First Aston Martin DB11 Videos Quench Our Thirst for Details and Exhaust Sound

To do that, it needs to be not only fast but also a status symbol and a gadget on wheels. We believe that three official videos, along with all the info we've been able to gather, will set you straight.

First of all, the DB11 is the first all-new Aston in many years. The chassis is bonded aluminum, and the body is also made of the stuff. Despite this, it only weighs 33 lbs less than the DB9, which isn't a lot. The reason for that is the equally new engine.

What engine? Well, you can say goodbye to the old 6.0L made from two Ford V6s. Aston has developed its own twin-turbo 5.2-liter, and it packs 600 horsepower and 700 Nm of torque. The only thing it shares with its naturally aspirated ancestor is the bore.

Engineers installed one intercooler and turbocharger for each bank. Under light loads, the V12 can deactivate half its cylinders, thus becoming an inline-six fuel saver. As for the gearbox, it's the same ZF automatic, but there's a torque vectoring differential at the back. We'll have to wait until the V8 Vantage replacement to see AMG-powered Aston Martins.

You can't really tell that they collaborated with the Germans on the inside either. The only Mercedes feature is an indicator stalk that does too many things. Smart cruise control and a radar in the nose - these are just some of the big features the DB11 also misses out on.

Stylistically speaking, Marek Reichman is definitely leaving his mark on the Aston brand. There's almost no heritage left in the car. All you get is a 21st-century statement from a company that will soon also make crossovers. At $215,000, the DB11 will continue to compete with the Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari California T, and all the other super GTs we can't afford.