Aston Martin's DB11 is the gorgeous Bond car of the future

There are few car badges in the world with deeper history than Aston Martin's DB line, made most famous by James Bond's beautiful, tricked-out DB5 in 1964's Goldfinger. Now, there's an all-new DB ready for its debut: the DB11, complete with a 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged V-12 that's good for 600 horsepower. Unsurprisingly, it's enough motivation to make this the most powerful DB model Aston has ever produced.

The company's press release notes that the DB11 is "heralding a new design era for Aston Martin," and it's pretty difficult to argue — the unusual offset roof strakes, enormous side vents, and striking taillights contribute to a design that's unlike anything in recent Aston memory. The company's trademark grille carries over, but everything else about this car looks new and unique.

That continues inside the cabin, too: the DB11 is the first production Aston with thoroughly modern electronics, featuring a 12-inch LCD instrument cluster paired with an 8-inch center display for infotainment, all co-developed with Daimler (of Mercedes-Benz fame). Instrument panels and infotainment systems are particularly tough for boutique automakers like Aston Martin to develop on their own, so it's not a surprise to see the partnership.

This is a true GT, meaning it's a big car designed for touring, not just a track toy. (That's reflected in the 0-62 time of 3.9 seconds, which certainly isn't slow, but isn't that quick by modern standards, either.) There are mounts for two child seats in the DB11's rear and enough cargo space for two big bags, paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission that can be set to a comfy touring mode. There's even park assist and a birds-eye camera — accoutrements you might expect from the family SUV, not a six-figure sports car.

Speaking of pricing, the DB11 will (obviously) not be cheap: base price is set at $211,995 when it launches in the fourth quarter of the year.