DB9 – A STRIKING BALANCE

THE NEW ASTON MARTIN DB9 A STRIKING BALANCEDB9 is a thoroughbred sports car with GT levels of comfort

and refinement. Its design philosophy is uncompromising

and brings together everything that makes a sports car

great with that unique Aston Martin character, borne out

of craftsmanship and use of the finest quality materials.

SO WHAT IS IT THAT MAKESA GREAT SPORTS CAR?

Most cars are a series ofcompromises. The result isusually rational – evenimpressive on paper – butoften bland and soulless inreality. Sports cars should beall about character and driverinvolvement. They need to look great, sound great andhave power and performanceto stir the soul.

DB9 meets all of thesechallenges. Undeniably beautiful yet efficient. Power in proportion to weight. Harmony of sound and performance and dynamic ability inherentthrough good design.

But an Aston Martin is alsoluxurious. On those occasionswhen top speed and maximumacceleration are not reallynecessary, indulge yourself.

But what is beauty withoutaerodynamic efficiency? Power encumbered by weight? Straight-lineperformance without agility?Great sports cars balancethese apparent opposites,creating an experience that is both unique andunforgettable. What the driver sees, hears and feels is in harmony. The reward istotal involvement: a level ofengagement that trulystimulates the senses, that re-ignites the passion for driving.

Be uplifted by the magnificentstyling; revel in a sumptuous,fully equipped cabin trimmed in the finest quality materials;enjoy the superb Linn audiosystem; select Drive and letDB9’s 6.0-litre V12 and shift-by-wire fully automatictransmission do the rest.

Sunday, after all, is only a few days away.

Sports cars are meant to bebeautiful, and no maker ofsporting cars has a betterreputation for understatedelegance and graceful styling than Aston Martin.Their beauty comes fromharmonious proportions, aground-hugging stance, tautsurfacing, and thoroughattention to detail.

They are subtle, notattention-seeking. DB9appears as if milled from asolid piece of aluminium.

Its side profile is typicallyAston Martin: very clean, witha single sweep roofline. Theuncluttered lines flow throughto a distinctive tail, and thehaunches on the rear wingsare wide and curvaceous.

Key Aston Martin designcharacteristics include thedistinctive grille, metal sidestrakes and signature rearwindow shape.

‘Aston Martins are not edgy.They don’t have sharpsurfaces or pronouncedpower domes. The bodyworkis gently curved, like anathlete with great muscletone,’ explains director ofdesign Henrik Fisker.

Great design, however, is not just about form; it is also about function. AnAston Martin is by definitionvery fast, so it needs to be aerodynamically efficient. It must be superblystable at high speed – eventhe exhaust silencer isaerodynamically shaped to help achieve this.

The result is that DB9 drivesarrow-straight at high speedyet, like all great AstonMartins, it does so withsupreme elegance and grace.

STYLING UNDERSTATED ELEGANCE

IT TAKES ONE PUSH OF A BUTTON AND A MERE 17 SECONDS TO RAISE OR LOWER THE ROOF OF THE VOLANTE HOOD UP OR DOWN, THE LINES OF DB9 REMAINBREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL

DB9 was conceived anddesigned, from the outset, asboth a coupe and a convertible(Volante). This uncompromisingapproach is typical of thewhole DB9 engineeringphilosophy. That is why DB9Volante is one of the moststructurally rigid and besthandling convertibles in theworld. It is also one of thefastest and quietest.

It looks elegant and perfectlyproportioned from every angle– with roof up or down. As withall Aston Martins, beauty andproportion is of key importance.

Safety is of course a majorconsideration. Special tiltsensors detect the danger of a possible roll-over and deploytwo strengthened hoops fromthe rear seat headrests.Further safety protection isoffered by the windscreen A-pillars, which can withstandmore than twice the totalweight of the car.

DB9’s folding fabric roof islight, attractive and durable,and is also compact whenstowed. There is no loss ofpracticality – DB9 Volanteretains the rear seats, andoffers the same boot space as DB9 coupe.

The roof retracts fully, at thesingle push of a button, andswiftly stows beneath a hardtonneau cover that closes flushwith the rear bodywork.

DB9 is new from the groundup. Every feature has beentailored to make the world’sfinest sports GT.

