Used 2019 Aston Martin DB11

Hand-built by one of Britain’s finest automobile manufacturers, the 2019 Aston Martin DB11 shines bright, delivering scintillating performance matched by seductive good looks and unparalleled refinement. Along with its convertible sibling, the DB11 Volante, the DB11 supercar makes a formidable challenger to such lofty makes as the Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari Portofino, and McLaren 570GT.

The new performance AMR version packs a punch, featuring a gray-and-lime paint scheme that pays tribute to Aston Martin’s racing heritage. Powered by either a turbocharged V8 or V12 engine, the DB11 can also be quite civilized on the road, remembering its luxury car side without sacrificing performance or handling.

Let loose the DB11 AMR’s turbocharged 12-cylinder engine and you’ll reach 60 mph in just under four seconds. Keep your foot planted, and the Aston Martin coupe will accelerate up to a ridiculous 208 mph. Although the latter achievement can only be done legally on an enclosed track, it’s nice to know your $200,000-plus investment has such potential at any given time. With the V8, a lighter weight yields nearly identical performance figures, making the less expensive 2019 Aston Martin DB11 the better value.

As a touring car, the DB11 has a leg up on some of its more raucous competitors, with a quiet cabin and 3-mode adaptive dampers that smooth out road imperfections with surprising efficiency. While we enjoyed the DB11’s stability, its quick-ratio electric-assisted power steering was a bit too quick to respond, leaving us somewhat guarded when making minute corrections at high speed.

Composed of soft, flowing lines and the finest quality materials, the 2019 Aston Martin DB11’s interior is one of the car’s most impressive assets. With more color combinations than a Crayola crayon box, the DB11’s highly customizable interior allows the owner to place her or his own sense of style upon the cabin. The front seats are snug and the rears good for little more than tiny tots. In fact, given the DB11’s diminutive 9.5-cubic-foot trunk, the rear seats might best serve as additional cargo holders.

We love the GT steering wheel with its numerous controls, the elegant stitching patterns, and high-tech instrument cluster. Not so enthralling are the limited-range air-conditioning vents and capacitive-touch climate and audio controls that merge into a single, unintuitive setup.

From its tasteful Aston grille, past the curlicue front-fender treatment, along flowing roof strakes leading rearward to blacked-out C-pillars, the DB11 is crafted for maximum aerodynamic and emotional effect. That seductive shape is formed atop an advanced bonded-aluminum platform featuring “Hot Form Quenched aluminum.” Advanced technology though it may be, the listed dry weight is still a hefty 3,900 pounds. To be clear, though, the Aston’s heft does not spoil its ability to have fun.

BANG & OLUFSEN AUDIO SYSTEM
Forget the standard Aston Martin sound system and upgrade to the optional Bang & Olufsen BeoSound system. Along with its decorative speaker grilles, the BeoSound system delivers rich bass, powerful midrange, and crystal-clear highs.

AMR TRIM
The AMR is Aston Martin’s attempt at offering a high-performance model born of the company’s long racing history. Clad in traditional gray paint with a lime racing stripe, the DB11 AMR gets a tweaked V12 pumping out 630 horsepower, a sub-4-second 0-to-60 time, and a 208-mph top speed.

Beyond a meticulously appointed cabin, the 2019 Aston Martin DB11’s standard-equipment roster includes front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera system, dual-zone climate control, an 8-inch infotainment system, and 20-inch wheels shod in grippy 255/40 tires up front and 295/35s in back. The Volante convertible gets wood or carbon covers on the seatbacks, and a cloth-top choice of red, black, or silver, plus a heated steering wheel and rear-seat ISOFIX attachment points.

For a more sophisticated Aston Martin experience the option sheet includes ventilated seats, a power armrest of questionable value, a vast range of interior and exterior customization options, a 1,000-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system, and a gesture-controlled touchpad (cribbed from the Mercedes-Benz parts bin) that’s used to control the infotainment system. Interestingly, you cannot equip your DB11 with modern safety aids like dynamic cruise control, forward-collision alert, or lane-keeping assist. For reference, each of those features can be found on entry-level cars like the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.

Given the choice between a V12 and V8, some might postulate more is better. But in the DB11, one might be surprised to find the 503-horsepower twin-turbo V8 is the more desirable engine. Its lighter weight makes the DB11 feel more agile, and we found it more responsive than the V12, with less turbo lag and a more willing attitude. However, the V12’s 630 horsepower is more than enough to outrun the V8 in a flat-out sprint.

Both engines are paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission that delivers such rapid-fire shifts one might mistake it for a more sophisticated dual-clutch transmission. A set of steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters accomplishes the task at hand, the left for downshifts and the right for up. At the rear, the DB11 employs a limited-slip differential apportioning power to the rear wheels.

4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (DB11, Volante)
503 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
513 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/24 mpg

5.2-liter turbocharged V12 (AMR)
630 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
516 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/22 mpg