Aston Martin DB11 lobs from $428K

ASTON Martin has priced the DB11 from $428,032 plus on-road costs ahead of its fourth-quarter arrival in Australia, however it has also confirmed a nine-month wait list already exists for its first new full-sized coupe in more than a decade.

Painted in a Cinnabar Orange hue, the first right-hand-drive example of the DB11 was shown to prospective customers last night, with pricing confirmed to media today at an event at the same Trivett Aston Martin dealership in Sydney.

Costing more than the outgoing DB9, which launched in 2005 and had a final starting price of $349,500 in 2016, the 4740mm-long 2+2 coupe is priced between the $389,900 Audi R8 V10 plus and the $469,888 Ferrari 488 GTB and $456,500 Porsche 911 Turbo S.

Speaking to GoAuto at the local reveal of the DB11, Aston Martin Australia and New Zealand regional manager Kevin Wall said the model is a “critical release” for the brand as the first product in its five-year plan dubbed ‘Second Century’ that will spawn an SUV model among others.

“We’re banking the house on this one,” he continued. “Three of our five dealers in Australia have got major investments going on for the launch of this car.

“This car (DB11) has not only got to look beautiful – which it does – and drive beautifully which all the testing that’s been done would indicate that … but it’s got to be a commercial success. Initial indications are that it will work commercially.”

Mr Wall confirmed that Australian production availability is still being confirmed with Aston Martin globally, however he did not expect the current wait list for the DB11 to be unmanageable.

“We’re sitting on something like a nine-month wait list in Australia and New Zealand at this point in time,” he said.

“Regarding production we are still negotiating on forward production for next year, I believe we will be quite successful in this market and we will be able to maintain that six-to-nine month waiting list in Australia, which in this market segment is acceptable.

“Any more and the dream becomes a nightmare.”

Mr Wall added that the DB9 has been “very successful” for Aston Martin in Australia right until production ceased this year, with several brand loyalists wanting a last-of-the-line model. However he said he strongly believed the DB11 would be a “conquest” car to help boost the brand’s sales in the region.

“This is a conquest car, not only conquesting from our competitors but conquesting Aston Martin owners who have drifted away from the brand because it has been a long time between drinks,” he said, referring to the time back to the last new model the brand launched, the 2010 Rapide.

“A lot of those folks are coming back. Just to sell to ourselves (brand loyalists) will not achieve the objectives that we have for the future. We’ve got to get out there and boogie with the best of them and now we have something to do it with.”

When asked what customers the brand is targeting, Mr Wall replied: “I’ll take them from wherever they want to come from.”“I don’t want to sit here and pigeon-point ‘I can get that Ferrari’ – the guys, and unfortunately mostly guys because there should be more women walking through these doors – are coming from all the obvious competitor set and not particularly one.”

Mr Wall said that Aston Martin had conducted ventilation testing for the new DB11 in Outback Australia in January as part of its most comprehensive quality assessment program.

He also confirmed that Aston Martin chief executive officer Andy Palmer will stand at end of the production line of the new coupe and personally sign off the first 1000 orders (which have already been sold).

“At 7:15 in the morning and 7:15 at night for ‘X’ number of months Andy Palmer walks down the end of the line and physically signs each car off,” he added.

“(He) is 1000 per cent committed to getting the quality of this vehicle right from launch.”

Aston Martin has not yet announced options pricing for the DB11, however the local market will mirror global specifications.

The new 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine produces 447kW of power at 6500rpm and 700Nm from 1500rpm. Via an eight-speed automatic sending drive to the rear wheels, the 1770kg DB11 claims a 3.9-second 0-100km/h.

Aerodynamic highlights include slits inside the front wheelarches to force air through the front guard-mounted side strakes, and a rear side ‘aeroblade’ that streams air through bootlid slots, helped by an active spoiler at higher speed.

The DB11’s new design, with full LED headlights and tail-lights, cloaks a new chassis with a 65mm-longer wheelbase and the engine positioned further behind the front axle line.

Standard are 20-inch alloy wheels, 400mm front/360mm rear ventilated disc brakes, leather trim with electrically adjustable and heated front seats, Alcantara headlining, dual-zone climate control air-conditioning, cruise control, keyless auto-entry and 400-watt audio with digital radio and satellite navigation accessed via an 8.0-inch colour touchscreen or 12-inch driver cluster screen.

Meanwhile optional equipment extends to additional leather trims, perforations and quilting choices, ventilated seats, automatic park assistance and choice of 700-watt premium audio or 1000-watt Bang and Olufsen audio systems.