2008 Aston Martin DB9

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2008 Aston Martin Review
Introduced in 2005, the Aston Martin DB9 exotic GT sports car is a direct replacement for the now-defunct DB7. Under the DB9's shapely bodywork is a new lightweight aluminum-bonded frame, which Aston claims is the most structurally efficient in the world. Known as the VH platform, it forms the backbone of almost all Aston Martin models. A coupe and convertible (known as the Volante) are offered. Up front, the 2006 Aston Martin DB9's mechanical motivation follows traditional lines, with a Cosworth-designed 6.0-liter V12 under the hood. Producing 450 horsepower and 412 pound-feet of torque, the silky-smooth engine is capable of pushing the DB9 coupe to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, and to a top speed of 186 mph, according to Aston Martin. Both manual and automatic transmissions are available. The transaxle and differential are housed in a single unit, and linked to the engine via a cast-alloy torque tube and carbon-fiber propshaft. Braking is handled by massive four-piston brake calipers gripping grooved rotors. For the DB9 Volante, Aston Martin admits the topless body lacks the stiffness of the coupe. The Volante is little more than half as stiff as its hardtop sibling, which is sufficient to alter the character of the car. To compensate for the diminished rigidity, the setup of the DB9's suspension is softened. As a result, the Volante feels more like a boulevard cruiser than a sporting GT. Overall, the 2006 Aston Martin DB9 is a very appealing choice for someone who wants an exotic that blends both GT and sports car characteristics. It's lighter and more engaging to drive than vehicles like the Bentley Continental GT or Mercedes CL65 AMG. It's also priced considerably less than the Ferrari 612 Scaglietti. The only significant drawback to the DB9 is its rear seat. True, it does have one, but for a car that aims to fit into the traditional GT mold, the seat is disappointingly small. Potential buyers will want to keep this in mind if they plan on taking more than one passenger even on an infrequent basis. Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options The 2006 Aston Martin DB9 is available in two variants: coupe or Volante (convertible). These are hand-built cars, made to order, and any combination of paint and leather trim color is possible. For the Volante, seven roof colors are available. The DB9 comes standard with 19-inch wheels, power seats, automatic climate control, a navigation system, Bluetooth connectivity and a six-disc CD changer. On the options list are two different surround-sound audio systems and additional vehicle-customizing selections. Powertrains and Performance Both DB9 models are equipped with a 6.0-liter V12 engine that produces 450 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. As one would expect from numbers like this, acceleration is prodigious. Aston Martin says zero to 60 mph takes a mere 4.7 seconds in the coupe. Transmission choices are a six-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic. The automatic transmission features push-button controls and paddle shifters on the steering wheel. Safety The 2006 DB9 comes with antilock disc brakes with brake assist. Other safety features include a stability control system, front-seat side airbags, traction control, a tire-pressure monitor and, for the Volante, roll hoops that automatically deploy in case of a rollover. Interior Design and Special Features Inside the cabin, Aston Martin equips its DB9 with wide expanses of sumptuous leather and unique wood trim. The handcrafted interior still has a few Volvo and Jaguar pieces, but they are well disguised. The milled-aluminum instrument panel and distinctive wood finishing are particularly breathtaking. There is a rear seat, but the dearth of legroom and headroom renders it practically useless. The coupe's trunk can hold 6 cubic feet of cargo. Driving Impressions Even with 450 hp on tap, the engine is still quite tractable while driving through city gridlock. The DB9's ride quality is a blend of firm control and supple response. High-speed cruising is this car's forte. American speed limits won't allow the DB9 to truly show its abilities too bad, because this car is perfectly happy to whoosh along at speeds well in excess of 100 mph. What's New Changes for the 2008 Aston Martin DB9 include some minor interior design updates and the addition of mo

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The DBS will launch the new Aston Martin era with one hell of a bang. Set to go into production in October, it'll be quicker than any Aston road car before it, thanks to its massaged V-12. It'll weigh about 220 pounds less than a regular DB9. It'll wear a body kit designed to help it slice through the air more cleanly. And it'll introduce high-tech materials and a new upgraded cockpit for the entire DB line.

The ultimate embodiment of the DB9 coupe, the DBS will replace the muscular Vanquish as the flagship Aston Martin, although senior execs struggle to admit it.

"It'll be our halo car and will have superior performance to the now-aged Vanquish," said Aston's Ulrich Bez earlier this year, before quickly countering: "It's not the Vanquish successor, but another car to raise awareness of the brand." Adds design director Marek Reichman, "The DBS isn't replacing the Vanquish; it's a standalone product based on the DB9."

The $260,000 Vanquish goes out of production shortly. The price of the DBS? About the same. And with just 300 cars to be produced each year, the DBS will be as exclusive as, er...the Vanquish. Still, reading between the lines, Bez and Reichman are clearly leaving room for a new Aston supercar to slide in above the DBS at some point in the future.

At least they can stop acting like caring parents protecting their eldest child from a younger, more talented sibling. When the 450-horse DB9 was launched in 2004, it immediately matched the heavier, pricier Vanquish, which needed some nurturing-well a 51-horse boost-to stay on top. But without the need to protect the Vanquish, the DBS is edgier: lighter, louder, and faster.

Is it a track-day car? "Absolutely," says Reichman. But it won't be a stripped-out street racer like Ferrari's 360 Challenge Stradale. "We want an element of luxury, too. It'll still be swathed in carpet, but a carpet made of lighter materials. There'll still be leather and Alcantara." Bez puts it this way: "The DBS is brutal, but dressed in black tie."

A bit like Daniel Craig's edgier, darker, more intense James Bond, then, though Reichman, who started work on the DBS in October 2005, insists the car's crash-and-burn cameo in "Casino Royale" was never on the original agenda. "Part of my brief was to make the DB9 look more edgy, like a tough guy in a dinner suit," he says. " I wanted to convey strength, power, and agility." One month into the design phase, however, the producers of the James Bond films walked into Reichman's studio, and the seeds were sown for Aston's return to the big screen.

"We didn't design the car for Bond; we wanted a flagship DB9," insists Reichman. "That's what the project is about." Bond, did, however, influence the new Aston's name: Australian George Lazenby drove a DBS in his sole performance as 007 in 1969's "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." (Lazenby trivia: He served in Australia's SAS [special forces] before becoming one of the world's highest-paid male models and Europe's Marlboro Man.) Reichman says the "S" is appropriate for the car's sporting intent.

Whether the DBS is officially Aston's halo model, insiders admit it is the company's technology flagship. Naturally, the car is built on the DB9's aluminum VH chassis, and the exotic materials don't end there. The new body kit is carbon fiber and all business. "Everything is present for an engineering reason, nothing is extraneous," notes Reichman. The new lower bumper section feeds more air to the enlarged radiator and oil cooler and also helps cool the standard carbon ceramic brake rotors.