2021 Aston Martin Db11 V8 on 2040-cars

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California Aston Martin dealer adds pastel colors to model range

In certain areas of Southern California, daily sightings of late-model Aston Martins and Lamborghinis are nothing out of the ordinary. So, what do you do if you desperately want everyone to notice your sweet ride? The answer, one prominent Aston Martin dealer believes, is pastel paint. Aston Martin of Newport Beach is located in the heart of one of California's most car-rich (and actually rich) areas. The cool car-per-capita ratio is high enough to have spawned the original Cars & Coffee in the area's Crystal Cove shopping center in 2006, so you can imagine what an Aston owner must do to stand out. As such, the dealer has painted five models in five different hues of bright color, each a unique one of one example. For the paupers, there's the Vantage Coupe finished in a metallic light purple called Ultra Violet for $195,680. Next comes a Vantage droptop in an even lighter purple called Cardamum [sic] Violet for $203,880. Seemingly created specifically for a social media influencer or D-list celebrity is the $239,836 DBX crossover in an Easter egg pink called Vibrant Coral. For our money-no-object choice, it has to be the DB11 V8 Coupe in Butterfly Teal ($271,059). Topping the range is a baby blue DB11 Volante in Clear Water ($290,192). Each comes in an Obsidian and Ivory leather interior, with custom-painted trim to match the exterior. Of course, these come with a price, and the cost of these inlays ranges from $3,649 for the DB11 Coupe's to $8,300 for the DBX's. Most of them are between $5,000 and $6,000, which is a ridiculous amount for a handful of interior trim. On the other hand, the exterior paint is a $10,600 on all models except for the DBX, where it stickers at $12,000, which isn't bad for a high-end custom paint job. Each of the colors was inspired by the California coast, according to Aston Martin Newport Beach general manager Jeff West. "The pair of teal and blue DB11s are inspired by the clear Southern California skies and cool pacific waters of Crystal Cove; the purple and violet shades on the Vantages reflect the hillside wildflower blooms, and the vibrant coral DBX draws from the warm tones present in the cliffs above the ocean during our one-of-a-kind sunsets." While the colors may seem extreme, they do have a more subdued and tasteful quality than some of the custom purple or lime green wraps "designed" by social media influencers cruising around in L.A.

What does Aston Martin have planned for the name Aeroblade?

Aston Martin is working on something called Aeroblade, and the company recently filed a trademark application for the name. According to AutoGuide, the paperwork suggests the name could be used for a component, not for a model designation. The word indicates some kind of aerodynamic element, potentially in the form of an adaptive wing like those seen on the McLaren 650S, Bugatti Veyron, and so many Porsches over the years. Deployable spoilers allow a sports car to keep the airflow clean and undisturbed in some conditions and generate extra downforce under others. The use of the Aeroblade name for a component makes more sense than an actual model name. Aston typically starts its nameplates either with the letter V (as in Vanquish or the Vulcan pictured above) or DB (as in the current DB9 or forthcoming DB11). It has been known to make exceptions – like in the case of the Rapide four-door coupe or Cygnet city car – so we could be in for a surprise. The British manufacturer of luxury vehicles is working on a new generation of models to replace its current lineup. That includes a new platform to replace the aging VH architecture and a new engine under development with Mercedes-AMG. It's also working on bringing its first crossover to production, as previewed by the DBX concept at the Geneva Motor Show. Related Video:

2020 Aston Martin DB11 tops this month's list of discounts

When we drove the Aston Martin DB11 for the first time, we said that it "stands out" and that "it delivers on the promise of Aston's potential for a successful second century." But we also said, "There must be a reason to buy the Aston beyond the fact that it turns heads at the country club." In case its stunning good looks and 600-horsepower 5.2-liter twin-turbo V8 weren't enough to grab your attention, how about a discount of nearly $20,000? Right now, buyers of the 2020 Aston Martin DB11 are paying, on average, $182,435. According to data provided to Autoblog from Truecar, that's a discount of $19,385 from the British coupe's average suggested retail price of $201,820. That's the largest discount on a new car in America this month, based on the dollar amount off the car's sticker price. The next biggest discount is for the 2019 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Buyers of the German brand's range-topper are scoring an average discount of $13,816. While that's a much smaller number than the DB11, it represents 13.5% off the S-Class's average retail price of $101,151 versus the 9.6% discount of the Aston Martin. In fact, the Benz's percentage discount means it's the eighth-best deal in America overall. If you favor a different flavor of German luxury, the 2019 Audi A8 isn't far behind with an average discount of $12,701 representing 12.5% of its $101,762 average sticker. For a look at the best new car deals in America based on the percentage discount off their suggested asking prices, check out our monthly recap here. And when you're ready to buy, click here for the Autoblog Smart Buy program, which brings you a hassle-free buying experience with over 9,000 Certified Dealers nationwide. Related Video: 2017 Aston Martin DB11 First Drive