The starting point was todefine the ideal dimensions,proportions and materials forthe chassis. Aston Martin didnot use an adapted platformfrom an existing family orluxury saloon – the mostcommon starting point for GTcars. This approach can leadto compromise in styling andweight and loss of character.

Aston Martin developed itsown incredibly light andstrong aerospace-specification bondedaluminium structure. This‘VH’ structure, which isunique to Aston Martin, hasgiven DB9 one of the moststructurally efficient bodyframes in the car industry. Its enormous rigidity aidshandling, driver feedback and safety. More than anyother single component, the advanced aluminiumstructure is the reason for DB9’s extraordinarynimbleness, responsivenessand overall character.

However, it is not just thebody structure that is lightand rigid. Other componentshave been developed withlight weight in mind.

All major body andmechanical components areeither aluminium, magnesiumalloy, or advanced lightweightcomposite materials. Theseinclude the aluminium V12engine and transmission,forged aluminium suspension,and aluminium-bodieddampers. Even thewindscreen surround is castaluminium, while the doorframes and inner panels,steering column and gearchange paddles aremagnesium.

100% ASTON MARTINENGINEERED TO BE THEWORLD’S FINEST SPORTS GT

The result is that DB9 is up to 600 kg leaner thansome other GTs. That’s theequivalent of six men, plus luggage.

This light weight, allied toclass-leading rigidity,contributes to improvedacceleration, agility, steeringresponse, braking and fueleconomy. In short the resultis a significantly heighteneddriving experience.

In every case with DB9, theideal solution – not the easysolution – has been sought.That is why DB9 is acharismatic sports car.Superb to drive; lovely tobehold: 100% Aston Martin.

Great sports cars must handlesuperbly. They should respondquickly and predictably todriver commands; they should be nimble and agile.

The front-to-rear weightdistribution of DB9 is a perfect50:50 with 85 percent of thecar’s mass sited between thefront and rear axles.

The aluminium V12 engine ismounted as far back aspossible in a ‘front mid-engined’ layout. The compactaluminium transaxle housingthe gearbox and final drive ispositioned at the rear, forwardof the rear axle.

A lightweight and rigid carbonfibre propellor shaft, housed ina cast aluminium torque tube,transfers torque from the front-mid engine to the rear-midtransmission. This gives DB9its superb balance.

The result is a car that can bedriven with great delicacy, acar that communicates richlythrough its steering, that isstable and predictable. DB9excels not because it hasmyriad electronic controlsadded in an attempt toovercome compromise, butbecause it has an inherentlylight and stiff structure, perfectweight distribution and finelytuned suspension.

This lightness and balancemake the whole drivingexperience more pleasurable –from the deft touch needed toopen and close the elegant‘swan-wing’ doors, to thetouch and feel of even themost minor controls.

DB9, more than almost anyother sports car, is in harmonywith its driver, and in harmonywith the road.

PERFECT BALANCEIN HARMONY WITH ITS DRIVERAND IN HARMONY WITH THE ROAD

These figures are impressiveand DB9 will respond withreal passion.

But it can also relax, with 80 per cent of the V12engine’s torque, or pullingpower, available from as littleas 1500 rpm. Mid-rangeperformance is astonishing,giving instant overtakingpower almost regardless ofengine speed, or even which gear the car is in. DB9 offers a choice of twotransmissions, both allowingthe driver terrific interactionwith the car.

The six-speed ‘Touchtronic 2’fully automatic transmissionuses shift-by-wire technology,and replaces the conventionalgear lever with dashboard-mounted buttons to selectPark, Reverse, Neutral andDrive modes. The result issophisticated yet intuitive:quick and easy to use andproviding instant response todriver input.

A great sports car needs agreat engine – it is the heartof any high-performancemachine.

In DB9’s case, that greatengine is a powerful yetrefined all aluminium 6.0-litreV12. It produces 335 kW(450 bhp) and 570 Nm (420lb ft) of torque. That results in a power to weight ratio of194 kW/tonne (263 bhp/tonne) – one of the highestfigures in its class.

Performance is enormous,yet usable. Top speed is 300 km/h (186 mph) andacceleration sees 0-100km/h (62 mph) in 4.9seconds (add two tenths of a second for the automatic).

