Aston Martin · 2016–2023

Aston Martin DB11

The Aston Martin DB11 is a two-door grand touring car by the British carmaker Aston Martin. It was manufactured as both a coupe and a convertible, the latter known as the Volante. Aston Martin produced the DB11 from 2016 to 2023 when it was replaced by the DB12. The DB11 succeeded the DB9, which the company made between 2004 and 2016. Designed by Marek Reichman, the DB11 debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2016. It is the first model of Aston Martin's "second-century plan", and incorporates aluminium extensively throughout its body, like its predecessor and platform siblings. Official manufacture of the DB11 began at the Aston Martin facility in Gaydon, Warwickshire, in September 2016. The car was generally well-received by critics. Two engine configurations of the DB11 were available: a 4.0-litre V8-engine model produced by Mercedes-AMG and a 5.2-litre V12-engine model produced by Aston Martin. The Volante version of the DB11 was introduced in October 2017. In 2018, Aston Martin and its racing division replaced the DB11 V12 with the DB11 V12 AMR, which brought an increased engine output. The V8-powered model also received an enhancement in engine performance in 2021.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Aston Martin DB9 · Successor: Aston Martin DB12

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History

The British carmaker Aston Martin began producing the DB9—a grand touring car—in January 2004 at its facility in Gaydon, Warwickshire. It was the first car built on the vertical–horizontal platform—a design in which all vehicles that used it extensively incorporated aluminium throughout their construction. This platform formed the basis of the Vantage in 2005, the DBS in 2007, the Rapide in 2010, the Vanquish in 2012 and the Lagonda Taraf in 2014. In 2015, Aston Martin announced that the DB9's successor would be named the "DB11". An upcoming series of vehicles, known as the "second-century plan", included the DB11 and was to introduce a refreshed design approach directed by Marek Reichman, whom Aston Martin had appointed lead designer in May 2005. Insider reports indicated that this model range aimed to address critiques of the existing lineup by emphasising distinctive differences between the models, aligning them more closely with the prominent Italian luxury automobile manufacturer Ferrari. Manufacture of the DB9 officially ended in July 2016, after a twelve-year production run during which 16,500 units had been made. The DB11 debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2016. Official manufacture of the DB11 began on 28 September 2016 at Aston Martin's facility in Gaydon. To demonstrate his commitment to quality, Aston Martin's then-CEO, Andy Palmer, personally inspected the first 1,000 cars. The Gaydon facility produced the DB11 until it was discontinued at the end of June 2023. The model was replaced by the DB12, which was unveiled at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival in May.

Design

Similar to its predecessor, the DB11 is based upon a platform—which it shares with the 2018 model Vantage and the DBS Superleggera—that extensively incorporates aluminium throughout its construction. The chassis, in comparison to the DB9, is lighter and stiffer. Its body panels are made of both aluminium and composite materials, and the bonnet is a single-piece unit. Together, the car's flat underbody, rear diffuser and sizeable front splitter manage airflow beneath the DB11, minimising lift. The DB11 features an AeroBlade that captures high-speed air at the C-pillars and channels it through ducts under the bodywork, exiting through slots in the boot lid. This system mimics the effects of a large rear spoiler, reducing drag without added bodywork. An extendable active spoiler enhances the AeroBlade's efficiency at high speeds. The DB11 has been described as both a sports car and a grand tourer. It is a two-door coupe that was available only in a four-passenger seating configuration. The DB11 has a rear-wheel drive layout with a front-mid-engine placement and exclusively uses a rear-mounted, eight-speed automatic transmission made by the technology manufacturing company ZF Friedrichshafen. Each DB11 was handcrafted, involving approximately 600 engineers and taking around 250 hours to complete. The DB11 features anti-roll bars and double wishbone suspension supported by coil springs. There are three different drive modes available for both the drivetrain and chassis: normal—suitable for daily driving; sport—offering enhanced precision; and Sport+—intensifying the characteristics of the sport mode. The DB11 has a weight distribution of 51 per cent at the front and 49 per cent at the rear. According to the magazine Motor Trend, the DB11 has a combined fuel economy figure of

