New Aston Martin DB11 versus a used DB9: What are the top 3 differences?
After arriving in 2004 and then remaining in production for 12 years, the Aston Martin DB9 eventually sired a whole family of luxury sports cars. It was finally superseded by the all-new DB11 in 2016, which again spawned a new generation of Aston Martins. Let’s highlight the top three differences between these two very influential Aston Martins: the latest (new) DB11 and its (used) DB9 predecessor.
The Aston Martin DB9 still looks modern and exotic to this day, even four years after its long production run ended, so just imagine what a daunting task designing its replacement must have been. There is however little doubt that the stylists succeeded in carrying this iconic car’s design forwards with its replacement, because the DB11 still looks very futuristic, four years after its release. Under the skin, the advances are just as notable, giving Aston Martin’s engineers a solid base from which to develop their next generation of products.
Related: Top 3 things you need to know about the Aston Martin DB11.
1. Different-but-familiar styling
Aston Martin’s basic modern style template was set by Ian Callum in 1994, with the DB7 featuring a contemporary re-interpretation of this brand’s styling cues from the 1950s and 1960s. The next big leap occurred with the first Vanquish, which added some harder edges and more-aggressive scoops, followed by the original DB9, which cemented the design language for the next decade of Aston Martin sports cars.
The new DB11 continues this evolutionary process, but introduces some more-modern styling flourishes, and is again available in either coupé or cabriolet body styles. It’s still unmistakably a modern Aston Martin, though: the proportions are largely the same as the DB9’s; and the radiator grille, though reshaped, retains Aston Martin’s traditional outline shape.
On the coupé, the rearmost roof pillar has a black trim piece (optionally body colour) to give a “floating roof” effect, the light clusters are all-LED slashes at the body’s corners, and the wheel arch haunches are more pronounced. But the most distinctive new styling feature are the “Aeroblade” vents behind the front wheels – not only to they look suitably dramatic, but they also improve aerodynamic stability and reduce drag.
Related: Four Aston Martin DB11 accessories you didn’t know you needed.
2. Completely new engines
Unlike the DB9, the DB11 is available with a choice of two engines. While its predecessor exclusively featured the “AM11” 5.9-litre V12 engine in various states of tune, the DB11 can be had in either V8- or V12 flavours. The smaller (twin-turbo 4.0-litre) engine is sourced from Mercedes-AMG, as part of a technology-sharing agreement between the two companies, and is used to great effect in various AMG models. In this application, it’s tuned to produce 375 kW and 675 Nm, sent to the rear wheels through an 8-speed automatic gearbox.
The higher-powered engine is only available with a coupé body. Derived from the old V12, but completely re-engineered to bring its displacement down to 5.2 litres and allow the adoption of a twin-turbo arrangement, it now produces 470 kW and 700 Nm, once again going to the rear wheels via the 8-speed automatic transmission.
In coupé form, the DB11 V8 rushes from a standstill to 100 km/h in 4.0 seconds, and on to a top speed of 300 km/h. But, because the V12 engine is so much heavier, its performance advantage is slimmer than you’d think – it gets to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, although its top speed rises to 334 km/h. This arguably makes the DB11 V8 the better buy – it’s R 800 000 less expensive (!), not much slower in the real world, and offers the option of roof-down motoring (at a scant premium of R 300 000).
Related: Aston Martin DB11 vs Bentley Continental GT vs Mercedes-AMG S63 Coupé – which one is the best value for money?
3. All-new architecture
Throwing the old “VH” platform out the door, the DB11 introduced a new all-aluminium architecture in 2016, the use of which has since spread to other new Aston Martin models. Instead of using aluminium extrusions to create an “endo-skeleton”, as in the DB9, the new platform relies on aluminium sheet-metal stampings instead.
This is in the interest of weight saving, improved space utilisation, and increased body stiffness. Forget about welded joins keeping the central structure together, as in the old car, mind you – the DB11 uses special adhesives and rivets to hold everything in place. It’s all carefully optimised to obtain the strongest possible body with the most cabin space, with meeting future safety regulations and weight loss being front of mind for the engineers.
Related: Interested in the smaller (2-seater) Aston Martin Vantage instead? Here are the top 4 differences between the new Vantage and a used one.
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