If preferred, or where drivingconditions tempt, magnesiumalloy paddles, sited behindthe steering wheel, enableinstant, F1-style gearchanges, providing thechoice of rapid and involvingfingertip gear changing.

Unlike many other sportsGTs, DB9 also offers a six-speed manual gearbox,featuring a conventional gear change and new high-capacity, twin-plate clutch.

V12 POWER & PERFORMANCEDESIGNED TO STIR THE SOUL

Power Torque

More than any other quality,DB9 seeks to serve up therichest driving experience inthe sports GT class. Itserenades the driver with itsbalance of engine and exhaustnotes; it scintillates with itsperformance and agility; itcharms with its delicious blendof fluent steering and linearcontrols. And if you wish torelax and just enjoy a leisurelydrive, you can indulge yourselfwith the superb, industry-leading Linn audio system andselect the car’s full automatictransmission mode.

This match of performanceand luxury is the reason whyDB9 can be both out-and-outsports car and refined GT.

The cabin of DB9 is builtaround the driver. You sit aslow and as close as possibleto the car’s centre of gravity.Combined with the rigid bodystructure and all-aluminium,double-wishbone suspension,the result is unfiltered feedbackof the car’s dynamic behaviour.

This rich two-waycommunication – car to driver,driver to car – is at the very coreof DB9’s design philosophy.

Aston Martins have alwaysmade great music. The V12engine has been described asthe finest-sounding engine inproduction. The exhaust istuned not only to be efficientand ‘clean’ but to provide theappropriate musicalaccompaniment to the engine.

Under hard acceleration, theengine growls in triumph. Yet, when cruising, the growlbecomes muted and melodic.

The steering, power-assistedfor lightness, is superblyresponsive, helped by the car’s low weight and superbbalance. The vast disc brakes– 355 mm diameter discs atthe front, and 330 mm at therear – are ventilated andgrooved, to aid cooling andboost braking performance.Radially mounted four-pistonmonobloc calipers providegreat stopping power with afirm yet progressive pedal feel.

DRIVER INTERFACETWO-WAY COMMUNICATION

THE INSIDE STORYAN ELEGANT & LUXURIOUS CABIN HAND-TRIMMED IN NATURAL MATERIALS DB9 is a luxurious sports car.It is supremely comfortable,with a cabin hand-trimmed in beautiful, natural materials– primarily wood and leather.There is the latest in moderntechnology, yet there are nosuperfluous controls ordisplays. There is a minimumof distraction. Even thesatellite navigation screenmotors seamlessly awaywhen not in use.

Yet the car has very highequipment levels, as youwould expect in athoroughbred sports car with GT levels of comfort and refinement.

The cabin interior is hand-made, from the cutting of the leather to the crafting ofthe wood. This is not donemerely for ‘traditional’reasons. It is done because a skilled craftsman can finishwood or leather better thanany machine. The leather isparticularly soft and supple,as you would expect of Aston Martin, and is usedthroughout the cabin.

Wood trims are inspired byquality, hand-finishedfurniture. There is a choice of three: walnut, mahoganyand bamboo.

In every case, ‘single piece’cuts are used, rather than tiny strips or thin appliqués.Crafting such large pieces of wood is only possiblewhen done by hand.

The use of aluminium on the dashboard, in theinstrument panel and for thedoor handles, reflects thewidespread use of thatbeautiful and lightweightmetal throughout the rest of the car. It is a stylish andcontemporary metal, yet onesteeped in automotivetradition. Even the starterbutton, the driver’s firstinteraction with the V12engine, is beautiful, madefrom clear glass.

A great sound system is a pre-requisite in a luxury car,and so Aston Martin turned to Linn, the world leader inexclusive hi-fi. The audiosystem is specially designedby Linn for DB9, with high-quality, fibre optic electronicspassing audio signals withmarvellous precision andnear-perfect clarity.

PERSONALISATIONAN EXCLUSIVE SPORTS CARTAILORED FOR INDIVIDUALSAston Martins are hand-builtcars, made to order. Thisexclusive, bespoke tailoringphilosophy means anycombination of paint andleather trim colour is possible.That is the essence of handcraftsmanship; it’s what makesAston Martin’s new Gaydonfacility the Savile Row ofsports car production.

