Aston Martin DB11 V8
FIRST UK DRIVE New engine proves that less equals more
First UK drive shows why V8 is ideal fit for British beauty
ALL eyes may be on Aston Martin’s striking new Vantage, but quietly rolling down the line at the Gaydon factory in Warwickshire beside it is the brand’s 4.0-litre, V8-powered DB11.
This is the first Aston to be fitted with the new engine from Mercedes-amg, and although it’s down on power and cylinders compared with the V12 version, our first chance to drive it in the UK has left us thinking that it may in fact be the pick of the bunch.
Let’s not beat around the bush, though: in a game of Top Trumps, the DB11 V8 is beaten by the V12 in virtually every respect. The V8 develops 503bhp and 685Nm of torque, while the V12 produces 600bhp and 700Nm.
It has a higher top speed (200mph versus 187mph), and it can cover 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds – one tenth faster than its eight-cylinder sibling. As you’d expect, the V8 is the cheaper of the two, slashing the list price by around £13,000 as well.
Nimble
However, after the first few hundred yards behind the wheel, you can already sense that the DB11 V8 feels lighter on its toes. It’s definitely more nimble and alert to inputs from the steering. That’s because the V8 weighs 115kg less than the V12 – all of it falling from the nose. It’s also why the V8 feels virtually as quick and responsive on the road.
The V8 has a much more aggressive exhaust note as well, and this ramps up in ferocity when you cycle through the GT, Sport and Sport+ driving modes. In its most aggressive setting, the response from the engine and gearbox is instant and enormously satisfying – although on a cold, damp winter morning, the rear wheels do have a job trying to exploit all of that power.
This all sounds promising enough, but in truth, the weight difference really makes itself known when you get to a corner, because the lighter front end tucks in more quickly and with greater precision. The chassis tweaks – which include slightly stiffer rear suspension and softer front suspension (to compensate for the weight loss) – give faultless body composure during fast direction changes.
The DB11 still feels like a big car, especially on narrow British B-roads, but the V8 under the bonnet brings out its more athletic side.
There’s very little trade-off when it comes to being a GT car, either. The ride quality is impeccable for something packing so much performance, and while there’s a slightly sharp edge to the ride over broken tarmac, you’d be more than comfortable enough covering huge distances in the DB11.
At a cruise, the V8 is a pleasure to drive; it’s hushed, smooth and relatively efficient. Aston claims it will return 28.5mpg, although in the real world, of course, you’re looking at a figure that’s significantly shy of that.
While the cabin design is unlike anything you’ll find in another supercar, you can’t fault the attention to detail. Our pre-production test car wasn’t quite up to class standards, but we’re assured this will be improved for customer deliveries. Double-stitched leather covers every surface, while marble-effect inlays can be fitted to the centre console.
One gripe is the infotainment system, adopted from Mercedes. It’s much better than the old Aston set-up, but it’s a little slow to respond and not the most intuitive to use, thanks to a maze of complicated sub-menus.
“At a cruise, the V8 is a pleasure to drive – it’s hushed, smooth and relatively efficient”