Wednesday 12th August 2015

Aston Martin DB11 spy pics [Updated]

Long awaited DB9 successor testing - fresh batch of spy shots added with less disguise

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Remember the excitement when the Aston Martin DB9 was first announced? Ultimately the first cars struggled to match the hype but careful evolution has eventually realised the DB9's potential. Now nearly 12 years after the DB9 was first seen at the Frankfurt show we have a preview of the car's successor.

The DB11 (remember the DB10 is 007's new Aston) is expected in 2017 so there's still a little while to wait for official details and pictures. However, these test images do reveal something about the car's appearance. And what's an Aston story without some discussion of how it looks?

Compared to a DB9, there's a much lower roofline and more pronounced rear haunches - hopefully not a trick of the disguise as it makes the '11 look far more purposeful than the '9. Note as well a much shorter front overhang which contributes to a much more compact look than a DB9. From the front, there are familiar Aston cues in the grille and bonnet vents but it remains heavily disguised. All thoughts of course welcomed!

There's also a sneaky peek at the DB11's interior. It looks a carbon copy of the Vanquish's at the moment, albeit with a cut-off watch and paper velcroed to the dash...

This a little more familiar

There's no video to accompany these images (good job we have some already, eh?) but the DB11 is expected to be the first Aston to benefit from the AMG powertrain tie-up. Wonder if the S65 AMG turbocharged V12 will fit?

Unfortunately we can provide nothing more than conjecture on the DB9's replacement at present. This model line is hugely significant for Aston though (think how important the DB7 was back in the 90s) so it's progress will be tracked very closely indeed. More soon!

[Images: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien]

[silver-bullet]

Looks a bit like a GT-R.

[adzpz]

This has all the ingredients to be mega, lets hope they bake it well

What's with the wheels - they look unconventional, are they for measuring wheel speeds or brake energy recovery?

[GroundEffect]

adzpz said:

This has all the ingredients to be mega, lets hope they bake it well

What's with the wheels - they look unconventional, are they for measuring wheel speeds or brake energy recovery?

Look similar to the wheel sensors we use to get wheel velocities and movements; basically, for the vehicle dynamics team.

[DonkeyApple]

silver-bullet said:

Looks a bit like a GT-R.

It also looks a bit like an Allegro.

[mat205125]

Love the wheels!

I hope that this gets back to being an organic shape, and reintroduce some of the elegance that has been lost from Aston in recent years.

Without exception, their recent designs have all started off in their perfect form, and then mutated and deteriorated as function and performance chasing has necessitated slashs, ducts, wings and splitters.

[Sir_Owsty]

The exterior pictures show the car is clearly a right hand drive, the interior shot is of a left hand drive. Also the sign seen through the windscreen says "wait here until green light", not something to be found In Germany and particularly not on the Nordscheife.

[GTEYE]

Sir_Owsty said:

The exterior pictures show the car is clearly a right hand drive, the interior shot is of a left hand drive. Also the sign seen through the windscreen says "wait here until green light", not something to be found In Germany and particularly not on the Nordscheife.

Well spotted. Looks like some PH deception going on here...

[Impasse]

AMG oily bits and with Matt Becker heading up the suspension development the new generation cars should be impressive machines.

[r11co]

GroundEffect said:

adzpz said:

What's with the wheels - they look unconventional, are they for measuring wheel speeds or brake energy recovery?

Look similar to the wheel sensors we use to get wheel velocities and movements; basically, for the vehicle dynamics team.

My first thought was that they were some sort of variable offset arrangement for experimenting with different settings, but I bow to superior knowledge.

[Burwood]

Impasse said:

AMG oily bits and with Matt Becker heading up the suspension development the new generation cars should be impressive machines.

Are amg supplying v12 engines as well? The db9 replacement is def v12

[vrooom]

same boring shape aston only can draw.

[daytona365]

It nice.

[RTH]

Different does not always mean better...........The replacement for the Zonda !!

[Happyjap]

vrooom said:

same boring shape aston only can draw.

no way....in my country we have a saying "Complaint is the way of woman" Beautiful car!

[gigglebug]

Looks like it will be a 2+very little 2 judging by the pictures. The wheels do look kinda cool even if they are just sensor gubbins. Ape the original wheels on the DB7. Could the engine make it all the way behind the front axle in the DB11??

[F1GTRUeno]

OMG IT LUKS EXACTLY DA SAME

[fatboy b]

It really is about time Aston moved the styling on a bit. Getting lazy like Porsche.

[redroadster]

Astons look classy hope they get this model right there so much competition at there price point.

[Matt UK]

Small wheels and balloon tyres for the win!

Not joking, serious.

[daytona365]

fatboy b said:

It really is about time Aston moved the styling on a bit. Getting lazy like Porsche.

....Lazy like Porsche ? Ha.