buttons

 

No glove box? I hate that. My DB7 didn't have a glove box...no convenient place for your papers.

 

Where's the cup holders?

(That question sounds a bit tongue and cheek but I'm amazed how often they get used in my DB9. )

 

The center arm rest power slides back to reveal a cubby hole for your stuff. It was actually pretty good sized. I don't think it will hold the current over sized manuals, but should should hold all your gloves

 

So is there a place to park the key fob or just leave it in your pocket?

 

It stays in your pocket. it just needs to be inside the car to work. How modern of them I was quite pleased, there was no ritual or special procedure to start the car, just hop in and tap the start button. It's still and Aston Martin, so there will be some quirkiness or eccentricity, otherwise it would not be an AM, nor British car.

 

I want BOTH. Glovebox for reg and insurance, and armrest for my 'stuff'. I don't want my docs all spindled by having in them in a place that I go into and out of all the time.

 

A few more pics. I didn't get the chance to attend, but my buddy took these pics:

 

Thanks for all of the additional pics from the CA meets, guys. It is great to see it in a different color.

I think the CA car looks a lot better than the one they brought to the east coast. With some of the aeroblade components being black, i'd love to see an all black one.

 

Well. I like the seats!

 

The aeroblade in and interesting piece. It's one long bit sweeping from the front pillar all the way to the rear.

Looking at some of the pics here, as well as pics online, I'd like to see a car with that piece in carbon fiber.

Perhaps it will be an option introduced with the S model

 

Anybody that's seen the Db11 in person? How's the hood fitment. The Jaguar F type has a similar one piece aluminum hood. I have never seen an F type hood that fit right. I know it's not a fair comparison. Just wondering.

 

The one I saw was a hand assembled prototype and the hood fit looks good. The guy from Aston claimed that it was the largest single piece stamping currently in the auto industry. it looked like there was a bit of adjustment room in the hinges, and the headlight placement, but again it was a hand assembled prototype, so no alignment jigs, or any thing like that yet.

They also told us that first few hundred cars will get a letter from Andy with his direct cell number if they have any issues. Since they have world wide sales, it would be interesting to see what happens if he gets a call at 4 am from somewhere in the middle east.