WHEN ROAD-TESTING the Ford GT supercar back in December, the first thing that came to mind with its bullish behaviour was how far from a car like an Aston Martin it was. My thoughts then were, “… power, beauty and soul, this is not.”
Let me tell you, the Aston Martin DB9 is the ‘real McCoy’, and, unlike the Ford GT, the absolute embodiment of those three words.
Any of the Aston Martin DBs - carrying the initials of the company’s founder, David Brown - are among the most stylish automobiles ever made. The current DB9 is arguably one the most beautiful cars of modern times.
The car was launched back in 2004 with its prominent Aston Martin trademark grille and sleek, almost sexual, lines. It took the style of the discontinued DB7 to another level of refinement and poise.
ExteriorThe front is classic Aston Martin; the polished grille and long bonnet giving a powerful presence to the car. The characteristic Aston Martin air outlets above the side indicators, a design cue from Aston Martins of yesteryear, signal its heritage and sporting intent.
So too does the DB9 logo, proudly displayed on the rear. Each exterior badge, including the Aston Martin wings on the bonnet and boot lid, have been hand-crafted by the same small English jeweller for more than 50 years.
The side profile, as smooth and flowing as if drawn in a NASA wind tunnel, could not be sleeker nor more desirable.
The 19-inch Sport Pack lightweight wheels, 235 at the front and 276 at the rear, fill the sizeable arches fully. They shave just over one kilogram of unsprung weight per corner and featuring a five twin-spoke design, add to the overall appeal of the car.
This particular car came in ‘Midnight Blue’, one of 20 colours that range in names from ‘Morning Frost White’ to the exclusive colour from the film of the same name: ‘Casino Royale’.
Few, it seems, can build beauty into the exterior form of a car quite like Aston Martin. The DB9 is masterful.
EngineAs you lift the huge but surprisingly light bonnet, your eyes are filled by one of the largest engines you will see this side of sanity. The colossal 6.0 litre V12 packs the engine bay, spanned by a thick suspension brace like a bridge across a chasm.
Proudly showing everything is ‘hand-built’ under the bonnet, a build plate is etched with the engineer’s name. (Don’t know about you, but it gives me ‘the fuzzies’ that these cars are still built this way.)
The engine produces 335kw (450hp) at 5000rpm but it’s the torque of the ‘big vee’ that is its wildcard. You barely need to rise above idle at just 1500rpm to receive 80 percent of the 570Nm (420 lb ft).
Being all-alloy, the huge V12 is also a lightweight, aiding a perfect 50:50 front/rear weight distribution.
The whole engine bay is a gigantic work of art; the attention to detail even lands on the gas struts lifting the bonnet, branded individually to Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd.
Just like the Astons of yester-year, it is the detail that makes this car something special.
InteriorThe interior is swathed in soft, supple leather - like you’re sitting in a lady’s glove - and highlighted with an Old Mahogany wood finish which can be specified in a variety of other classic wood types or piano black.
The centre console’s analogue clock adds to a feel of classic elegance inside.
The instrument cluster is fashioned from a combination of aluminium and glass, and, using OEL displays (organic electroluminescent), produce a bright, readable display, especially in direct sunlight.
The soft seats have that ’sink-into’ feel, just right for GT long distances. Seat controls are sensibly located on the center console, so, instead of fumbling around for buttons, you can actually see what you are pressing.
There is a fly-off style handbrake on the driver’s right side, carried across from AM’s racing heritage, but it also allows you to easily slide over the handbrake when you drop into the car.
The wide rear view mirrors - featuring anti-dazzle as standard - provide ample rearward vision (more than a necessity with panels this expensive).
Looking at the two small rear seats you would be forgiven for questioning the brochure, which describes the DB9 as a four-seater. They are as good as unusable for anyone over the age of 10.
For entertainment, there is a 700-watt Dolby Pro Logic system with six-CD, USB and iPOD connectivity. It produces a rich base and clarity that sounds every bit the premium system.
Full Bluetooth integration is supplied with the neat feature of being able to read your text messages straight off the display in the instrument cluster.
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