21 Aston Martin DB11 is much faster than S-Class coupe

Cover for Aston Martin DB11 is much faster than S-Class coupe

TopGear season 24 Episode 3 has aired and it includes another classic 2 car TopGear Test Track laptime faceoff - this time between two powerful luxury coupes Aston Martin DB11 and Mercedes-Benz S63 Coupe.

Since Aston Martin DB11 has twelve cylinders, it would have been fair if TopGear brought the V12 S65 instead of S63. But I doubt if extra power would be enough to close the 2.5 second gap. V12 in S65 makes already heavy, luxury-oriented coupe even more heavy and luxury oriented.

Aston did well here, but if failed to beat certain 4-door family car that was featured in previous episode. That just shows that bulky luxury grand-tourers are not built for track days.

8y ago by FastestLaps
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Fastedee  8y ago

.1 faster is miniscule but it isn't a track car for sure. Another non track car the creaky old Vantage V12 S edged the QV at Hockenheim and was barely slower at Saschenring. A very fast non track focused GT coupe should be similar to a track focused sedan like the DB11 at Willow vs M6 ATS V and CTS V or the Alfa.
It's ok to allow a magazine Nordschleife lap for a GT but I was surprised Aston didn't recruit a really top driver and take the Lamborghini,Alfa,VW approach for the GT8. They got egg on their face with the time they got but still sold the car out.


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name  8y ago

look for example an Alfa Romeo Giulia QV was faster,
so nodobdy buys a DB 11 oder S Class AMG for trackdays. Its pretty useless to compare luxury GT cars .


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Monanysou  8y ago

S 63 or S65, this is still a valid comparison, but just to show differences between excellent cars. Both cars are true GTs yet differ enough to attract different clientele.


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Fastedee  8y ago

Yet it can match a track focused 4 door like the track focused Cadillacs who have very similar Willow times.This is just a training exercise for the chassis marketed to the country club. Even the .1 difference with the Giulia QV is within the range of human error.


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FastestLaps  8y ago

For neither of these two cars track performance was is any sort of priority - Merc is basically shortened S class limo. But it is great to watch these behemoths on track anyway. Big power and big weight gives spectacular hot laps with some unintended tyre smoke action :)


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Fastedee  8y ago

If it's within 5 seconds of that "certain 4-door family car"at Nordschleife I'll be quite impressed.


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Fastedee  8y ago

The GT 3r only has front seats cause it's a track inspired coupe. The db11 has good seats in the back until the kids hit 150 cm lol. If the Porsche Panamera is faster it's faster than an ATS V and CTS V....which it might well be.


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jeremy  8y ago

A panamera turbo sport tourismo will probably be faster lol


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BR2+  8y ago

I do wonder why they give these big coupes thes really tiny seats, I dont see the point. I mean either make the seats have enough room like a small saloon, Or make them atleast efficient, Rather then just some 2+2 bs, Id rather they just make it a 2 seater and use the extra back for more room for luggage, Or just make the car smaller in that area and save quite a bit of weight.


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saxy  8y ago

the S class is nearly a full foot longer and have great back seats. The DB11 back seats are no better than an A class...

A much better comparison is a Bentley.


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Fastedee  8y ago

Continental gt 3r. Looks a Supersport with that awesome aero.


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Fastedee  8y ago

I'd take the Aston but the Bentley Supersport Gt-3r is the Bomb and is as loud as one.


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Fastedee  8y ago

Mercedes is roomier just depends how quick you wanna go down the country club lane or down to Soul Cycle. You'd get a ticket either way. Aston is amusing in having "go slow" aids. The Motor Trend test guy said launch control won't let you get to sixty in less than five seconds and auto shift less than 4.5. Can'the have these rich dentists and Hollywood producers killing themselves now lmao.


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BR2+  8y ago

Ill take that S63 all day over that DB11, Strange as that sounds.


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Fastedee  8y ago

Car has good basic balancea- just needs to lose some pork and have the training wheels knocked off lol.


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Fastedee  8y ago

Blew the DBS away at Willow but was much closer here.


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Fastedee  8y ago

Like to see it against M6 Gran Coupe competition next.


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Fastedee  8y ago

Motor Trend faced an SL65 off against a db9. The db9 had better handling numbers and was as quick to 110 mph. The massive torque was wasted in clouds of tire smoke. The SL65 is the most quintessentially British car made by Germany then. The DB11 is the best combination of the two since Victoria and Albert.


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hostboy  8y ago

I'm actually glad they paired the DB11 against the S63. Both are twin-turbo'd, so...


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hostboy  8y ago

S63 is definitely more suited for the track than S65. S65 should be against Vantage S.