DB11 V8: we cadge a lift from Aston Martin CEO at Goodwood Festival of Speed 

Festival of Speed Aston Martin V8 DB11
We took a passenger ride in the Aston Martin DB11 V8, a new derivative of what the Gaydon firm rather ambitiously calls its "definitive" grand tourer Credit: Max Earey 

The Festival of Speed is one of the few places on the planet where thousands of people will pay to watch you drive up a hill. But here we are, at the bottom of Lord March's winding driveway, about to tackle it in the new V8-powered Aston Martin DB11.

Normally I review cars from the driver's seat, but on this occasion I'm riding shotgun. My driver is DR Andy Palmer, the boss of Aston Martin and pretty much the perfect person to introduce me to the new machine.

The DB11 V8 was only properly announced a few days before the Festival, so all eyes are on us. All ears, too – I'm certainly curious as to how the smaller German engine sounds in comparison to the V12.

Obviously the men and women of Gaydon have made more changes to the DB11 than a simple engine swap. The V8 itself has been given new air intake, wet sump and exhaust systems, while the suspension as been altered to reflect the change 115kg drop in kerb weight. Not that the changes to suspension bushing, anti-roll bars and ESP software are necessarily palpable from my position in the passenger seat.

Aston Martin DB11 V8 Goodwood Festival of Speed
Goodwood is a great place to launch a car Credit: Max Earey

The bottom of a hillclimb is probably not the best place to hear a car's exhaust note, either. With myriad supercars crowding us, each with their own distinct aural signature, it's not until we reach the relative tranquility of the start line itself that I can appreciate the DB11's new German accent – the Mercedes-AMG engine purrs like only a V8 can.

Its acceleration lacks the meteor impact delivered by the V12's right pedal. The 503bhp are deployed as efficiently as they can given the residual dampness on the track, while the engine erupts into an agitated, persistent drawl. I'd be lying if I said I could detect any real difference between this and the 12-pot, but Andy is adamant that there's a noticeable handling improvement.

Aston Martin V8 DB11
V8 or V12? It's a nice problem to have, and one that can be solved for a relatively modest amount of money - the price difference here is small Credit: Max Earey

The crowds around the DB11 reflect both the coolness of the brand and the fact that this is one of the best-looking cars of the past decade. I wonder if Aston Martin could have made more of the V8 version visually, and assume that there's a strong business case for keeping both cars pretty much the same - only the bonnet has any noticeable changes, with a pair of snarling louvres as opposed to the V12's four. Nobody seems to mind, though.

It's around 100bhp less powerful than the existing car, and it's slower in terms of acceleration and top speed. If a 0-62mph time of 4.0 seconds isn't sufficient for your needs, and 187mph is just too slow for whatever you need the car for, you'll be pleased to know that the upgrade of four additional cylinders costs around £15,000.

A cheaper, slower version of the V12 isn't the way to look at it though. From where I'm sitting - in the passenger seat, admittedly next to the CEO - the DB11 V8 sounds like a very different beast.

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