Sales
started in spring 2004 in Europe and the Aston Martin DB9 Coupe will officially
arrive in North American showrooms in summer 2004, followed by the convertible
version, the Volante, at the end of the year. The future of Aston Martin
is epitomized by the all-new DB9, a 2+2 seater sports car that sets new
standards in its class due to its astonishing combination of agility, V12
power, smoothness, beautiful design and hand craftsmanship. Using a radical
new aluminium-bonded body frame, the DB9 is one of the most sophisticated
and technically advanced sports cars in the world. It is powered by the
latest version of Aston Martin’s 6.0-litre V12, producing 450 bhp and a
top speed of 186 mph. Yet the DB9, replacing the DB7, is significant well
beyond being a class-leading sports car. It is the beginning of a new era
for Aston Martin. It is the first car to be hand-made at Aston Martin’s
new state-of-the-art facility in Gaydon, England, where all future Aston
Martin models will be developed and built.
The
Aston Martin DB9 Coupe is started with a glass start button in the middle
of the stylish dashboard. All body panels are either aluminium or lightweight
composites with magnesium being used on the steering column and inner door
frames. Even the gear selector paddles are made from magnesium alloy. The
total weight is 1710 kgs, extremely light for a V12-powered prestige 2+2
seater sports car with every imaginable luxury feature. This has a hugely
beneficial effect on performance. Top speed of the manual is 186 mph and
0-100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration takes just 4.9 seconds. Other technologically
radical features include a ZF ’drive-by-wire’ six-speed automatic gearbox
that dispenses with a traditional gear lever. Instead, the drive, park,
neutral and reverse controls are selected by buttons. Touchtronic manual
mode enables the driver to change gear using paddles mounted behind the
steering wheel. The automatic gearchange has been tuned to provide the
perfect balance between super-fast operation and comfortably smooth shifts.
A conventional six-speed manual gearbox will also be offered. The agility
of the car is boosted by the perfect 50:50 weight distribution. This has
been achieved partly by putting the gearbox at the rear and is called transaxle
powertrain.
The
’swan wing’ doors are unique and will become one of the car’s trademarks.
They open out and up (by 12 degrees) making for easier access, especially
for the driver’s feet into the footwell. This also improves clearance for
the driver’s (or passenger’s) head between side glass and roof, further
easing access. The 12-degree angle also means there is less chance of the
doors scuffing high pavements. As they are angled, the doors are easier
to close: they shut partly under their own weight, rather than relying
on the driver having to slam them. Beyond 20 degrees opening angle, there
is also infinite door checking. This means that the door will stop and
hold at whatever position the driver (or passenger) chooses. The door handles
feature LEDs that illuminate when the car is unlocked, allowing the handles
to be located easily in the dark. The exterior handles lie flush with the
door, to improve appearance and aerodynamics. The new DB9 has enjoyed the
most thorough testing programme of any new Aston Martin model. Ninety-three
prototypes were built and tested in locations as diverse as Nardo in Italy,
Death Valley in the USA, and inside the Arctic Circle in Sweden, as well
as in laboratories around the world.
Engine: 6 L V12
Horsepower: 450 bhp
/ PS
Top Speed: 186 mph / 298
km/h
Peak torque: 568 Nm (420
lb ft)
Acceleration: 0-60
mph in 4.7 sec (0-100km/h in 4.9)
Retail Price: starting from
103,000 pounds or 150,000 euros
Sales
started in spring 2004 in Europe and the Aston Martin DB9 Coupe will officially
arrive in North American showrooms in summer 2004, followed by the convertible
version, the Volante, at the end of the year. The future of Aston Martin
is epitomized by the all-new DB9, a 2+2 seater sports car that sets new
standards in its class due to its astonishing combination of agility, V12
power, smoothness, beautiful design and hand craftsmanship. Using a radical
new aluminium-bonded body frame, the DB9 is one of the most sophisticated
and technically advanced sports cars in the world. It is powered by the
latest version of Aston Martin’s 6.0-litre V12, producing 450 bhp and a
top speed of 186 mph. Yet the DB9, replacing the DB7, is significant well
beyond being a class-leading sports car. It is the beginning of a new era
for Aston Martin. It is the first car to be hand-made at Aston Martin’s
new state-of-the-art facility in Gaydon, England, where all future Aston
Martin models will be developed and built.
The
Aston Martin DB9 Coupe is started with a glass start button in the middle
of the stylish dashboard. All body panels are either aluminium or lightweight
composites with magnesium being used on the steering column and inner door
frames. Even the gear selector paddles are made from magnesium alloy. The
total weight is 1710 kgs, extremely light for a V12-powered prestige 2+2
seater sports car with every imaginable luxury feature. This has a hugely
beneficial effect on performance. Top speed of the manual is 186 mph and
0-100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration takes just 4.9 seconds. Other technologically
radical features include a ZF ’drive-by-wire’ six-speed automatic gearbox
that dispenses with a traditional gear lever. Instead, the drive, park,
neutral and reverse controls are selected by buttons. Touchtronic manual
mode enables the driver to change gear using paddles mounted behind the
steering wheel. The automatic gearchange has been tuned to provide the
perfect balance between super-fast operation and comfortably smooth shifts.
A conventional six-speed manual gearbox will also be offered. The agility
of the car is boosted by the perfect 50:50 weight distribution. This has
been achieved partly by putting the gearbox at the rear and is called transaxle
powertrain.
The
’swan wing’ doors are unique and will become one of the car’s trademarks.
They open out and up (by 12 degrees) making for easier access, especially
for the driver’s feet into the footwell. This also improves clearance for
the driver’s (or passenger’s) head between side glass and roof, further
easing access. The 12-degree angle also means there is less chance of the
doors scuffing high pavements. As they are angled, the doors are easier
to close: they shut partly under their own weight, rather than relying
on the driver having to slam them. Beyond 20 degrees opening angle, there
is also infinite door checking. This means that the door will stop and
hold at whatever position the driver (or passenger) chooses. The door handles
feature LEDs that illuminate when the car is unlocked, allowing the handles
to be located easily in the dark. The exterior handles lie flush with the
door, to improve appearance and aerodynamics. The new DB9 has enjoyed the
most thorough testing programme of any new Aston Martin model. Ninety-three
prototypes were built and tested in locations as diverse as Nardo in Italy,
Death Valley in the USA, and inside the Arctic Circle in Sweden, as well
as in laboratories around the world.