EXTREME JOY
Sexy English beast brimming with horsepower handles smoothly
Here I am, at the newly opened, Nürburgring-based AMR Performance Centre, just spitting distance from what is arguably the most famous race circuit in the world. Not only that, I’ve just been handed the key fob to the DB11 AMR, the fastest production sports car Aston has ever built, powered by a thundering 630-horsepower, twin-turbocharged 5.2-L V12 mated to a rear-mid-mounted eight-speed automatic transmission.
But, will I be allowed to exercise the sexy beast, to explore even a modest fraction of the car’s humongous potential on any portion of the Nordschleife’s 20.8-kilometre length? That would be an emphatic no! It’s the roads bisecting the verdant, rolling terrain around the countryside, or nothing.
As the replacement for the outgoing V12-powered DB11 — no shrinking violet in the world of high-performance, big-buck GT cars itself — the DB11 AMR ramps up the race-inspired dynamism, starting with more horsepower, better handling and a bunch of exterior and interior enhancements. Aston Martin builds the prettiest classic sports cars in the world. In the quest for more speed and quicker acceleration, though, the DB11 AMR loses a smidgen of its debonair reputation courtesy of its cosmetic makeover.
The runway model goes “Goth lite,” with exposed carbon fibre and gloss black detailing. On the outside all shiny bits have been given a monochrome treatment: dark headlight surrounds and smoked tail lamps complemented by dark front grille and tailpipes; gloss black roof, roof strake plus side sills and splitter contrasting with the exposed weave of the carbon-fibre hood blades and side strakes. Inside, door panels, vents and trim surrounds are all the black lightweight material. The problem is, the real stuff doesn’t look any better than the fake stuff, which tends to cheapen the cabin of what is otherwise a very expensive car. The same could be said of the primary instrumentation. What used to be a highlight of Aston Martin luxury in past models looks decidedly ordinary. At least the leather and Alcantara seats, contoured to coddle one’s backside in all the right places, have the smell of money.
Any quibbles regarding the cabin — which, despite having vestigial rear seats, should be considered personal transit for two — are banished the instant the gas pedal is given a tickle. Aston Martin claims a zero-to-100km/h time of just 3.7 seconds, an improvement of 0.2 seconds over the outgoing model. Top speed is a reported 334 km/h. Despite the explosive power, though, the DB11 AMR is not a race car. No, Aston Martin Racing campaigns normally aspirated V12- and V8-powered Vantages in the higher echelons of motorsport. The DB11 AMR is merely a bloody quick, $289,200 (to start), 2+2 gran turismo, “the consummate GT,” according to Andy Palmer, Aston Martin’s president and chief executive officer.
The day’s route took us through the undulating Eifel countryside, primarily on back roads connecting numerous small towns. The beautifully maintained tarmac was a series of short straights, fast sweepers and tight hairpins, which were attacked, as often as was prudent, with gleeful abandon. For a heavy car — curb weight is 1,875 kilograms — the AMR is remarkably nimble.
As for the sound blasting from the dual exhausts — if there is a more joyful noise emanating from an engine other than a V12, I don’t want to know it, especially when Sport or Sport+ modes are engaged. And the crackles and pops when backing off the gas are a mechanical symphony one can enjoy all day long.
Now, should you find a stunning, $289,200 grand tourer still too déclassé to be seen in, Aston Martin will happily charge you more for one of three Designer Specifications, plus a “halo” limited-edition (100 units worldwide) $324,000 Signature model sporting AMR’s signature Stirling Green and lime livery. With extensive carbon-fibre detailing on the exterior, the inside is swathed in Dark Knight leather with lime-coloured detailing, plus satin dark chrome switchgear and satin carbon-fibre trim.
Forget the fripperies. Even box stock, the DB11 AMR holds me captive, an intoxicating blend of disparate elements resulting in mechanical excellence.