UPDATE:// Read the full story on the front page --> https://www.6speedonline.com/article...-test-session/

Just got back from Phoenix, AZ where I got to tag along with Aston Martin engineers as they performed hot climate testing on the DB11!

Here's some of what I learned:

- DB11 is most extensively tested vehicle in company's history: 150 test vehicles have been built.

- Plan is to drive over 15,500 miles in the span of a few weeks under the hot Arizona sun. DB11 will also spend one week in Las Vegas.

- They're continuously collecting over 250 individual channels worth of data simultaneously.

- Most important concern is if the air conditioning can get to and maintain the desired temperature quickly and efficiently -- they did discover there needed to be better balancing of airflow distribution between face and feet vents.

- DB11 handles and sounds amazing! Acceleration video:

- Depending on who you ask, DB11 is about 85 - 95% complete. This phase is fine-tuning the software/handling characteristics of the car.

Learn more next week when I publish the full story on the front page. If you have any questions, post them below and I'll answer to the best of my knowledge.

Enjoy some behind-the-scenes photos!





AM Vehicle Attribute Engineer Ian Hartley at the wheel.







Green spaghetti! These wires went to various places throughout the car.




You can hardly hear the turbo hiss over the V12.







Jason and Ian looking over collected data.




The desert is a pretty good place for hot climate testing, wouldn't you say?

 

Great stuff, Andrew!


Just out of curiosity, can you explain your access to be a part of that?

 

Thanks, telum01!

I'm a journalist (check out my 6speed author page!) and Aston Martin invited me, along with a few other writers, to learn more about their testing/validation process.

It's really interesting how much data they're able to collect and analyze thanks to modern technology. A lot of their starting points are from customer feedback.

 

I thought I recognized your name from somewhere lol


Great work on this - pictures say a thousand words, and you wrote what was needed and showed the rest with pics. Keep up the great work!

 

Thank you so much! That really means a lot to me!

 

Very cool thanks for sharing!

 

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!

 

Great indeed! Can't wait to read the full story.

 

Thank you! I've published the full story on the front page. Enjoy!

 

Just read, great article, well written.

 

Thank you, ncamv8! I can't wait to do a review on the final product.

 

awesome write up with great pictures to boot.

 

Sucks fake and I thought I had a cool job

 

Thank you! So happy you enjoyed it!

 

I'd say you've got a pretty awesome job considering what's sitting in your garage! I'm still working on getting a car half as cool as what you've got.