Variants

=== DB11 V12 === The AE31 twin-turbocharged V12 engine, with a 5,204 cc (5.2 L; 317.6 cu in) displacement, was featured in the initial version of the DB11. It produces a power output of 447 kW (600 hp; 608 PS) at 6,500 revolutions per minute (rpm) and a torque output of 700 N⋅m (516 lb⋅ft) between 1,500–5,000 rpm, sufficient to give the car a zero to 97 km/h (60 mph) acceleration of 3.6 seconds and a maximum speed of 320 kilometres per hour (200 mph). Aston Martin began the development of the V12 engine in the summer of 2012 under the leadership of Brian Fitzsimons. The project progressed quickly; initial test firing began in October 2012, and it received approval for production in January 2013. The new V12 engine continues to use conventional manifold fuel injection rather than direct injection due to concerns about the potential increase in particulate emissions associated with direct injection petrol engines. The DB11 V12 can run the quarter-mile in 11.7 seconds. In May 2018, Aston Martin introduced the DB11 Aston Martin Racing (AMR) version, which succeeded the DB11 V12 and offered enhanced performance capabilities compared to its predecessor. The previous DB11 V12 had been in production for eighteen months. The updated DB11 AMR produces a power output of 470 kW (630 hp; 639 PS) at 6,500 rpm and a torque output of 700 N⋅m (516 lb⋅ft) at 1,500 rpm, sufficient to give the car a zero to 97 km/h (60 mph) acceleration of 3.7 seconds and a maximum speed of 335 kilometres per hour (208 mph). Its shift programming has been revised, its rear suspension is firmer and stiffer, and its twenty-inch forged wheels are 3.5 kilograms (7.7 lb) lighter. Aston Martin introduced a limited edition of 100 DB11 AMR Signature Edition cars at the beginning of production, featuring a Stirlin

Reception

The DB11 has received mostly positive reviews. The journalist Jeremy Clarkson of The Sunday Times described the car as "phenomenally good", humorously noting, "if you're ever in Paris, at a party at 3 a.m., and suddenly remember you are playing in a tennis tournament in Monte Carlo the next afternoon, this is the car for the job. You'd arrive feeling like you'd just got out of the bath". Reviewing for The Gazette, Peter Bleakney called the DB11 Volante "quite possibly the most beautiful grand tourer money can buy" and a "dynamic gem that wafts as it should yet engages, excites and shines when put on a challenging road". Jack Rix of Top Gear stated that the DB11 marked "a solid start to a future portfolio that will be studded with flashier and faster members than this, but none that are quite so suited to being enjoyed every day, wherever you're heading". Car criticised the DB11 AMR's interior, stating that the "motorised cubbyhole lid feels like it's on its last legs and the infotainment's poor, particularly the [sat]nav", but called it a "beautiful car to look at and to drive—particularly at speed". Matt Saunders of Autocar noted that its door sills are "slimmer than those of the DB9, making ingress easier as you swing your legs over and into the car's deep and roomy-feeling footwell". In 2017, the DB11 won the Golden Steering Wheel award for most beautiful car of that year.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name

Aston Martin DB11

Manufacturer

Aston Martin

Production

September 2016 – June 2023

Assembly

United Kingdom: Gaydon, Warwickshire

Designer

Marek Reichman

Class

Grand tourer

Body style

2-door coupé, 2-door convertible

Related

Aston Martin DBS Superleggera, Aston Martin Vantage

Layout

Front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive

Engine

4.0 L Mercedes-AMG M177 twin-turbo V8, 5.2 L AE31 twin-turbo V12

Transmission

8-speed ZF 8HP75 automatic

Wheelbase

110.4 in

Length

187 in

Width

76.7 in

Height

50.8 in

Kerb weight

1875 kg (V12 coupé), 1760 kg (V8 coupé), 1870 kg (Volante)

Predecessor

Aston Martin DB9

Successor

Aston Martin DB12

sp

uk

Top speed

320 km/h

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

US EPA fuel-economy records

US EPA test figures (US MPG, US test cycle).

Sources

• Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q23005955CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aston_Martin_DB11CC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1371699027 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2018_Aston_Martin_DB11_Auto.jpgCC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Calreyn88 · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Manufacturer website (link only) — https://db11.astonmartin.comLink only; no content copied · retrieved 2026-10-01
• Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.

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