Aston Martin has ramped up the performance of the Aston Martin DB11 with an uprated V12 engine and race-inspired features, giving the new top variant, the DB11 AMR, enough firepower to fight it out with its most potent rivals.
Replacing the two-year-old DB11 V12, which accounts for 40% of annual DB11 sales, the DB11 AMR gets an uprated twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre powerplant that develops 630bhp at 6500rpm and 516lb ft at 1500rpm. While the latter remains unchanged, the former represents a significant boost of 30bhp over the outgoing V12.
Not only does that ensure the hottest DB11 now has 127bhp of breathing space compared with the entry-level AMG V8-powered car, it also provides the DB11 AMR with muscle to worry its archrivals, including the 626bhp Bentley Continental GT W12 and 621bhp V12 Mercedes-AMG S65.
As suggested by the AMR moniker, an acronym for Aston Martin Racing, the new model gets more than just a power boost. It also sends grunt to the rear axle via a retuned ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox and breathes through a new and less restrictive exhaust system, engineered to give the car a racier tone. The combined results are a new 0-62mph time of 3.7sec, two-tenths better than before, and a top speed of 208mph, a gain of 8mph.
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The chassis development team, led by chief engineer Matt Becker, has provided the AMR variant with the more agile suspension and geometry set-up of the younger V8 model. Aston claims the improvements have enhanced its responsiveness but had no noticeable effect on the car’s ability to be a comfortable grand tourer.
Aston boss Andy Palmer said: “With the exceptional V8 coupé and Volante, we felt the V12 could reveal more of its sporting potential while remaining the consummate GT. By applying a suite of carefully considered performance and styling enhancements, the DB11 AMR is both faster and more precise.”
