Aston Martin’s Spellbinding DB11 Doubles Up On Twin-Turbo Motors

By Miles Branman Published January 2, 2020

How do you improve upon one of the finest Grand Touring vehicles on the market? Offer not one, but two silky smooth powertrains.

The standard Aston Martin DB11 is a work of art. We first experienced the DB9 replacement last year, and were instantly wowed by its striking design, refined cabin, and scalable performance. Now we’ll have another reason to appreciate the sports car: an AMG-sourced V8.

Recommended Videos

Complementing the DB11’s existing 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged V12 is a twin-turbocharged V8 tuned to produce 503hp and 513 lb-ft of torque. Though down about 100 horsepower to the larger mill, the smaller, lighter V8 will give the DB11 a sportier character and improved efficiency. Aston Martin quotes a 0-60 mph sprint of 4.0 seconds and a top speed of 187 mph for the V8-powered version. By comparison, the V12 model hits 60 mph in 3.9 seconds and tops out at 211 mph.

“To be able to offer not one, but two exceptional GT cars is terrific for Aston Martin and our customers,” said Aston Martin Chief Technical Officer Max Szwaj. “I’m particularly proud that this car is the first to receive an engine supplied by our technical partner, Mercedes-AMG.”

Aston Martin’s Spellbinding V8 Powered DB11 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

In its base form, this 4.0-liter bi-turbo V8 is used in the Mercedes-AMG C63, AMG GT S, and other AMG performance vehicles, but Aston Martin has developed a bespoke air intake, exhaust and wet sump lubrication systems for the DB11. The powertrain will also be tailored to the DB11’s GT performance, with unique throttle mapping and power delivery.

“The DB11 is the most complete and sophisticated car Aston Martin has ever made,” quipped Aston Martin President and CEO Dr. Andy Palmer. “Now, with this new V8 engine option we have broadened its appeal by offering a car that will bring the DB11 to more customers around the world while still blessed with the exceptional performance and memorable character that sets Aston Martin apart from its rivals.”

Prices for the entry-level (if you can call it that) V8-powered DB11 will start at $198,995. The 6.0-liter V12 variant will command a $17,500 premium. The V8-powered DB11 will debut this weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Aston Martin dealers are accepting orders as of today.

Topics

Miles Branman developed a passion for cars early on thanks to a neighbor’s collection of rare and exotic vehicles. What…

Auto

F1 supports GM/Cadillac as an 11th team for the 2026 season

General Motors F1 team will be called GM/Cadillac

General Motors GM-Cadillac F1 race car concept.

Following the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Formula 1 announced its support for General Motors to become the eleventh FIA Formula One World Championship team, starting in 2026. The team will be branded GM/Cadillac and will field two drivers.

The F1 application process, which began nearly a year ago in January 2024, still has additional steps to complete, but F1's agreement in principle with General Motors is a crucial milestone. Team branding was important in gaining F1's support, as was GM's consent to become an engine supplier and build its own race cars by 2030.
The significance of a GM/Cadillac F1 team
Formula 1 is due for significant changes with the next generation of F1 race cars. The technical rules and regulations for the new cars will be in force beginning in 2026. The specifications for the new race cars will require that they run exclusively on biofuels for the combustion engine in the hybrid power unit and that a greater portion of the power is sourced from batteries than the current rules require.

Auto

Which James Bond car reigns supreme? Here are the top 8

Which James Bond car is your favorite?

best james bond cars 007 db5 2

In the world of movie magic, few franchises have captivated audiences across more generations than the legendary James Bond films. Inspiring a huge collector's market, video games, and undoubtedly more than a few career choices, the perennial super secret agent appeals to so many of our innate desire for excitement and danger, and a large part of that persona comes from the cars we see 007 piloting, chasing, and running from bad guys. So, we put together a list of the best cars James Bond has ever driven across the silver screen.

However, we did employ some rules of engagement in our rankings. The caveat had to be that Bond actually drove the car himself and was not ushered around by someone else, a la the Toyota 2000GT in You Only Live Twice, which would have made our list had 007 not been a passenger the entire time. We also didn't assign points for the weaponry attached to any of the cars, as they all have their own special blend of script-specific accouterments.

Auto

F1 Qatar Grand Prix practice and Sprint Qualifying results

The 2024 Constructors' Championship is still in tight contention

Formula 1 race cars during the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix.

This weekend is the next-to-last race in the 2024 F1 Grand Prix season. Qatar is in the desert in the Middle East, and the race events all happen at night when the temperatures aren't as hot as during the day.

The Qatar Grand Prix is a Sprint race, one of only six in the 24-race season. That means there's an additional, shorter race on Saturday before the Grand Prix Qualifying event and Sunday's Grand Prix. Drivers (and their teams) can score up to eight Championship points that count for Drivers' and Constructors' Championships in the Sprint race.
What to watch for in the Qatar Grand Prix
Max Verstappen won the 2024 F1 Drivers' World Championship at last week's Las Vegas Grand Prix, but exciting competitive races remain.
Drivers' Championship
Max won the crown for the season, his fourth consecutive Championship, but the competition for second place is still tight, and it may foretell Max's biggest threats for the 2025 season. Verstappen will undoubtedly continue to rack up points, but the fight for second place is between McLaren's Lando Norris, currently with 340 points, and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, who has 319 points.
Constructors' Championship
The fight for the Constructor's title is still tight. McLaren has 608 points, Ferrari has 584, and Red Bull has 555. Red Bull's only hope to win the team crown is for both drivers, Verstappen and Sergio Perez, to finish in the top three places for both races and for McLaren and Ferrari to falter. That scenario is unlikely because Perez has had a dismal season (more on that below) plus McLaren's Norris and Oscar Piastri and Ferrari's Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have been strong all season.