Aston Martin has expanded its top-tier GT range with a new twin-turbocharged V8 engine option courtesy of Mercedes-Benz.
The DB11 arrived last year with a 5-2-litre twin-turbocharged V12. It's a package we rather liked when we drove it both in Italy and New Zealand, but Aston Martin say the newest model, with its V8 engine and re-worked packaging, will reveal more of the DB11’s sporting character.
The new twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 produces 375kW of power and 675Nm of torque, which on paper, sounds tantalisingly close to the V12.
0-100km/h for the V12 is stated at 3.9 seconds, the new V8 comes in one tenth back at 4.0 seconds.
Along with the V8 performance, efficiency has also been considered with the new GT claiming 12.1L/100km fuel economy and CO2 emissions of 230g/km.
“Of course the V12-engined variant is an icon - an ultimate, if you like, but the V8 is very much its own car - one with a distinct and carefully crafted character,” said Max Szwaj, Chief Technical Officer at Aston Martin.
“It has been hugely rewarding to put our stamp on this new engine - both in the way it sounds and performs.”
“I’m particularly proud that this car is the first to receive an engine supplied by our technical partner, Mercedes-AMG. Not least because thanks to the nature of our relationship with AMG we have been given complete freedom to tailor this exceptional power unit so that it meets the particular needs and demands of an Aston Martin.”
Aston Martin’s engineering team has tailored the V8 engine for the DB11 with a new air intake, exhaust, wet sump, ECU software and re-mapped throttle calibration.
With the V12 DB11 sitting atop the performance line-up, Aston Martin engineers have focused on the dynamics in the new V8 variant.
With that in mind, engineers have developed new engine mounts, which together with the slimline wet sump, enables the V8 to be mounted as low as possible.
The V8 engine is also lighter and more compact than the V12, contributing to a total weight saving of 115kg and a kerb weight of 1760kg.
Weight reductions have also demanded revisions to the suspension bushing, geometry, anti-roll bars, springs, dampers and ESP software.
With more of the mass centred in the wheelbase and re-worked springs, the V8 DB11 promises to be more agile than its bigger brother in the corners.
Visually the differences beween the V8 and V12 models are subtle, a unique alloy wheel finish, dark headlamp bezels and a pair of bonnet vents finished in either back or titanium mesh being the most obvious.
Inside, all standard equipment from the V12 is transferred into the V8 model, as well as trim options. Of course, if you demand it, Option Packs and Designer Specification packages, plus a suite of Q by Aston Martin Collection options are available.
“The DB11 is the most complete and sophisticated car Aston Martin has ever made,” said Aston Martin President and CEO, Dr Andy Palmer.
“Having driven the car during its development phase, it is not just the engine that has changed the character of the car, but also the resulting dynamic changes to create a remarkable GT car with its own distinct personality from the V12.”
New Zealand pricing has not yet been released, but with the V12 starting at $345,000 locally, i expect the V8 model would have to be well-optioned to break the 300k mark.
First deliveries of the new V8 are set for the end of 2017.
