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So, took my van in for service yesterday, and after they found some other items, I was given a loaner.
I'm assuming that this set up is what is in the DB11's. It really is just a panel on the dash. I've seen on the Tesla's how their giant panel is built into the dash, but the dash was designed to handle it. They weren't restricted by tradition of former designs.
I think the thing is that everyone want's a larger screen but automobiles weren't designed to have a place for an exposed 5x10 flat panel. And the curved design of the console on the Aston just makes it look that much worse.
My 2 cents
The first time I saw the elevated NAV screen on a C230 it appear to me as an afterthought by the designers. "Hans, we forgot to include the screen for navigation! There, I fixed it."
Since then, BMW and others have moved to this style. Not a fan.
I really can't stand the propped-up screens. They're the ultimate shortcut in interior design.
One of the things that stood out to me when I sat in a DB11 a couple months ago is that the various pieces of trim in the area around the nav screen looks poorly integrated. It looks like they just ran out of space around the center console and decided to just stop each panel right there. It looks like several layers of trim materials all end in the same place, one layer on top of another. It looks sloppy and, frankly, very gross. Like skin pulled back to reveal something monstrous underneath like a monster in a horror movie.
I did a quick image search to find a pic, and found one better (well, worse) than I expected. It even shows how the layer-on-layer lazy trim integration already having flaws that I expected to see a year or two from now as the trim shifts from heat cycling. Take a look at the area immediately to the left of the screen. Plus the leather is brown and tan, making it look even more like the horror movie monster pulling its own flesh off.
You have touched a nerve with me on this.
There is a design philosophy that's called "Saturation design" (or something similar). The objective is to saturate the market place with something until it becomes common and is then accepted.
There are a few prerequisites for this to work.
The manufacture must be one of the major players.
The model must be respected and have a dedicated following.
Finally the model needs to be considered cutting edge or selling in significant quantiles.
Mercedes, Porsche and Audi fit this model perfectly.
Example, if GM put this navigation screen in its Impala, they would be crucified in the American Automotive press, and the buying public would have another reason to look at (and purchase) the Ford Fusion.
Mercedes put this abomination is it’s mainstream model (C 250) and the dedicated Mercedes buyer probably hates it, but it’s not a deal breaker for them to switch to Infinity or the other German brands. This design garbage then migrates to the higher end Mercedes model and voila!
It’s now accepted by the Mercedes faithful. Once firmly embedded and accepted in the Mercedes design viewpoint it undoubtedly influences other, lower end manufactures who decides to pop this monstrosity on top of the dashboard instead of spending money and resources to integrate it into the dashboard.
The buying public has been hoodwinked due to lack of reasonable alternatives and the reasoning of “Well it’s on the Mercedes lineup, how bad can it be”
On the new Jaguar sport cars I believe they installed pop up ventilation outlets that rises up from the dashboard. This was nothing more than a design gimmick. What would be a far better design would be for the Navigation screen to pop up from the top of the dashboards similar to the Cadillac SUV’s.
I am horrified that apparently Aston Martin plans to install this garbage design feature on its new cars.
I am even more horrified that we, as the Aston Martin faithful, will not have a choice.
You have touched a nerve with me on this.
There is a design philosophy that's called "Saturation design" (or something similar). The objective is to saturate the market place with something until it becomes common and is then accepted.
There are a few prerequisites for this to work.
The manufacture must be one of the major players.
The model must be respected and have a dedicated following.
Finally the model needs to be considered cutting edge or selling in significant quantiles.
Mercedes, Porsche and Audi fit this model perfectly.
Example, if GM put this navigation screen in its Impala, they would be crucified in the American Automotive press, and the buying public would have another reason to look at (and purchase) the Ford Fusion.
Mercedes put this abomination is it’s mainstream model (C 250) and the dedicated Mercedes buyer probably hates it, but it’s not a deal breaker for them to switch to Infinity or the other German brands. This design garbage then migrates to the higher end Mercedes model and voila!
It’s now accepted by the Mercedes faithful. Once firmly embedded and accepted in the Mercedes design viewpoint it undoubtedly influences other, lower end manufactures who decides to pop this monstrosity on top of the dashboard instead of spending money and resources to integrate it into the dashboard.
The buying public has been hoodwinked due to lack of reasonable alternatives and the reasoning of “Well it’s on the Mercedes lineup, how bad can it be”
On the new Jaguar sport cars I believe they installed pop up ventilation outlets that rises up from the dashboard. This was nothing more than a design gimmick. What would be a far better design would be for the Navigation screen to pop up from the top of the dashboards similar to the Cadillac SUV’s.
I am horrified that apparently Aston Martin plans to install this garbage design feature on its new cars.
I am even more horrified that we, as the Aston Martin faithful, will not have a choice.
My son has a Mazda 3 with that thing. When I first saw it I thought it was detachable and tired to pull it off. I was aghast that it was put that way on purpose. I figured, it's **** Mazda, who cares?
As bad as that is, I think the instrument pod is way worse. That is just gross looking. If all future Aston's have that interior, my current Aston will be my last Aston. My bet though is Aston will fix the mistakes and this MY range will be the Aston incarnation of the Porsche 996.
My thread so I guess it's ok if I go a bit sideways. The Lexus grill - I gag every time I see these on the road. It's just a huge hole in the front of the car.
I call those dustbusters. And in line with emendeb's comments this dust buster styling has now migrated down into the cheaper Toyota? models.
I try to avert my eyes..
I read an article when these 'pop-up' screens appeared that the designers thought that eventually tablets would replace the need for in-car electronics, so they designed interiors to prepare consumers for the 'tablet' look and thus eliminate the expense of digital displays, maps, entertainment, etc, and instead eventually just supply a docking station for a I-pad or similar device.
With curved digital displays imagine the ski-slope area being one curved very high definition display that can be programmed to be piano black or wood or slate or whatever while in 'sleep' mode, and when the car turns on it can be configured to display almost anything you want - the entire area being a map, or instrumentation, or simply a texture at will...
Aston would have to add two more shifts just to keep up with the demand.
I think they should also keep or improve upon the analog instruments they have now, I think they are nicer than anything else on the market, perhaps improve the digital displays a bit.
With curved digital displays imagine the ski-slope area being one curved very high definition display that can be programmed to be piano black or wood or slate or whatever while in 'sleep' mode, and when the car turns on it can be configured to display almost anything you want - the entire area being a map, or instrumentation, or simply a texture at will...
Aston would have to add two more shifts just to keep up with the demand.
Unfortunately I think we can all agree that Aston, while beautifully designed on the outside, isn't exactly on the cutting edge of electronic displays and such. If they hadn't gone to the Mercedes interface I have no doubt they would have just continued with the previous electronics interface and display. While fine I think they wanted something new to go with the DB11 launch.
I'm also a bit miffed they've changed the key. While it only lasts a few seconds, I love having to insert and hold my glass key to get the beast fired up. It is a very unique experience.
I'm also a bit miffed they've changed the key. While it only lasts a few seconds, I love having to insert and hold my glass key to get the beast fired up. It is a very unique experience.
