Some Straight Talk

You know, what happens with these truly huge high end manufacturers and their marketing people, is that more often than not - and certainly in the Western part of the world - at some point they start to believe that 'they' (the current managers) are in control right now, and that therefore they are the sole reason for the brand's success...

And that would be just fine and dandy if they kept to the formula of whatever it was they were making - but no, they suddenly get this idea that any decision they make, and usually guided by what they imagine is rational economics, must be the right thing and no discussion about it is to be had. 

Another nicely-composed shot of the Aston 'Q'

Get them to change their mind about anything? Impossible. One of the most outstandingly absurd items ever to go into all the wrong places in high quality luxury vehicles - for example - is composite carbon fiber laminate. 

Now if you sit in modern examples of any of the great automotive marques - Jaguar, Aston Martin, even Bentley - the first thing you will notice and often even before the engine starts and the wheels roll, is the squeaking and creaking from the carbon fiber used structurally inside the cabin. The whole idea of carbon fiber in vehicles is that it combines incredible strength with lightness... Once again that is fine; except when you start to believe there is a limitless curve for vehicle weight, and that such a trajectory is in any case a permanently fixed objective - you end up with a racing yachting skiff for a road car, instead of a car at all, really, with all of the attendant rattles and squeaks.

Okay, you put up with the noises; I don't mind. But don't try to sell me on the carbon fiber 'cross-hatched' fake wood, or 'para-wood!!'

And you pay the money and you can go flying around streets and corners without due consideration for the consequences and risks of accident at high speed. Yeah, yeah, vorsprung durch technik has taken care of it... Not. Ordinary common *'ing whiplash will kill you or make your life terminally miserable. 

This is actually a new DB11 V8

Carbon fiber is rubbish when it comes to some 'ultimate material.' Like anything it has its own limitations - a LOT of them, in this case in fact.

So no, I won't be buying your Aston Martin today, Mr 'Q.'

And that there, about 'Q' - is me being about as straight as I could possibly ever be. Nod nod wink wink.