---
title: "Is This Aston Martin DB11 Packing an AMG V8?"
description: "​A distinctive burble from its tailpipes raises a few questions."
date: "2016-08-17"
modified: "2016-08-17"
authors:
  - name: "Will Sabel Courtney"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/will-sabel-courtney"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/4889/is-this-aston-martin-db11-packing-an-amg-v-8"
categories:
  - "Aston Martin News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Aston Martin"
  - "Coupe"
  - "DB11"
  - "Mercedes-Benz"
  - "Supercar"
---

# Is This Aston Martin DB11 Packing an AMG V8?

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/archive-images/aston-db11-amg-v8-hero.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Aston Martin fans have known for a while that AMG's 4.0-liter V8 would soon find its way into the engine compartments of their beloved sports cars. But while they—and we—assumed the turbocharged eight-cylinder would first show up beneath the hood of the new Vantage, a video has emerged showing what appears to be an [Aston Martin DB11 with the AMG V-8](<https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/future-cars/news/a30429/aston-martin-db11-mule-amg-v8/>).

Granted, Aston Martin didn't come out and and admit there's an eight-pot powering the camo-wrapped DB11 spotted by [Youtube user Supercarsfromeu](<https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxyD_FVvaZGOE-wvEE3kC8w>) near the Nurburgring Nordschleife. But the menacing burble being pumped from those twin tailpipes certainly doesn't sound like the twin-turbo 5.2-liter V12 normally found in the newest Aston *gran turismo*. What gives?

So far, there are two main schools of thought as to why Aston Martin might have shoehorned an AMG V8 beneath the hood of [its brand-new grand touring car](<https://www.thedrive.com/test-drives/4724/the-2017-aston-martin-db11-first-drive>). First off, it could simply be a powertrain test mule for the upcoming Aston Martin Vantage—a chance for engineers to see how well the German-made engine works in conjunction with the British electronics without dragging out the even-more-conspicuous Vantage prototype, which was still wearing [its ill-fitting temporary plastic body](<https://www.autoevolution.com/news/2018-aston-martin-v8-vantage-spied-has-mercedes-amg-m178-40-twin-turbo-v8-108745.html#agal_3>) the last time we saw it.

The folks at *Autocar*, however, suggest that [Aston Martin is planning on bringing the eight-cylinder DB11 to production](<https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/aston-martin-db11-mercedes-amg-v8-caught-video>). According to the British car magazine, Aston will reveal the V8 DB11 in a year or two as a less-powerful model designed to sell alongside the 12-cylinder version.

Trying to sell eight- and 12-cylinder versions of the same *gran turismo* might seem rather, shall we say, cannibalistic. Then again, that strategy has worked for [the Bentley Continental GT](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/1431/is-bentleys-continental-gt-s-pretty-on-the-inside>) for years now, so maybe these Brits are on to something.

https://youtube.com/embed/H_bkQ_n9RlI​

## Author
Will is the former managing editor of *RIDES Magazine* and the former online editor for *0-60 Magazine*. He has worked for *Time Out New York* and *Rolling Stone*, and was the creator of *College Cars Online*, the first automotive blog specifically targeted at college students and young professionals.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/willsabelcourtney>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/willscourtney>)