Monday 28th June 2010

Freshen-up For Aston Martin DB9

Tweaked styling and adaptive dampers for Aston's GT

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The Aston Martin DB9 has received its most significant range of tweaks since the car was revealed back in 2003.

The DB9's freshened styling includes a new front bumper, shiny new brightwork for the radiator grille and a re-shaped lower intake. Other revisions include new headlight bezels, re-styled sills, silver brake calipers, 20-spoke diamond-turned alloys and clear rear light lenses.

The innards of the car have also been revised, with the DB9 getting adaptive dampers for the first time. This system, called ADS, also features on the Rapide and was first seen on the DBS (which, considering the similarities between DBS and DB9, does make you wonder why we haven't seen it on the DB9 until now).

Aston says that the system, which is now standard on both the coupe and Volante convertible, offers enhanced ride comfort and, when switched to sport mode, sharper handling.

Other additions to the car's spec include a new tyre pressure monitoring system, a revised Bluetooth system, new Double Apex alloy finish trim and Bang & Olufsen hi-fi options. The latest DB9 gets no power or performance tweaks, however.

"The DB9 was the first car built at Gaydon adopting the VH architecture," Aston Martin's product development director, Ian Minards. "It has evolved every year since, with significant changes including a power upgrade and successive reductions in CO2emissions."

Production of the revised DB9 is already underway, with deliveries beginning in July. Prices start from £122,445 for the coupe and £131,445 for the Volante.

[AKA8]

Still looks quite nice, but still looks quite old. In the last picture, it looks like a near decade old design

[L100NYY]

AKA8 said:

it looks like a near decade old design

It is?!!?

[pits]

At least they aren't completely like Porsche and claiming it to be a new car, just a re-design, although something new would be nice, as it's such an old and boring design these days, they just keep adding doors and bonnet vents to the DB9 to make it look new and make more money.

[AKA8]

L100NYY said:

AKA8 said:

it looks like a near decade old design

It is?!!?

revealed in 2003 so it must have been worked on for a while before that, so I'd say near a decade

[andymadmak]

sloppily written article said:

Aston says that the system, which is now standard on both the coupe and Volante convertible ,

[Johnspex]

andymadmak said:

sloppily written article said:

Aston says that the system, which is now standard on both the coupe and Volante convertible ,

Those aren't 20 spoke alloys either.

[TheStig10]

Not to keen on the front sills under the grill, just doesnt look as pretty as before.

[Gizmo!]

Er... I know it's a traditional observation, but those new five-spokes... do you think they fell off the back of a lorry bound for Coventry?

"New" Aston...


Jaguar XKR...

[300bhp/ton]

AKA8 said:

L100NYY said:

AKA8 said:

it looks like a near decade old design

It is?!!?

revealed in 2003 so it must have been worked on for a while before that, so I'd say near a decade

But does it matter if it still looks good?

I mean, if you saw one parked up, would you walk up to the owner and say, "oh, it's just so 2003!" ?????

[Riggers]

Johnspex said:

andymadmak said:

sloppily written article said:

Aston says that the system, which is now standard on both the coupe and Volante convertible ,

Those aren't 20 spoke alloys either.

Nor are they diamond-turned. The alloys of which Aston's press release spake are not those photographed - though that doesn't mean they aren't a) new and b) available as an option.

Secondly, it's not sloppy to say Volante convertible, merely clear. Volante is what it is called. A convertible is what it is.

[AKA8]

300bhp/ton said:

AKA8 said:

L100NYY said:

AKA8 said:

it looks like a near decade old design

It is?!!?

revealed in 2003 so it must have been worked on for a while before that, so I'd say near a decade

But does it matter if it still looks good?

I mean, if you saw one parked up, would you walk up to the owner and say, "oh, it's just so 2003!" ?????

I see loads of them everyday (working and living in west London) so maybe I've become too used to them, but I think they look dated next to other cars of a similar ilk. The V8V looks far more modern and the One77 even more so. I'm not sure it's fair to criticise a car for looking its age, but its fair to criticise its maker for letting it get too long in the tooth

[pits]

Riggers said:

Johnspex said:

andymadmak said:

sloppily written article said:

Aston says that the system, which is now standard on both the coupe and Volante convertible ,

Those aren't 20 spoke alloys either.

Nor are they diamond-turned. The alloys of which Aston's press release spake are not those photographed - though that doesn't mean they aren't a) new and b) available as an option.

Secondly, it's not sloppy to say Volante convertible, merely clear. Volante is what it is called. A convertible is what it is.

That's what I thought as well, as Volante means flying in Italian, not convertible.

[Fidgits]

how on earth can you critise how the DB9 looks???

[andymadmak]

pits said:

Riggers said:

Johnspex said:

andymadmak said:

sloppily written article said:

Aston says that the system, which is now standard on both the coupe and Volante convertible ,

Those aren't 20 spoke alloys either.

Nor are they diamond-turned. The alloys of which Aston's press release spake are not those photographed - though that doesn't mean they aren't a) new and b) available as an option.

Secondly, it's not sloppy to say Volante convertible, merely clear. Volante is what it is called. A convertible is what it is.

That's what I thought as well, as Volante means flying in Italian, not convertible.

Hmm. I think we all know that the coupe is the one with the fixed roof and the volante is the one with the folding roof. It's been that way for Aston since the DB5. It may mean flying in Italian but Volante also means open carriage if I remember correctly..

[hugh_]

I agree with those saying the DB9 has aged. The XK is a much fresher design despite being only 3 years newer.

[Zod]

hugh_ said:

I agree with those saying the DB9 has aged. The XK is a much fresher design despite being only 3 years newer.

All subjective, of course, but the XK is not remotely fresh. It is a very similar shape, but spoiled by bad lights, front and rear.

[Frimley111R]

Gizmo! said:

Automotive porn. Stunning.

[DSLiverpool]

Those mirrors look like the ones on my Jag XFR

[Beefmeister]

Those wheels have been available on the DBS for a while now. It's just that on the DBS they are usually grey with machined fronts.

Also, i wonder if you can opt to not have the lower grilles in that silver mesh. I think it looks awful.

[SAndals]

A little internet based research reveals Halle Berry was FHM's Sexiest Women in 2003.

Chaps - you still would....