You know it from recent Bond movies. You might know the winged logo, its vaguely Jaguar-esque silhouette, and its reputation for being fast and very expensive. The 2023 Aston Martin DB11 is all those things and more, a svelte two-door coupe full of muscular curves wrapped in tidy English tailoring. Its primary mission? To cover long distances at high speeds in lush comfort.
Its exterior is both understated and awe-inspiring, skimming the road in ways other automotive attention-seekers can't match. The cabin is a tale of two automakers, blending Aston Martin craftsmanship with Mercedes-Benz in-car tech. The Mercedes connection continues under the hood, with a standard turbocharged V8 of Benz origin, though the optional 12-cylinder still comes from Aston Martin. Each offers a rich soundtrack to complement the spy movie playing in your mind as you crawl through the boutique shopping district.
Despite earlier declarations from no less than Aston Martin's chief executive that the 2023 DB11 would see a thorough overhaul, this year's model carries over unchanged. There's an optional set of aluminum wheels for V8 trims that shave about 33 pounds, and they come shod in high-performance Pirelli tires. Beyond that, the DB11 is unchanged from 2022.
The Aston Martin is a fantastic grand tourer, but it competes against heavy hitters like the Bentley Continental GT, with its sublime driving capabilities and peerless cabin materials. The Aston interior, appealing as it is, feels a bit dated and uninspired next to its English rival Bentley. And while you're in this price range, the Audi R8, Ferrari Roma and Lamborghini Huracan all merit a look as well. There's also the Porsche 911 Turbo S, understated in its own way, but a sublime blend of extreme performance and everyday usability.
As much as we like the idea of a 12-cylinder symphony emanating from the DB11's tailpipe, we're partial to the V8. Coupe or convertible is up to you, but the eight-cylinder carries less weight over the front end and feels more responsive as a result. We'd add ventilated seats, the touchpad infotainment system controller, the Bang & Olufsen audio system, and maybe the new 21-inch forged aluminum wheels since they're a fresh look, offer weight savings and come shod with Pirelli P Zero high-performance tires. We'd also opt for a cool color. Xenon Gray works in James Bond movies, but we'd take a long look at something like Golden Saffron or Ming Blue.
The 2023 Aston Martin DB11 is a four-seat grand-touring car available in coupe and convertible (Volante) body styles. Both come with a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 (528 horsepower, 513 lb-ft of torque). A turbocharged 5.2-liter V12 engine (630 hp, 516 lb-ft) is available only on the coupe. All DB11s come with an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive.