There is, of course, anextensive palette of standardbody colours and interiorfinishes. These have beenspecially chosen by AstonMartin’s team of designers,who have scoured the world to gain inspiration for colours, materials, surfacesand finishes.

Twenty one paint colours,categorised as ‘contemporaryclassics’ and ‘fast track’, vary from subtle metallics tothe brightest hues.

Twenty shades of the finest, softest leather, eightcolours of carpet and threechoices of wood trim –walnut, mahogany andbamboo – complete the‘standard’ choice.

For DB9 Volante, seven roofcolours are available, from black to sandstone.

DB9 is equipped with anindustry-leading Linn 128Waudio system – the fineststandard in-car entertainmentavailable – including a six CDautochanger.

Optional upgrades for thetrue enthusiast are available,to either the magnificent Linn 260W system withLimbik 5.1 or the supremeLinn 950W system with Dolby Pro Logic II.

Other options include satellite navigation, reversingsensors, cruise control,personalised sill plaques,powerfold mirrors, heatedfront screen, tyre pressuremonitoring and a bright finish grille.

ENGINEERED QUALITYTECHNICAL INNOVATION

TESTED METICULOUSLY

DB9 is the most thoroughlytested and engineered car inAston Martin’s history. It is also one of the mosttechnically sophisticated carsin the world.

The long list of design andengineering innovationsincludes the organicelectroluminescent displays(OEL) in the instrument packand centre console.

These provide higherresolution, and improvedclarity, compared withconventional electronicdisplays.

A stunning DB9 designfeature is the ‘swan-wing’doors, which open out andup, improving access andreducing the danger of thedoors scuffing on high kerbs.

DB9 also pioneers the use of ‘ultrasonic’ welding, whichis 90 per cent stronger thanconventional spot welding,and results in a better finish,yet uses only 5 per cent of the energy.

DB9 prototypes were testedin locations as diverse asNardo in Italy, Death Valley in the USA, and inside theArctic Circle in Sweden. Inall, more than one milliontesting miles were covered.

Other innovations includeLED (light-emitting diode) rearlamps that project through areflector, dispensing raysmore evenly than other LEDsystems. They also reactmore quickly, giving earlierwarning to following driverswhen braking.

A ‘work load monitor’temporarily cancels low-importance warninginformation during spiriteddriving so as not to distractthe driver.

The propellor shaft isparticularly innovative: it ismanufactured from carbonfibre for lightness andimproved transmissionrefinement.

DB9’s active safety – the ability to help avoid anaccident occurring in the first place – begins with itsinherent agility andresponsiveness. The lightweight, rigid body structureand superbly tunedsuspension and steering are further aided by a host of advanced electronics.These include DynamicStability Control (DSC) andthe latest-generation ABSbrakes which, should thesystem detect loss of grip,combine to help keep thecar stable and balanced.

Electronic BrakeforceDistribution (EBD) andEmergency Brake Assist(EBA) are also employed.EBD balances the front-to-rear braking bias, to giveoptimal braking performance.In an emergency, EBAsensors detect whenmaximum braking is requiredand automatically apply theappropriate force.

Although engineeringdevelopment is carried outexclusively at Aston Martin,whenever appropriatesolutions and expertiseexisted outside the company,that’s where Aston Martin’sengineers turned.

For instance, Volvo inSweden is recognised as the world leader inautomotive safetyengineering. All the safetysystems used in DB9 havebeen designed and testedusing Volvo’s latest safetytechnologies, best-practicedesign guidelines andadvanced computer-aidedengineering.

DB9 offers class-leadingsafety. Its structure isdesigned to provide asupremely robust passengercell that cocoons itsoccupants who are furtherprotected by extrudedaluminium crumple zonesfront and rear.

Dual-stage driver andpassenger airbags, seat-mounted side airbags andseat-belt pretensioners offerfurther protection. In theVolante, rear roll-over hoopsare automatically deployed,when required, from the rear headrests.

SAFETY & SECURITYREASSURANCE IN ANUNPREDICTABLE WORLD

All crash and safety testingwas conducted at Volvo’sworld-renowned safetycentre in Sweden, which has probably the bestfacilities in the world for allaspects of safety engineeringand crash-test analysis.

