Aston Martin DB9
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Aston Martin DB9
Aston Martin DB9 Volante
Manufacturer: Aston Martin Lagonda Limited
Production: 2003 - present
Predecessor: Aston Martin DB7
Class: Grand Tourer
Body style: 2-door coupe
2-door convertible
Platform: FR Ford VH platform
Engine: 5.9 L V12
Similar: Mercedes-Benz SL
Ferrari 612 Scaglietti
Bentley Continental GT
Designer: Ian Callum
Henrik Fisker
Aston Martin DB9 Coupe
Aston Martin DB9 Coupe
Aston Martin DB9 Coupe - rear view
Aston Martin DB9 Coupe - rear view
The Aston Martin DB9 is a grand tourer launched by Aston Martin in 2004 and is the first new car to be built at Aston's Gaydon facility. The name "DB" stems from David Brown, the owner of Aston Martin for a sizeable part of its history. This model, which was designed by Ian Callum and finished by his successor, Henrik Fisker, superseded the now-discontinued Aston Martin DB7 (also by Callum) which started production in 1994.
The DB9 comes in two variants; coupe and "Volante" convertible, each with a 6.0 L 450 brake horsepower (335 kW) V12 engine taken from its sister car the V12 Vanquish. The Vanquish engine produces 10 bhp (7 kW) more. In fact, this V12 engine is why Aston Martin did not call the car the DB8, which could suggest that it has only eight cylinders. One report states that Aston Martin believed that this car was such a huge leap from the Jaguar XJ-S based DB7 that it named it DB9 instead of DB8, which they thought would indicate a gradual evolution. As of 2004 production is expected be up to five thousand units a year which is roughly the same as its rivals, in particular the Ferrari F430 and Porsche 911 Turbo. This car was designed to ensure Aston Martin's continued survival into 21st century in light of its past financial troubles. Traditionally being a maker of more exclusive automobiles, CEO, Dr. Ulrich Bez assures Aston loyalists' that production numbers of the new DB9 will be slightly higher than previous models, however the Aston will still retain a small statistical percentage of the high end sport's car market.
The car has been adapted for sports car racing by Prodrive. The DBR9, as it was called, first raced at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2005 and won the LMGT1 category, but was beaten by arch-rivals Corvette Racing in the Le Mans GT1 class[1][2].
In 2006, Aston Martin introduced a "Sports Pack"for the DB9, which includes increased structural stiffness, lighter 19-inch forged aluminium alloy wheels with titanium wheel nuts, lower (by 6mm) ride height, revised spring and damper rates and the like. This upgrade suits the more enthusiastic driver.
Aston Martin's Rapide four-door sports car is heavily based on the DB9.
[edit] Top Gear
BBC's Top Gear raced an Aston DB9 against a TGV train from Surrey to Monte Carlo, with the DB9 winning by a few minutes. During the race, presenter Jeremy Clarkson proclaimed the DB9 to be "motoring perfection". This comment was topped when a new section had to be added to the 'Cool Wall', which rates cars from 'Seriously Uncool' to 'Sub-Zero'. A fridge was added for the DB9 as it was thought to be cooler than any other car on the wall. Since then, the DB9 has been joined in the "fridge" by the Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
[edit] In Pop Culture
In the ABC television show Desperate Housewives, one of the characters in the show, Gabrielle drives an Aston Martin DB9 Volante, as a gift from her husband. This car is also featured in Need For Speed: Most Wanted, as well as Need For Speed: Carbon. In the HBO celebrity comedy Entourage, fictional actor Vincent Chase buys each of his three friends a DB9 Volante as a gift.[1]
[edit] Famous owners
* Junji Takada - Actor, comedian
* Jordan (Katie Price) - Model
* Frank Lampard - Professional Footballer (Chelsea)
* Jeremy Clarkson - Top Gear presenter