DB11 facelift/update?
Discussion
Minglar said:
The screen comments roll on and on! It’s funny as I don’t recall any previous gen owners moaning about using Apple CarPlay in their cars, and I would assume to get the full benefit, the foldable screen needs to be open in order to see the apps etc? So (sorry NFC, I know you’re a bit touchy on this, amongst other things lately) why the gripes about the latest screen offering? Is it fair to say it looks like it was literally a straight swap out of a MB interior, and was perhaps a little lazy of AM to do so? The DBX shows what can be done, and it looks much better integrated. The twin (digital) instrument dials look classier, are easier to read, and the reverse rev counter has the nostalgic effect too. Surely these elements will appear in the whole current range soon, costs permitting of course. To the uneducated, ie me, it seems a simple fix and should hopefully appease some of the die hards.
Best Regards
Minglar
I think the term used last time to describe me was 'Prima Donna'. It's a free country though, so these kind of comments can be expected. Best Regards
Minglar
NFC 85 Vette said:
The desire to revert to things like Smiths gauges and do away with digital screens speaks volumes as to where customers think the future is........................................... I'm not sure if that's something an Aston Martin owner would go for though - the way some talk about the old days, I'm convinced a few of you are still rocking a Nokia 3210 
Oh I dunno NFC. I think something like this would be a welcome option for some. This particular Q Division edition DB11 Volante looks like it has a properly integrated screen too. But unfortunately no airbag - or windows. On the plus side, it is a manual though.
NFC 85 Vette said:
Minglar said:
The screen comments roll on and on! It’s funny as I don’t recall any previous gen owners moaning about using Apple CarPlay in their cars, and I would assume to get the full benefit, the foldable screen needs to be open in order to see the apps etc? So (sorry NFC, I know you’re a bit touchy on this, amongst other things lately) why the gripes about the latest screen offering? Is it fair to say it looks like it was literally a straight swap out of a MB interior, and was perhaps a little lazy of AM to do so? The DBX shows what can be done, and it looks much better integrated. The twin (digital) instrument dials look classier, are easier to read, and the reverse rev counter has the nostalgic effect too. Surely these elements will appear in the whole current range soon, costs permitting of course. To the uneducated, ie me, it seems a simple fix and should hopefully appease some of the die hards.
Best Regards
Minglar
I think the term used last time to describe me was 'Prima Donna'. It's a free country though, so these kind of comments can be expected. Best Regards
Minglar
Best Regards
Minglar
Neil1300r said:
RMDB9 said:
...until Apple decides to replace Car Pay with a new "ecosystem".
But why would they? Apple IOS has a significantly lower market share vs Android. They need to grow market share. Yes I know they kept changing the connector type, but that was a low cost (but annoying) option to buyers. Changing eco system would kill Apple.Or just buy Android and use Android Auto in the first place
In the 40+ affluent demographic (Income over £75k/yr) , Apple outsells Android 2 to 1. It's a lifestyle product.
Beefmeister said:
Neil1300r said:
RMDB9 said:
...until Apple decides to replace Car Pay with a new "ecosystem".
But why would they? Apple IOS has a significantly lower market share vs Android. They need to grow market share. Yes I know they kept changing the connector type, but that was a low cost (but annoying) option to buyers. Changing eco system would kill Apple.Or just buy Android and use Android Auto in the first place
In the 40+ affluent demographic (Income over £75k/yr) , Apple outsells Android 2 to 1. It's a lifestyle product.
scampbird said:
Our latest family-shopping-trolley-on-wheels has Android Auto and Carplay. As I understand it, I have to plug the phone in to get this functionality, most of which I can do perfectly well through existing Bluetooth and not have to bother with cables.
Am I missing something?
Yes, modern CP/AA is wirelessAm I missing something?
NFC 85 Vette said:
- the way some talk about the old days, I'm convinced a few of you are still rocking a Nokia 3210
You are correct.
Even better than Nokia 3210, is the miniature Nokia 8310 hands free. It remains anonymous without a subscription.
Some of us have to be careful these days, not to be internet hacked or tracked. Cannot avoid state level activity though.
High technology for office and home, but in the car, telephone equipment only.
Peace, tranquility and time to 'switch off', can be very helpful sometimes.
