This weekend I am piloting the all-new Aston Martin DB11 Volante. It's a lovely automobile.
Equipped with a Mercedes-AMG V8 good for just over 500 horsepower, grunt isn't an issue. Nor is its interior trimming, which is on the level of Ferrari and Bentley. There's leather everywhere and it's a rather intoxicating experience.
But if you've ever been in an Aston previously, you know that the company's weak point was its infotainment system. Leveraging a Volvo-based unit, it was one of the worst in the business.
With the all-new DB11 and all-new Vantage, however, the company is leveraging its partnership with Mercedes-Benz. That means it gets COMAND: Controller, touch pad and screen.
When discussing this with Agent 001 the other night, he noted that it's one of those details that essentially takes him out of the game. I, on the other hand, think it's wonderful — Note: I am a fan of the COMAND system.
One could argue a vehicle of this caliber is like a made-to-measure suit and everything should be a one-off. Alternatively, it could be argued that the manufacturers should focus on what they're good at, whether that's performance or luxury and let them leverage reliable, working systems where they can (e.g., infotainment).
THINK: Rolls-Royce uses BMW's iDrive and Bentley leverages Audi's MMI system — the new Continental GT appears to use Porsche's infotainment.
So, I've got to ask: Spies, if you were buying a high-end automobile and its interior BORROWED from other automakers, does that RUIN it for you?