The Herald - The Herald Magazine
First drive Aston Martin DB11 AMR
RESPONDING to an increase in rival offerings, Aston Martin has taken its DB11, boosted the output of that car’s V12 engine, and produced the DB11 AMR. Power has been increased, handling sharpened and exhaust tuned to produce a car more in line with other grand tourers on the market. Aston Martin’s been keen to stress the DB11 AMR remains a true cross-country cruiser at heart, however, with new upgrades giving it better handling without diminishing the car’s comfort levels.
The most significant change is that power upgrade, now 30bhp more than the older car’s 600bhp. Torque, however, remains the same at 700Nm. Aston Martin has also recalibrated the eight-speed automatic transmission for faster shifts, while the chassis has been re-worked to provide better cornering ability without reducing the car’s excellent comfort credentials.
Underneath the DB11 AMR’s long, flowing bonnet sits Aston’s glorious twinturbocharged 5.2-litre V12 engine. It’s a masterpiece of engineering, and a reminder of just how good these large-capacity units can be in a world where downsizing seems to be reigning supreme.
It can power the AMR to 60mph in 3.5 seconds, before pushing it to a top speed of 208mph. It’s a huge amount of performance, and endows this DB11 with a frankly ridiculous turn of pace – particularly for a car of this size. Of course, fuel economy isn’t going to be a V12’s strong suit. Aston claims that it’ll return 24.8mpg on the combined cycle, while emissions are relatively high at 265g/km when tested under the new NEDC cycle.
One of the main complaints for the old DB11 was it felt just a little too supple in the bends, and lacked the poise expected from an Aston. However, this criticism has been firmly rectified. The range of tweaks to the chassis now make the DB11 genuinely capable in corners, with body roll expertly managed and the well-weighted steering adding to the overall experience.
Then there’s the sheer performance of the thing. Press the throttle and there’s an almost undetectable pause while the turbos get going. From there, power is available in spades.
The first three gears are practically unusable without threatening your licence, while the whole thing is accompanied by the now-enhanced howl of a V12 – one of the best sounds in the business.
The regular DB11 was always an elegant thing to look at, and the AMR builds on this. There a few distinct touches that help distinguish it from the regular model, such as dark headlight surrounds, smoked tail lamps and a gloss black roof. They’re subtle touches, but they certainly do add to the car’s overall look in a positive way.
The interior feels well made, with a variety of high-quality materials contributing to a cabin that is just what you’d expect from a prestige GT car. The seats are supportive yet comfortable, while the leather and Alcantara sports steering wheel feels excellent in the hands, both in terms of feel and shape.
The DB11 always felt so close to the complete package – and thanks to the tweaks added to the AMR, it now is.