Again, the enormously strongaluminium bonded bodystructure provided a superbbasis for class-leading safety.

DB9 is equipped with an Integrated Passive AntiTheft System (PATS). Thissystem uses a rolling codeelectronic ignition key,preventing unauthorisedengine start-up. The systemalso includes the very latestdesign in vehicle alarmsystems, featuring perimetricsensors and double lockingfor doors.

DB9 is the first Aston Martinto be produced at thecompany’s new worldheadquarters in Gaydon, in historic Warwickshire.Gaydon is a dedicated, high-technology facility where DB9 is hand-built at a series of work stations bytechnicians and craftsmen.

This hand-craftsmanship hasnothing to do with nostalgia.

Hand-painting and hand-finishing deliver a better paintfinish than any mechanisedprocess, and each DB9benefits from 25 man-hoursof painting, to ensure aperfect finish.

Customer visits are welcomeand form an important part of the unique Aston Martinbuying experience.

Hand-craftsmanship candeliver superior finishes andunique design details. It canalso deliver engineering and design solutions for anexclusive sports car thatmass production would findimpossible.

The ‘single cut’ headlampapertures in the front wingsremove the need for unsightly cut or join lines and can only be achievedusing Aston Martin’s hand-build processes.

HAND-CRAFTED AT GAYDONMATCHING TECHNOLOGYWITH TRADITION

In 1947, Aston Martin wasacquired by industrialist David (later, Sir David) Brown, and soon after launched thefirst in a series of new DBbadged classics. Theseiconic vehicles were amongthe most beautiful anddesirable of all sports cars ofthe 1950s and 1960s, andhelped define the long-termfuture of the company.

David Brown’s period ofownership saw Aston Martinwin Le Mans in 1959, withthe DBR1, and secure victoryin that year’s World SportscarChampionship.

It also saw Aston Martin firstappear on the big screen, aDB5 supporting SeanConnery (aka James Bond).Sports car racing remainsfirmly in the company’s DNAand many classic AstonMartins still regularly competein events around the world.James Bond is also back inan Aston Martin, PierceBrosnan driving a V12Vanquish in the latest thriller.

The DB line continues, of course. DB7, launched in 1993, went on to beacclaimed as ‘the mostbeautiful car in the world’ andto become the most popularAston Martin ever.

However, it now makes wayfor the most important car inAston Martin history – DB9.

Aston Martin is one of theworld’s most distinguishedsports car manufacturers. It has produced exclusive,hand-crafted sports cars foralmost 90 years. In that time,only 25,000 Aston Martinshave been built and morethan 80 per cent are still inuse, cherished, driven andraced by enthusiastic ownersaround the world.

The founders of thecompany, Lionel Martin andRobert Bamford, had a clearvision: to create sports carswith a distinctive character;cars built to a high standardthat were exhilarating to driveand own; cars with power,beauty and soul. Those values remain.

A DISTINGUISHED HERITAGEALMOST 90 YEARS OF HAND-CRAFTING

BEAUTIFUL & EXCLUSIVE SPORTS CARS

DB9SPECIFICATION

TRANSMISSIONRear mid-mounted‘Touchtronic 2’ six-speedgearbox with electronic shift-by-wire control systemRear mid-mounted six-speedmanual gearboxLimited-slip differentialFinal drive ratio3.07:1 (auto)3.54:1 (manual)

STEERINGRack and pinion, Servotronicspeed-sensitive power-assisted steering, 3.0 turnslock to lockColumn tilt and reachadjustment

WHEELS & TYRESLightweight aluminium alloywheels Front 8.5J x 19Rear 9.5J x 19Bridgestone tyresFront 235/40 ZR19Rear 275/35 ZR19

SUSPENSIONFront Independent doublealuminium wishbonesincorporating anti-divegeometry, coil over aluminiummonotube dampers and anti-roll barRear Independent doublealuminium wishbonesincorporating longitudinalcontrol arms, coil overaluminium monotubedampers and anti-roll bar

BRAKESRadial-mounted four-pistonmonobloc calipersAnti Lock Braking System(ABS), Electronic BrakeforceDistribution (EBD), EmergencyBrake Assist (EBA), DynamicStability Control (DSC) andTraction ControlFront Ventilated and grooved steel discs 355 mm diameter Rear Ventilated and grooved steel discs 330 mm diameter