I am reminded of a Formula One driver who, when being bothered by calls from his employer during a race said,
"Leave me alone, I know what I'm doing". I think he went on to win that race.
Edited by Dewi 2 on Friday 9th April 18:56
All good relevant points, but let’s face a fact, as at 2016-ish launch of DB11 Aston did not have Carplay/Android Auto in the car, and it still doesn’t. So if that’s a deal breaker and the other fabulous qualities of the brand don’t outstrip the latest tech, this isn’t the car for you
Yes I get we want it all, particularly at 160k+ new but yet again I say....the truth is small specialist manufacturers (like Mclaren, Aston etc) have always lagged the market. Simply because (as said previously) they lack the massive resources available to the big boys. Someone made the point, even Ford and BMW have the new XYZ..... yes of course, they are MASSIVE multinational’s with huge resources to develop integrated tech independently.
BUT the good news here is Aston realise that and have worked their deal with Merc, which will... eventually see a win-win. Even the big boys sometimes lag the market with their top end low volume sports models.... just look at the tech (or lack of it) in a Lamborghini Aventador, I had an Audi R8 V10 and it’s infotainment (and gearbox tech) was prehistoric compared to an Audi A3 at the time!
Basically we are currently in a glass half glass full or half empty scenario at the moment
You can look at it 2 ways -
ie... Wow guys haven’t Aston taken a very large positive leap forward in technology/infotainment integration alongside excellent performance uplifts and we now know that the full tech-fest is coming... glass half full
or
A list of what’s currently lacking in comparison with the platform sharing big-boys (Bentley, Porsche, some Lambo’s... VW, Ford, BMW) ... glass half empty
The new Merc tech upgrade allows DBX to offer.......Apple Car Play, Adaptive Cruise, Blind Spot Monitoring, LKA lane Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Warning, Traffic sign recognition (also works with adaptive cruise/speed limit changes), AHB auto-beam, SOS call, Auto-Park, 360 degree camera, heated steering wheel , etc, etc ..... so they will be coming (some have arrived already) to an Aston sports car near you soon ... if that’s important to you 
The current crop of Aston’s are far from perfect, and it’s fair to point out short comings and hassle the factory to improve, but the new gen car’s have had a hard time, (primarily because of some contentious design and the loss of a few special interior touches, this is why I believe sales have been affected .. not because of tech, as most buyers are older and not as tech hungry) ......let’s recognise they have taken a large leap forward in most (if not all!) areas and are still fabulous charismatic beasts ......... but I have no issue if others prefer a slice of lovely Pork.. for example.... As they say variety is the spice of life.
But a scowling 600bhp beautiful V12 beast does it for me...
Yes I get we want it all, particularly at 160k+ new but yet again I say....the truth is small specialist manufacturers (like Mclaren, Aston etc) have always lagged the market. Simply because (as said previously) they lack the massive resources available to the big boys. Someone made the point, even Ford and BMW have the new XYZ..... yes of course, they are MASSIVE multinational’s with huge resources to develop integrated tech independently.
BUT the good news here is Aston realise that and have worked their deal with Merc, which will... eventually see a win-win. Even the big boys sometimes lag the market with their top end low volume sports models.... just look at the tech (or lack of it) in a Lamborghini Aventador, I had an Audi R8 V10 and it’s infotainment (and gearbox tech) was prehistoric compared to an Audi A3 at the time!
Basically we are currently in a glass half glass full or half empty scenario at the moment
You can look at it 2 ways -
ie... Wow guys haven’t Aston taken a very large positive leap forward in technology/infotainment integration alongside excellent performance uplifts and we now know that the full tech-fest is coming... glass half full
or
A list of what’s currently lacking in comparison with the platform sharing big-boys (Bentley, Porsche, some Lambo’s... VW, Ford, BMW) ... glass half empty
The new Merc tech upgrade allows DBX to offer.......Apple Car Play, Adaptive Cruise, Blind Spot Monitoring, LKA lane Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Warning, Traffic sign recognition (also works with adaptive cruise/speed limit changes), AHB auto-beam, SOS call, Auto-Park, 360 degree camera, heated steering wheel
, etc, etc ..... so they will be coming (some have arrived already) to an Aston sports car near you soon ... if that’s important to you The current crop of Aston’s are far from perfect, and it’s fair to point out short comings and hassle the factory to improve, but the new gen car’s have had a hard time, (primarily because of some contentious design and the loss of a few special interior touches, this is why I believe sales have been affected .. not because of tech, as most buyers are older and not as tech hungry) ......let’s recognise they have taken a large leap forward in most (if not all!) areas and are still fabulous charismatic beasts ......... but I have no issue if others prefer a slice of lovely Pork.. for example.... As they say variety is the spice of life.
