Aston’s designers and engineers are particularly proud about the pedestrian protection that has been achieved despite the car retaining its endearingly long, low-slung bonnet. They’ve also introduced adaptive damping to the all-round double wishbone suspension, which features three different modes – Normal, Sport and Track – that help “transform” the DB9 on the move.
Perhaps even more significantly, carbon-ceramic brakes now come fitted as standard – as they did on the Virage. They help reduce the DB’s unsprung weight while improving its braking performance and longevity, and all without removing any feel at the pedal. These alone help justify the jump in list price compared with the outgoing model.
What's it like?
Very good indeed, even if it is a touch on the expensive side compared with the outgoing car. On the road the new DB9 feels so good, in fact, that it asks questions about the new Vanquish that all but the most committed Aston Martin salesman might well struggle to answer.
With 510bhp from its heavily revised V12 engine it feels properly quick in the mid-range and makes a suitably monstrous noise to go with it. And in its steering, handling, ride and braking — especially its braking — it is close enough to its big brother that you’d need to drive them back to back and over an identical road merely to tell the difference between them.
Except, of course, there is a difference that separates it from the bigger car, and it’s in the way the DB9 can swap so seamlessly between roles on the move. In truth, it’s a softer, more refined machine than the Vanquish on the road, and in any of its three modes. As a result, it feels more of a genuine GT car.
The DB9 is not a car you climb into and naturally want to start throwing around, even though it reacts a whole lot better than you’d expect if and when you do. It feels almost gentlemanly in its responses when in Normal mode, and with the Sport button disengaged so that the throttle response and exhaust noise are at their most civil.
But if you dial up Track mode a quite fantastic cacophony erupts from the exhausts, the throttle response becomes twice as crisp and the gear changes become snappier, and better, too. And no, there isn’t an option for a manual gearbox, Aston Martin claiming that, with the DB9 in particular, customers simply won’t want a three-pedal transmission when the six-speed paddle shift suits the car’s character so well (and they’re right by the way, no matter what the purists may say).
Should I buy one?
Aston Martin has suffered from some poor press of late, specifically concerning the age and quality of its VH engineering system that was conceived in 2004 and still lies at the heart of its cars today. But the new DB9 – based on the fourth generation of the VH system, the same as that of the vastly more expensive Vanquish – proves that there’s more than a little life left in the idea yet.
Be in no doubt, this is one of the great GT cars of the moment. It’s as modern in its engineering execution but at the same time as endearing in its core appeal as anything Aston Martin has produced since the Gaydon era began all those years ago.
If you’re in the market for this kind of car, it’s hard, if not impossible to think of a better direction in which to aim £132,000.
Aston Martin DB9
Join the debate
Peter Cavellini
Still don't get the price.
£190K,a lot of money for not a lot,there are cars half the money that give twice the thrill of the Aston,could it be paying for the name on the Bonnet?
Peter Cavellini.
IAD
Peter Cavellini
It's actually £132K. It's the Vanquish that cost £190K and the closest rival to the Vanquish is the Ferrari F12 which may offer alot more performance and thrills then the Vanquish but it's a whopping near £100K (with options) more and it's not as refined as the Aston on the road which is where these cars will be most of the time.
Off course you are paying for the name on the bonnet. What kind of a silly comment is that. Why do you think people buy German cars even though Japanese cars are just as good or if not better for the money?
Peter Cavellini
But@
IAD@
Unlike other supercar makers, Aston keeps churning out the same shape with a few minor changes,they keep showing concepts like the Zagato or the limited(?) edition 1-77,so, where's the design going when it comes to there Halo car the DB9 etc?.Trying to be ultra chic and make there product sound really exclusive isn't fooling anyone, there still pedaling a car that is getting forgotten,sure, the get a test in mags, but only for the heritage name, the same things are said about it and that's all,best Aston at the moment looks wise?......the Vantage V8.
Peter Cavellini.
chris 997
Aston
Now all they need to do is make servicing costs sensible and it can be considered a true Porsche alternative!
V8Vantage
rocketscience
The problem is performance, not price
Compared to this;
Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0
Price: £128,466; Top speed: 193mph; 0-62mph: 3.9sec.
(But then, I guess a 911 is as common as a VW golf these days)
Overdrive
Regarding DB9's syling
You've got better eyes than me!
No kidding! I'd say it's near enough identical.
TBC
GT?
I'm not sure that the 911 GT3 RS would qualify as a genuine GT.....
Jinx59
The problem is performance, not price
Yeah but the Porsche GT3 RS 4.0 has got a huge wing on the back. That's a bit naf around town.
rocketscience
Huge wing
Wing is for down force around corners.
If it has no wing, it "may" actually go even faster striaght line..:o
serge
Evolution not revolution
Not sure why performance would be the problem seeing as how these cars are GT's rather than sports cars and are bought for different reasons. Plus porsche are mass produced and part of VW whilst AM are a niche independent player. If speed and acceleration times were the only thing that matters (a bit like who can pee the highest contest eh?) then why would anybody buy a Porsche when the Nissan GTR is about? ANd where can you drive these cars flat out anyway on the public roads in the UK?
AM are not for hooning about, they waft you along in relaxation and with a tremendous sense of occasion. Personally I'd like to see them survive and keep building great cars. Too many detractors who have never driven one, let alone owned one.
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