pics of new db9/virage

[jonby]

as per recent posts

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/scoop/new-aston-...

other than marginally different boot lid spoiler, this is identical externally to virage isn't it ? which is what we expected

Unlike the article, personally I do not think this car will get much, if anything from Vanquish in the way of engine revisions or interior revisions - I think the new centre console will be left exclusively to vanquish for now.

[CPBRI]

Porsche...not the only car compmany to evolve models slowly.

Not grumbling about it.

[stevewushu]

I suspect this facelift is going to be short lived. Just long enough to see through the new vanquish release, then we'll see a DB10 with a DBS and new Vantage to follow.

Look at DB7. Facelifted to DB7 vantage then the Vanquish in 2002, followed by DB9, shortly after the vantage and DBS.
just a simple re occurring business plan.

[LordBretSinclair]

I thought the good Doctor had said there will be no more models with a DB nomenclature.

[George H]

LordBretSinclair said:

I thought the good Doctor had said there will be no more models with a DB nomenclature.

Probably gets around it by saying its a facelift

[stevewushu]

If there's one thing that's true in the automotive industry it's...nothing!

[steveatesh]

CPBRI said:

Porsche...not the only car compmany to evolve models slowly.

Not grumbling about it.

Indeed. Does Porsche get the same level of general criticism for it, or it it reserved for Aston though? I see many critical comments on different motoring forums about Astons approach of evolution rather than revolution, but to me Porsche adopts the same approach.

Personally I have no problem with the evolutionary approach, especially when the car is as gorgeous as an Aston.

Edited by steveatesh on Friday 24th August 17:59

[mikey k]

CPBRI said:

Porsche...not the only car compmany to evolve models slowly.

Not grumbling about it.

And the common denominator?




























DR BEZ!

[whoami]

steveatesh said:

Indeed. Does Porsche get the same level of general criticism for it, or it it reserved for Aston though? I see many critical comments on different motoring forums about Astons approach of evolution rather than revolution, but to me Porsche adopts the same approach.

Edited by steveatesh on Friday 24th August 17:59

If you read any of the threads (except on the Porsche forum) when they launch a new model you'll see that the level of criticism levelled at Porsche is just the same.

The problem with Aston is the insistence of their PR folk, and of course, Bez, that the products are completely new.

[nickco201]

I honestly don't get the point of this new "DB9". Why not let the Virage hold the GT slot for a bit then come out with an actual new car in a few years. I mean unless there are a lot of changes we cannot see from pictures (which of course is very possible), I would probably on the street not be able to distinguish this from a Virage. Somewhat disappointing!

[Grant3]

I must confess to being disappointed that we haven't been inspired by a new exterior design (if that is the final DB9 exterior) it's also my pet hate with the 911's exterior, there was an amusing post on the subject of the Porsche design department which went something like this...
996. - ok lads we need something radical to go with the new water cooled engine....let's pop a more pointy nose on the front and some new style lights that aren't round, everyone agreed? Right time for the pub
997 - ok lads they didn't like the 996 lights, but didn't everyone liked the 993? Let's bung the 993's front onto the 996 that will look good, now who's for the pub
991 - How about some funky new lower front lights and rear units, that should make it look great, anyway it's nearly mid-morning so time for the pub Me thinks AM's design team may have a good local

Joking aside, an evolutionary exterior design does help used values for existing owners and that is a good thing, and let's be honest the car looks stunning. Exterior aside, I expect the engineering evolution to be just as comprehensive as the Vanquish, so more power, improved ride, handling and stopping power, plus the new interior technology. In view of the small budgets A.M. have, I think they are doing a good job of evolving and improving all aspects of the range, but it's a competitive market out there!

[kbird]

Have AML employed Dany Bahar as a consultant?

[michael gould]

stevewushu said:

I suspect this facelift is going to be short lived. Just long enough to see through the new vanquish release, then we'll see a DB10 with a DBS and new Vantage to follow.

Look at DB7. Facelifted to DB7 vantage then the Vanquish in 2002, followed by DB9, shortly after the vantage and DBS.
just a simple re occurring business plan.