DIMENSIONSLength4710 mmWidth1875 mmHeight (Coupe)1270 mmKerb weight (Coupe)1710 kg (manual)1800 kg (automatic)Front track1570 mmRear track1560 mmTurning circle11.5 mFuel tank capacity80 litres (17.6 Imp. galls., 22.0 US galls.) 95RON unleaded fuel onlyCd (Coupe)0.35

INTERIORFull grain leather interiorWalnut facia trimDriver and front passengerdual-stage air-bagsFront occupant side air-bagsAutomatically deployed roll-over bars (Volante)Ten-way electrically adjustedseats (including height, tiltand lumbar adjustment)Heated rear screenAutomatic temperature controlOrganic electroluminescent(OEL) displaysTrip computerAlarm and immobiliserRemote-control central doorlocking and boot releaseBattery disconnect switchBattery conditionerTracker Horizon (UK only)

IN-CARENTERTAINMENTLinn 128W system with radioand 6 CD autochanger

FUEL CONSUMPTION *

(Coupe automatic)Litres/100 km (mpg) Urban 24.9 (11.4)Extra Urban 11.7 (24.2) Combined 16.5 (17.1)

CO2 EMISSIONS *

(Coupe automatic)394 g/km

Not available in all markets, please consult your dealer for details

+ Standard in USA & Canada

* Data not applicable to North American market

BODYTwo door coupe orconvertible bodystyle with 2+2 seatingExtruded aluminiumbonded body structureAluminium and compositebody panelsExtruded aluminium doorside impact beamsXenon gas dischargeprojector headlamps(dipped beam), halogenprojector headlamps (mainbeam) with power wash LED rear lamps

ENGINE All alloy, quad overheadcamshaft, 48-valve,5935cc 60° V12Mid-front mounted, rearwheel driveEngine management systemwith Neural Net misfiredetection systemFully catalysed stainless steelexhaust system with active by-pass valvesCompression ratio10.3:1Maximum power335 kW (450 bhp)at 6000 rpmMaximum torque570 Nm (420 lb ft)at 5000 rpmAcceleration(Coupe manual)0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds0-100 km/h in 4.9 secondsAcceleration(Coupe automatic)0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds0-100 km/h in 5.1 secondsMaximum speed186 mph (300 km/h)

OPTIONSPowerfold mirrorsBright finish grilleReversing sensorsMahogany facia trimBamboo facia trim Matching wood door trimPersonalised sill plaquesHeated front seatsHeated front screenAlarm upgrade (tilit andmovement sensors)Satellite navigation system Satellite navigation systemwith optional TrafficMessaging Channel (TMC)Integrated GSM telephoneCruise controlTyre pressure monitoring+

Fire extinguisherFirst aid kitSmokers’ packLinn 260W system withLimbik 5.1Linn 950W system withDolby Pro Logic II

‘DB9 IS MORE THAN JUST A NEW CARIT IS THE BEGINNING OF A NEWERA FOR ASTON MARTIN’

Dr Ulrich BezChief Executive Officer, Aston Martin

Aston Martin Lagonda Limited, Banbury Road, Gaydon, Warwickshire, CV35 0DB EnglandTelephone +44 (0)1908 610620 Facsimile +44 (0)1926 644222 www.astonmartin.com

IMPORTANT NOTICE Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is constantly seeking ways to improve the specification, design and production of its vehicles and alterations take place continually. Whilstevery effort is made to produce up to date literature, this brochure should not be regarded as an infallible guide to current specifications, nor does it constitute an offer for sale of any particularvehicle. The contents of this brochure represent the Company’s business as a whole. Text and photographs may relate to models not available for sale in some countries. Performance resultsmay vary depending on the specification of the particular vehicle, road and environmental conditions and driving style. Published figures should be used for comparison purposes only andverification should not be attempted on public roads. Aston Martin Lagonda Limited strongly urges that all speed laws be obeyed and that safety belts be worn at all times. Distributors anddealers are not agents of Aston Martin Lagonda Limited and have absolutely no authority to bind Aston Martin Lagonda Limited by any express or implied undertaking or representation.

PART NO: 701376 (ENG)