2016 Aston Martin DB11 Launch Edition

This is the actual DB11 that was featured extensively in the film Transformers – The Last Knight, in which Sir Edmund Burton, played by Sir Anthony Hopkins, has a robot butler that handily transforms into this very Aston Martin (every home should have at least one). We’re sorry to tell you that the ability to transform in this way has now been deactivated, so you’ll be stuck with just the plain old, drop-dead-gorgeous, 200mph Aston Martin DB11.

The car has covered a paltry 21,000 miles since its build, so is nicely run in and ready for action, whether you’re a secret agent, a famous actor or just someone who loves finely crafted supercars.

With just six years and 21,000 miles under its belt, you’d expect this Aston to look pretty good, but it’s way better than that. So good in fact that is you didn’t know any better and were told it was a year old, you’d have no trouble believing it.

The lustrous paint flows over the sculpted lines without so much as a stone chip to interrupt your eyes, as they feast on the silky curves and purposeful stance. It’s a stunning looking machine. Squint, and it steadfastly refuses to turn into a robot butler.

The air intakes in the front wings are an Aston trademark, but these are even more special, because they take in the air that’s then channelled to the rear of the car to provide all the downforce a performance car with 600 horsepower needs. Look mum – no unsightly spoilers.

Peer through the immaculate alloys and you’ll see brake discs the size of a small hatchback’s wheels – you’ll need those with all that power.

We think Aston have got the interior just right. Luxurious, obviously, but not overly complicated or flash, and with a solidity and quality that shows in every detail. It’s all in unmarked condition too – from seats to carpets to steering wheel, we couldn’t see anything that detracted from the cabin’s elegance.

Looking inside the boot, it’s obvious the Tesco’s run has been carried out by a car more suitable for the job. It doesn’t look as though anything’s ever been put in here at all.

The DB11 V12 is powered by what was a brand new engine on launch, a 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine called the AE31, making it the first turbocharged series-production Aston Martin. The engine retains conventional fuel injection and not direct injection because of worries over increased particulate output with DI petrol engines. Aston Martin also decided against a dry-sump lubrication system, instead optimizing a wet-sump design to perform under the high-g loading sustained when owners drive on a track.

With 600bhp at 6500 rpm and 516lb-ft of torque between 1500–5000 rpm, power is relentless. The car is equipped with a rear-mounted 8-speed ZF automatic to maintain perfect weight distribution, and it accelerates to 60mph in a staggering 3.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 200 mph.

It still looks factory fresh under the forward hinging nose – okay, there’s some very slight surface tarnish on some of the smaller alloy parts, but that’s about the only clue that this isn’t a new car.

Obviously most cars built just six years ago don’t have a lot by the way of history, but this car is different. With Sir Anthony Hopkins as one of its original drivers, and the fact that it’s been immortalised on the silver screen, it’s a rather special DB11.

Included in the history file for the car is a letter from Aston Martin which reads:

‘Congratulations on purchasing DB11, L00030, an ex-factory owned press fleet car.

This car is one of the first batch of DB11 coupes built and delivered to our own press car fleet on May 23rd 2016. Later in 2016 L00030 was loaned to the film makers Paramount Pictures for the movie “Transformers – The Last Knight”.

Transformers – The Last Knight:

Filming took place around the world, including the US, Cuba, Norway and a large chunk of the UK and Ireland. L00030 was on loan to Paramount between August 15th and October 17th 2016, which coincides with the English location shoot dates in the North East of England and London. L00030 was used for a scene that featured the character “Cogman”, a robot voiced by actor Jim Carter. According to what I found online:

“Cogman, with the voice of the actor Jim Carter whose character is described as: A polite but sociopathic human sized robot. He serves as the faithful butler to Sir Edmund Burton, and while despite not having a larger robot mode, he transforms himself into an Aston Martin DB11 in the Toyline.”

Our records show that the car was then returned to us at the end of filming in October 2016. The film was released in June 2017.

I hope the above information adds a bit of extra interest to the car’s history files, I also enclose a build record for the vehicle.

Enjoy the car and hope to see you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Steve Waddingham

Company Historian – Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.’

Also in the history file for this movie star DB11 is a copy of Octane magazine from September 2016. This very car is on the cover and featured inside in an extensive feature on Aston Martins from DB2 to DB11.

Octane writer Jethro Bovingdon writes:

‘In the midst of the beautiful din, the elegantly scribed lines and the dazzling quality of cars provided by Aston Martin Works, there’s a new shape. Ice cool, lithe and yet seemingly cut from pure muscle, low and menacingly wide but with a lightness of touch that creates an impression of effortless power rather than obvious aggression. The DB11, the final chapter of this story (so far) and yet another fresh start for Aston Martin, feels absolutely at home in this celebrated company.

All Aston Martins are special, but the DB11 shifted the special needle up a notch from an already high baseline. But this isn’t just any DB11. It’s a launch edition car whose first registered owner was Aston Martin themselves. On top of that, it’s been immortalised in a Hollywood blockbuster, making this a genuinely unique car and a unique opportunity.

We estimate this vehicle to fetch between £75,000 - £90,000 in auction.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.