Aston Martin has announced that the first of its cars to receive a Mercedes-AMG engine will be the DB11.
Since its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in 2016, the DB11 has come equipped with Aston Martin’s own 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged V12, producing 600 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. Now customers can spec their DB11 with an AMG-sourced 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged engine, the same engine found in the Mercedes-AMG C63.
AMG granted Aston Martin freedom to make the engine very much its own. The ECU and throttle mapping have undergone changes to suit the DB11’s needs, while a new exhaust and air intake system help produce a distinct Aston Martin engine note. These changes help the engine produce 503 hp and 498 lb-ft of torque while still achieving 28.5 EU mpg and producing 230g/km of CO2. The added efficiency will also slot the DB11 into a lower tax and insurance group for several countries.
In addition to the engine changes, the new V8 DB11 has received numerous suspension improvements, boasting more performance oriented springs, dampers, and anti-roll bars. Engineers also reworked the ESP system to allow for a more dynamic driving experience.
With these changes, the DB11 V8 makes the sprint to 60 in 4.0 seconds and tops out at 187 mph. This treads closely to the 3.9 0-60 time and 200 mph top speed of the V12-equipped car. The reason for such a small decrease in performance despite the corral missing 97 horses? The V8 car has dropped over 250 lbs over the twelve-pot.
Aston Martin also added a few cosmetic touches to the DB11 to help separate it from the V12. The V8 model comes with unique alloy wheels, dark headlight bezels, and a pair of bonnet vents that comes in the customer’s choice of black or titanium.
The interior remains unchanged, continuing to offer the grand touring luxury that Aston Martin customers expect from the brand. The overall package and options list hasn’t changed either, with the full line of Q by Aston Martin accessories available.
Aston Martin hopes the lighter and more performance oriented DB11 will help attract new customers to the brand. It has stiff competition from the AMG GT — which shares its engine — the Lexus LC500, and the Bentley Continental V8.
The V8 DB11 is currently on sale for $198,995 in the US, £144,900 in the UK, and €184,000 in Germany. Deliveries are expected to start rolling in towards the end of the year.
You can catch the debut of the car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend.
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