Yep I agree with the above......but in the meantime I like the revisions

[jonby]

Grant3 said:

Exterior aside, I expect the engineering evolution to be just as comprehensive as the Vanquish, so more power, improved ride, handling and stopping power, plus the new interior technology.

I don;t think chassis, handling, stopping, etc will be any different at all. I'd be surprised if engine was changed either - at most, they will put the DBS engine in but any more than that and it all gets way too close to Vanquish. I don;t see revisions to interior happening at this stage either - this is btw a car that I suspect will be launched very, very soon

The next car that does get revisions to the interior, IMO, will be using similar tech to Vanquish centre console but I suspect will be more different than the current cars are to each other - think Audi, where all the centre consoles are immediately recognisable as Audi, but not literally identical

I really do think that this 'new' DB9 is nothing more than a rebadging of Virage the way it should have originally been launched, with the most minor of revisions such as for instance wheels or bootlid spoiler shape. These are nothing more than hunches based on snippets of information from here & there so I'm not claiming to be in the know !

Perhaps Rapide, which while much newer than current DB9, is older than current Virage, will be the first car post-Vanquish to get an interior overhaul based on same- one assumes that car will be announced/shown some time between late this yr & Geneva '13

[jonby]

michael gould said:

stevewushu said:

I suspect this facelift is going to be short lived. Just long enough to see through the new vanquish release, then we'll see a DB10 with a DBS and new Vantage to follow.

Look at DB7. Facelifted to DB7 vantage then the Vanquish in 2002, followed by DB9, shortly after the vantage and DBS.
just a simple re occurring business plan.

Yep I agree with the above......but in the meantime I like the revisions

Not saying you're wrong, but do either of you think there is room for a 'DBS' that sits above a presumably £135/140k ish base GT/DB10, at one therefore assumes £165/170kish, below the £190k Vanquish ? Would such a car not suffer the same problems as current Virage ?

Don;t for one moment think they will do it but for me, they should be concentrating more on either better interior rear packaging for Rapide or a way of making that into a 2 door car, in the style of the old 612 Ferrari or dare I say it, Bentley Continental.

[XXXAngelXXX]

jonby said:

as per recent posts

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/scoop/new-aston-...

Did anyone read the comments under the article ? Cause i have to agree with most of them - Aston Martin is getting boring....... sad

[Murph7355]

XXXAngelXXX said:

Did anyone read the comments under the article ? Cause i have to agree with most of them - Aston Martin is getting boring....... sad

I wonder if Aston read them.

And who comes up with their product development strategies.

We've done the topic before, but the only explanation can be lack of funds. Mind you, a cohesive model strategy shouldn't cost more than the incohesive one they have now!

[tommy vercetti]

Looks beautiful, but looks exactly the same as the rest

[AWV12]

Indeed Dr Bez used to work for Porsche, so that explains the unlimited number of limited versons, variants, etc

But I really can not imagine there will be a new DB9 "below" the Virage. Either this is a Virage facelift (they don't sell well, so put in a new dash), or just a Virage S, to fill the gap between the Virage and the new Vanquish.

Or..........and take a careful look at the wheelbase of both the Coupe as well as the Roadster(!)...........it is the new V8 Aston!?

The DB9 was renewed already (Virage, currently nobody will buy a new DB9 anymore I presume), the DBS also has its succesor (Vanquish) so now it is time for the new "baby" Aston with V8 (and we call it........Vantage ).

[jonby]

AWV12 said:

But I really can not imagine there will be a new DB9 "below" the Virage. Either this is a Virage facelift (they don't sell well, so put in a new dash), or just a Virage S, to fill the gap between the Virage and the new Vanquish.

Or..........and take a careful look at the wheelbase of both the Coupe as well as the Roadster(!)...........it is the new V8 Aston!?

The DB9 was renewed already (Virage, currently nobody will buy a new DB9 anymore I presume), the DBS also has its succesor (Vanquish) so now it is time for the new "baby" Aston with V8 (and we call it........Vantage ).

No, No & No. This is fact, not conjecture - the car pictured is going to replace DB9 & Virage as one model - it will be called DB9 but look like a current Virage - see previous recent threads by myself & others