FACTS AT A GLANCE MODEL: Aston Martin DB11 V8
MAX SPEED: 187mph
PRICE AS TESTED: £144,900
0-60MPH: 3.8 seconds
ENGINE: 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8
MPG: 28.5mpg
POWER: 503bhp
EMISSIONS: 230g/km
TORQUE: 675Nm
3.7 seconds, so the V8 won’t exactly be left for dead by its more expensive stablemate.
WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE? Anyone who has spent time in a Mercedes will no
While this likely won’t be a huge concern for
doubt be met with a sense of déjà vu, due to the
Aston Martin owners, the DB11 V8 trumps the
infotainment system being lifted straight from the
V12 model as far as fuel economy and CO2
German manufacturer’s model line-up (another
emissions are concerned. Where the V12
fruit of Aston and Daimler’s relationship).
manages 24.8mpg on the combined cycle, the V8
Past that, though, the DB11 is all Aston Martin.
will do 28.5mpg. CO2 emissions for the V8 stand
There’s leather all over the place, which has
at 230g/km, while the V12 rises to 265g/km.
been sourced from cows raised in fields that
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?
aren’t fenced in with barbed wire. According to Aston Martin, this helps to ensure the leather is
In a word, the DB11 V8 is sublime. Aston Martin
of the highest quality. One thing’s for sure: the
has built a thoroughly accomplished GT car that’s
DB11’s cabin is a great place to spend time.
not only devastatingly quick in a straight line, but seriously impressive through the twisty stuff as well. The steering is precise and has a healthy
WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE? The DB11 V8 bears a recommended retail price
weight to it, allowing you to point the car’s nose
of £144,900, so it’s certainly not cheap. That
into a bend safe in the knowledge that it won’t
said, it is intended to be an exclusive, luxurious
suddenly wash out. Aston has also worked a
GT car, so an affordable price tag was never
trick with the DB11’s damping. The set-up is
going to be on the table.
soft enough to allow the car to ride comfortably
As far as equipment goes, there’s a full leather
over imperfections in the surface of the road,
interior, an infotainment system with 12-inch
but firm enough to minimise body roll through
LCD display, satellite navigation and 360-degree
fast corners.
parking camera, to name but a few features. And
Out on the motorway, the DB11 really
if you think you’ll tire of listening to the car’s V8
comes into its element. It simply eats the
soundtrack, you can also order your DB11 with a
miles up, and is an incredibly comfortable
premium Bang & Olufsen audio system.
car to cover great distances in. The V8 engine has power on tap, and even in seventh gear it pulls astonishingly well.
HOW DOES IT LOOK?
VERDICT: Although the DB11 V8 may be down four cylinders compared with the range-topping V12, by no means should you think that it’s
If there’s one thing an Aston Martin has to
in any form a lesser car. Like the DB11 V12, it’s
be, it’s beautiful, and the DB11 is certainly a
a marvellous cross-continental grand tourer, but
stunning thing to look at. Where its sister car,
thanks to its new lightweight engine, the DB11
the Vanquish, is far more aggressive in its
V8 is now more agile than ever. For those who
appearance, the DB11 is a much more elegant
value outright dynamic ability over challenging
and classy GT.
roads, this might just be the car to go for.
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