But a scowling 600bhp beautiful V12 beast does it for me...
This week's Autocar mag has an AM feature.
Autocar 7th April page 6 said:
...the firm will seek to bolster the appeal of the ageing Vantage, DB11 and DBS Superleggera models with particularly comprehensive mid-life updates in 2023.
The silhouette will remain familiar for each, but heavily reworked styling, alongside infotainment, chassis and powertrain upgrades will aim to ensure strong sales until Aston begins to phase out combustion.
The silhouette will remain familiar for each, but heavily reworked styling, alongside infotainment, chassis and powertrain upgrades will aim to ensure strong sales until Aston begins to phase out combustion.
Dewi 2 said:
You are correct.
Even better than Nokia 3210, is the miniature Nokia 8310 hands free. It remains anonymous without a subscription.
Some of us have to be careful these days, not to be internet hacked or tracked. Cannot avoid state level activity though.
High technology for office and home, but in the car, telephone equipment only.
Peace, tranquility and time to 'switch off', can be very helpful sometimes.
I am reminded of a Formula One driver who, when being bothered by calls from his employer during a race said,
"Leave me alone, I know what I'm doing". I think he went on to win that race.
Edited by Dewi 2 on Friday 9th April 18:56
Edited by 4Q on Saturday 10th April 11:26
It sounds to me as if I should be getting Waze, if the tech does that, great. I use Audible a lot on long car trips. I think Head-up Display and High Beam Assistant are great features as you can keep your eyes on the road and have the maximum light on, all the time. But apart from that can’t say that I get too heated about in car tech. Nor heated steering wheels for that matter.
There’s something quite amusing about using the old sat nav tech in a 2003 XKR. Like applying shaving soap with a brush.
Anyway, if I have a criticism of the DB11 dash it is that so many of the optional finishes, particularly the chopped carbon fibre, feel hollow and plasticky. That’s about it. The rest is fine. Both the DB11 and the new Vantage pass an essential test for me. If you see one approaching from a distance, on a motorway, say, you know instantly that it is an Aston. That is an important thing which they have got right.
There’s something quite amusing about using the old sat nav tech in a 2003 XKR. Like applying shaving soap with a brush.
Anyway, if I have a criticism of the DB11 dash it is that so many of the optional finishes, particularly the chopped carbon fibre, feel hollow and plasticky. That’s about it. The rest is fine. Both the DB11 and the new Vantage pass an essential test for me. If you see one approaching from a distance, on a motorway, say, you know instantly that it is an Aston. That is an important thing which they have got right.
RM - I hope that you meant that and not being ironic! I’ve got an 88 500SL, and I was thinking of getting a retro style Becker Europa for it. I agree, they look great. When I were a lad I used to delight in getting Blaupunkt Marburg radios for my VW Golf GTi’s. They looked so good, though back then you had to be careful where you left your car, as the yobs loved to nick them
Yes, the "Pinstripe" style ones, I remember they are/were quite expensive. Yes, they look best in a SL Pagode or W109 but still...
Nicely designed DIN satnavs, maybe even styled along the lines of the various exotic cars for which an integrated design would have been too expensive, a small niche in the market, but maybe Becker might want to pick it up? Or one of the other audio electronics companies, Linn etc.
Nicely designed DIN satnavs, maybe even styled along the lines of the various exotic cars for which an integrated design would have been too expensive, a small niche in the market, but maybe Becker might want to pick it up? Or one of the other audio electronics companies, Linn etc.
RMDB9 said:
Speaking about DIN....I still admire the Becker retro-style radio with satnav, I would not mind having one on my dB9 instead of the 1990s Amstrad Thorn junk in my dash.
On the subject, I like what Porsche is officially offering for classic models. I wonder if AM will be offering something similar, given the fact that an Aston is also a collectible and a "keeper" car, even more than a Porsche. Plus the good profit, it will not be cheap. Maybe just an updated screen unit with all the wireless connections needed.
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