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BERLIN, Germany - It was 2001 when Aston Martin introduced the VH architecture on which its current models rely.
The Brits have had time for all the vertical-horizontal development in the world, meanwhile, so now it's time to meet the new platform. Our spyguys don’t have a name for it yet but we have something even better - the first spyshots of the car that will introduce the architecture.
We’ve spied the 2017 Aston Martin DB9 successor already but now the test mule has made way for the prototype and this step towards production did not arrive without its Easter eggs.
But, since this is an Aston, we must talk aesthetics first. Aside from a few gaps up front, the prototype is still heavily camouflaged, but its silhouette can be distinguished.
SAME ENGINE
It looks like the styling evolution shown via the DB10 bespoke creation Aston Martin made for the 'Spectre' Bond movie is here to stay. To be more specific, the car has morphed the elongated lines of the outgoing DB9 into a more compact-looking proposal such as the DB10.
The move isn’t without its risks: certain voices have criticised the DB10 for being too close to the Jaguar F-Type Coupe.
Returning to the clues mentioned above, that gaping front shows what appear to be intercoolers, which makes perfect sense. That’s how Aston Martin’s new platform will be able to please both normal and forced-aspiration fans. The latter will be thrilled thanks to the presence of a Mercedes-AMG V8.
This is the four-litre unit that motivates the AMG GT - the same engine is also present on the Mercedes-AMG C63 but without the dry sump of the sports car.
The Affalterbach heart is expected to stay close to its current 373kW point, since the flagship engine will come in the form of the six-litre V12 that Ford will continue to supply at least until 2018. Forget the 382kW AM11 V12 on the current DB9... this AM29 V12 we’re talking about (that’s the designation used for the Vanquish) delivers 423kW.
IMAGE GALLERY: Aston Martin DB11
These spy photos also allow al peek inside the car, where the facia seems to be adorned with a digital instrument cluster. We’ll take this version, which does follow current trends, with a grain of salt, especially given Aston Martin’s ffetish for craftsmanship.
The Aston Martin DB9’s successor is expected to land in 2016 as a 2017 model. As for the designation, the automaker has recently trademarked the DB11 name, while, as we said, DB10 has already been used.
Does this mean the new model will be called DB11?
