New DB9 testing pics...

[jonby]

beg your pardon, I didn't repeat my phrase verbatim of course ! The point still stands - read the phrase in context

[AMDBSNick]

jonby said:

beg your pardon, I didn't repeat my phrase verbatim of course ! The point still stands - read the phrase in context

Sorry Jonby I wasn't disagreeing with you I think what I am trying to say is "Are potential Aston owners really that interested whether their car can compete with Ferrari, Lambo et al" IMHO this BHP thing is getting well beyond most mere mortals. Only useful in "Top Trumps"

[Vantagefan]

It's all about the numbers.

I'm going to guess at 550 bhp and £250,000. As the current DBS has carbon fibre panels I'd wager progression on this. I wouldn't go as far as every exterior panel but I think it will be close.

[yeti]

jonby said:

Or do you think AM can launch a new car that sits at the top of their range with a price tag to match that doesn't improve on the performance of it's 10 yr old predecessor ?

They can do what they want! They released the Supercharged Vantages with 550 and then 600bhp, no factory Aston power has been seen like that for 15-20 years and no-one is any the worse for it or has ever claimed the V12s were weedy pigeons.

As mentioned, it hopefully need to be better than 520bhp or questions will be asked in Parliament (and on Top gear), but it doesn;t require 600+ to try and compete with the F720. You buy a Ferrari or an Aston for very different reasons.

A development of the new 310 car with an old school supercharger on our beloved V12 and 600+ for £400k or so would sell a good few though ad would be compared to the F720. People who can afford those cars don't care much what they do, just want one of everything.

Although they did the Zagato with the standard V12V unit so people don't complain with an Aston it seems.

[George H]

yeti said:

...but it doesn;t require 600+ to try and compete with the F720. You buy a Ferrari or an Aston for very different reasons.

Just FYI, the new Ferrari is called the F12 Berlinetta, not the F720

I'll stop being pedantic now!

[DB9VolanteDriver]

yeti said:

jonby said:

Or do you think AM can launch a new car that sits at the top of their range with a price tag to match that doesn't improve on the performance of it's 10 yr old predecessor ?

They can do what they want! They released the Supercharged Vantages with 550 and then 600bhp, no factory Aston power has been seen like that for 15-20 years and no-one is any the worse for it or has ever claimed the V12s were weedy pigeons.

I don't for one moment believe those old claims. Back in the 'old' days, manufacturers routinely inflated their HP numbers. And they often measured gross HP numbers on the engine dyno rather than net as used today. Manufacturers all use a standardised net HP measurement procedure that spells out exactly how HP must be measured on the dyno....no more gaming the system.

[Shmee]

This thread moves too quickly for me to follow, have these pictures been posted yet?













http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/...

[Jockman]

Yes they have Young Shmee.

Sorry for being dense here, but what makes people think that car to be a 4 seater

[yeti]

George H said:

Just FYI, the new Ferrari is called the F12 Berlinetta, not the F720

I'll stop being pedantic now!

That's not pedantic George, that's accurate!! Couldn't be arsed to look it up, is 720 it's power output or something?

[wicz]

Haven't read the whole thread but good god that car is stunning!
The rear quarter is perfect!

[ChrisDB7]

I think those new pictures look awesome.

I don't know why, but for some reason that body just looks much more "Supercar" from a side view than any of the current lineup

[Yazza54]

Thats a nice jag!

[yeti]

Yazza54 said:

Thats a nice jag!

Hahaha, brilliant. I mean, really... just absolutely brilliant.

I prostrate myself in front of the world's greatest living comedian etc.

[Yazza54]

yeti said:

Yazza54 said:

Thats a nice jag!

Hahaha, brilliant. I mean, really... just absolutely brilliant.

I prostrate myself in front of the world's greatest living comedian etc.

Excellent.

[yeti]

Yazza54 said:

Excellent.

[silverspeed]

Might have been posted elsewhere but the car was registered on 1st January as a DBS.

[AMDBSNick]

silverspeed said:

Might have been posted elsewhere but the car was registered on 1st January as a DBS.

[George H]

yeti said:

That's not pedantic George, that's accurate!! Couldn't be arsed to look it up, is 720 it's power output or something?

I believe it's 740PS, or 720BHP. Serious figures for what is supposed to be a GT car. Shame it's revolting to look at (hardly a surprise considering Ferrari's offerings after the 355)

[LukeyLikey]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I started off not liking the F12 but when i saw it on YouTube video - the official Ferrari one plus some of the magazines who visited Geneva, I totally changed.

I think it looks brilliant and well ahead of the 599. Size, flow, balance, detailing all better IMO

[LukeyLikey]

Talking about the new DBS, I'm not sure 550 bhp, an 8 speed auto and mildly reworked interior and exterior styling (one-77 is already heavily derived from existing Astons) will be enough to compete, unless they will keep the price where it is.

I have a feeling they won't though.

I know it's not all about power but an extra 40 bhp can be had from a BR exhaust, so not exactly difficult engineering for the factory is it?

Why not build a model (new Vanquish) that is broader, lower and lighter than the existing cars (like one-77) but with 550 bhp. That would leave room for a mildly reworked DBS and a competitor to F12 that is less powerful but more overtly sporting due to weight. That might be worth £250-£300k.

A run of 250 to 500 cars over 5 years in this format must be possible? The additional cost comes mainly from lowering the weight but that is a great way for Aston to differentiate at that price point. Done well it would be an instant classic.