Aston Martin DB11 V8 arrives as Aston’s DB11 gets a 503bhp AMG heart – costs £144,900

The Aston Martin DB11 V8 arrives as the first Aston to demonstrate the fruits of Aston’s relationship with AMG. Gets 503bhp and costs from £144,900.

The deal between Aston Martin and Mercedes-AMG has delivered this, the first Aston Martin in a very long time with a new engine – the new Aston Martin DB11 V8 – and the first Aston DB with a V8 since the 1970s.

The AMG engine under the bonnet of the DB11 is the familiar AMG 4.0 litre twin-turbo, but here with new air intake and exhaust system and with a fiddle or three for its brain by the Gaydon boys.

Power is a decent 503bhp, not as much as it could have been but a sensible 97bhp less than the V12 DB11, despite which the V8 DB11 is just a tenth behind its brother to 62mph at 4.0 seconds.

A lot of that is down to the reduced weight of the V8 – around 115kg less than the V12 – but Aston has also sharpened the cars’ dynamics with suspension and traction tweaks, and it looks like the new DB11 could be the better car to drive – just like Bentley’s Continental V8.

Car spotters won’t find it too easy to tell the DB11 V8 from the V12 (unless it happens to be Aston’s own car with the ‘AMV 8’ plate on), but the V8 does come with new 20″ alloys, darker headlight surrounds and with half the bonnet vent count.

Aston Martin boss, Andy Palmer, said:

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.

The new Aston Martin DB11 V8 is now on sale at Aston’s UK dealers with prices from £144,900, around £13k less than the V12.