The British carmaker[4][5] Aston Martin began producing the DB9—a grand touring car[6]—in January 2004[7][8] at its facility in Gaydon, Warwickshire.

[31][32] To demonstrate his commitment to quality, Aston Martin's then-CEO, Andy Palmer, personally inspected the first 1,000 cars.

[36][37] Similar to its predecessor,[38][39] the DB11 is based upon a platform—which it shares with the 2018 model Vantage[40] and the DBS Superleggera[41]—that extensively incorporates aluminium throughout its construction.

Together, the car's flat underbody, rear diffuser and sizable front splitter manage airflow beneath the DB11, minimising lift.

The DB11 features an AeroBlade that captures high-speed air at the C-pillars and channels it through ducts under the bodywork, exiting through slots in the boot lid.

[48][49] The DB11 has a rear-wheel drive layout with a front-mid-engine placement[50][51] and exclusively uses a rear-mounted, eight-speed automatic transmission made by the technology manufacturing company ZF Friedrichshafen.

[59][note 1] The infotainment system operates on an eight-inch liquid-crystal display accessed via a rotary controller or an optional touchpad.

Each DB11 comes with a 400-watt audio system, USB playback, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot with iPhone integration.

The project progressed quickly; initial test firing began in October 2012, and it received approval for production in January 2013.

[62][68] Its shift programming has been revised, its rear suspension is firmer and stiffer, and its twenty-inch forged wheels are 3.5 kilograms (7.7 lb) lighter.

[71] In July 2021, Aston Martin announced that the AMR name would no longer be used for the V12-powered DB11 as part of their updated model lineup.

[82] The additional lower body strengthening and the electric roof mechanism in this version increase the weight by approximately 110 kilograms (240 lb).

[84] Reviewing for The Gazette, Peter Bleakney called the DB11 Volante "quite possibly the most beautiful grand tourer money can buy" and a "dynamic gem that wafts as it should yet engages, excites and shines when put on a challenging road".

[85] Jack Rix of Top Gear stated that the DB11 marked "a solid start to a future portfolio that will be studded with flashier and faster members than this, but none that are quite so suited to being enjoyed every day, wherever you're heading".

[87] Matt Saunders of Autocar noted that its door sills are "slimmer than those of the DB9, making ingress easier as you swing your legs over and into the car's deep and roomy-feeling footwell".