Story & photos by Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes
The modern, sophisticated, moneyed gent of today with an extraordinary taste for the finest things in life is often referred to as the ultimate man’s man. Not even Bill Gates or Warren Buffett, or even fictional billionaire-cum-vigilante-cum-hero Bruce Wayne comes close to fitting the moniker.
Perhaps, it is best attributed to an aspirational icon with a distinct palate for luxury, romance, style, adventure, dominance and individuality without the need to wear a mask such as the mythical British Secret Service agent James Bond.
Even the objects that he covets are in a class of their own just, like the new Aston Martin DB11.
“The car was made famous by the James Bond movies. It is arguably more advanced than the model that Daniel Craig drove in last year’s Spectre,” Chris Woodyard said in his article in USA Today.
“There are certain cars that make you feel like you belong to a secret society. One of them is the Aston Martin DB11. There’s no secret handshake, no sequential flash of the headlights to signal a comrade in a passing car. Rather, the calling card is simple admiration—one car fancier to another,” he added
Local admirers of the DB11, including those who can actually afford to own it, recently had a chance to view it up close, as it finally made an appearance in Aston Martin Mania’s exclusive showroom at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig just weeks ago, a year after it was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show.
The DB11 is the first model to be introduced under Aston Martin’s “Second Century” plan, and is the successor to the DB9 introduced in 2003. Aston Martin’s newest flagship combines the heritage of the brand with a new design language. For the company, this vehicle’s blueprint was inspired by its predecessor, particularly the DB9, and other models before it.
“Two years ago we brought the brand to the Philippines, and since then these beautiful, luxurious British sports cars have graced our roads as unmistakable and peerless icons. And today, the Aston Martin that everyone’s been waiting for has arrived. The launch of the DB11 rightfully places Aston Martin as a leading brand in the ultra-high luxury segment in the Philippines, and we are delighted with the strong order bank we have on this model,” Aston Martin Manila President and Chairman Marc Tagle said.
To begin with, its front fascia sports LED headlights with integrated daytime running lights (DRLs), along with a one-piece aluminum clamshell hood paired with its classic signature grill. From its sides, the car’s sleek roofline and flowing beltline run seamlessly from front and rear, emanating an undeniable flair.
This rare panache continues toward the backend with its distinct boomerang-inspired LED taillights and bumper-integrated diffusers. Elegantly unique to this model is a spoiler called AeroBlade, while capping its distinguishably admirable bravura is a set of 20-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels. Interior-wise, this spirited looker features hand-stitched leather, complemented by piano black, aluminum and wood grain trim. Infotainment is provided by an 8-inch touchscreen display with iPod, iPhone, USB, Wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
At the heart of the DB11 is a new 5.2-liter V12 engine with a pair of turbochargers that pushes this beauteous beast up to 600 hp as it unleashes 700 N-m of torque, matched to an eight-speed transmission. On record, the DB11 does zero to 100 kph in 3.9 seconds, with a top speed of 322 kph, making it not just the first turbocharged series-production Aston Martin but the most powerful production DB model ever made.
Business-wise, the brand is set to bring out seven vehicles over seven years, according to Aston Martin Asia Pacific Senior Manager for Marketing and PR Daniel Redpath.
“The company is already 104 years old. We have invested some £700 million. So, this is all about sustainability and profitability for the next 100 years,” he said.
Globally, Aston Martin is set to deliver “highly desirable products,” and the DB11 model is just the first one.
In fact, during the DB11’s premiere last year, over 1,400 units were already ordered.
Image credits: Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes