Aston Martin DB9 Facelift (Topic Ufficiale - 2010)

[superkappa125]

Messaggio Aggiornato al 22/10/2011

Coupé

Volante

km77

In the most significant programme of upgrades since its world debut in 2003, Aston Martin DB9 range has received a complete package of styling, engineering and equipment enhancements.

As the most successful Aston Martin of all-time (an honour it shares with the V8 Vantage) the DB9 has established itself as the definitive grand tourer, thanks to an enduring combination of understated elegance, sporting character and genuine luxury.

For Dr Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin's Chief Executive, the Aston Martin DB9 remains a very special car: "The DB9 is the quintessential sporting grand tourer and offers an unrivalled combination of driver involvement, character, luxury and refinement. This car combines our unique Aston Martin character with an uncompromised design philosophy, craftsmanship and trademark Aston Martin performance ability."

This new package of improvements compliments these core qualities perfectly. Subtle styling changes freshen the Aston Martin DB9's appearance, with a new front bumper, bright finish radiator grille and a re-shaped lower intake featuring bright hexagonal mesh. New headlight bezels, re-styled sills, silver brake calipers, 20-spoke diamond turned alloy wheels and clear rear light lenses complete the external revisions.

Under the skin the Aston Martin DB9's passive damping system has been replaced by a new Adaptive Damping System (ADS), which offers enhanced ride comfort together with sharper handling when switched to Sport mode. The ADS system is offered as standard equipment across the Aston Martin DB9 range, encompassing both Coupe and Volante (convertible). A new tyre pressure monitoring system, a revised Bluetooth microphone system and the addition of a new Double Apex alloy finish trim and Bang & Olufsen hi-fi options broaden the Aston Martin DB9's specification.

Aston Martin's Product Development Director, Ian Minards, explains that it is all part of an ongoing commitment to continual improvement: "The Aston Martin DB9 was the first car built at Gaydon adopting the VH architecture. It has evolved every year since, with significant changes including a power upgrade and successive reductions in CO2 emissions. The latest package of improvements goes further than ever, highlighting the Aston Martin DB9's qualities as a true sporting GT and underlining its role as the backbone car of our range."

The Aston Martin DB9 is available as either Coupe or Volante (convertible) with rear mid-mounted six-speed manual gearbox as standard or optional 'Touchtronic 2' six-speed automatic transmission. Production of the revised Aston Martin DB9 is already underway, with deliveries commencing in July. Prices start from £122,445 for the Aston Martin DB9 Coupe and £131,445 for the Aston Martin DB9 Volante.

Background

The introduction of the DB9 marked the beginning of Aston Martin's 21st Century renaissance. The first new model to be built at Aston Martin's headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, and the first to be built around Aston Martin's rigid, lightweight, bonded aluminium VH architecture; the Aston Martin DB9 was an immediate and unparalleled success, setting a new tone for Aston Martins of the future.

Since its launch in 2003 some 12,500 DB9s have been produced and delivered to customers in 34 countries. This establishes it as the most successful Aston Martin model of all-time (jointly with the V8 Vantage), surpassing total sales of the DB7. Current Aston Martin DB9 production volume is around 1,500 cars per year.

Engineering

Since the DB9's introduction Aston Martin has demonstrated the versatility of the VH architecture by developing the Vantage, DBS and Rapide model ranges. In the process Aston Martin's engineers have gained an increasingly detailed understanding of the VH platform, which in turn has led to the constant improvement and evolution of existing established models.

In this latest package of improvements for Aston Martin DB9, hardware changes focus on the chassis, featuring a standard Adaptive Damping System (ADS) which offers a system constantly evaluating the optimum damper condition, similar to that seen on the DBS and Rapide models. Controlled by a button on the centre console, the two-stage adaptive dampers can be switched between their default mode, which is optimised for ride comfort, and a firmer sport mode, which delivers tighter body control and a more responsive feel. Such is the success of the Aston Martin DB9's new damping system that the DB9 Sport Pack upgrade has now been discontinued. However a Sport design alloy wheel is available as an option.

Performance comes courtesy of Aston Martin's celebrated 6.0-litre V12 engine, which develops an unchanged 470bhp and 442lb ft of torque. Mated to a choice of six-speed 'Touchtronic' paddle-shift automatic or six-speed H-pattern manual transmissions, the Aston Martin DB9 offers an intoxicating blend of effortless pace and sporting character. A top speed of 190mph and the ability to hit 60mph in just 4.6sec seal its credentials as the definitive 2+2 Grand Tourer.

Design

Improving upon what many consider to be one of the most beautiful cars in the world is a delicate exercise. According to Aston Martin's Director of Design, Marek Reichman, subtlety and fine attention to detail is the key: "The beauty of an Aston Martin comes from harmonious proportions, a ground-hugging stance, taut surfacing and a complete and thorough attention to detail. The Aston Martin DB9 epitomises these qualities; it is beautiful but subtle - not attention seeking."

At the front a new bumper is the main change, with a re-shaped lower intake featuring hexagonal mesh to compliment the new bright finish radiator grille. New headlamp bezels complete the fresh nose treatment. In profile the Aston Martin DB9's sill has also been changed, with a more prominent 'hockey stick' curve ahead of the rear wheels. Marek Reichman explains: "The DB9 remains one of the world's most beautiful sports cars and is instantly recognisable as an Aston Martin; the changes we have introduced here modernise the Aston Martin DB9 to keep it at the forefront of automotive design."

Other changes include silver brake calipers, 20-spoke diamond turned alloy wheels as standard, together with new design option wheels and a bright finish grille. Clear rear light lenses are also standard. Inside Double Apex alloy finish is now added to the list of options, along with the exceptional BeoSound audio system from Bang & Olufsen.

Motorsport

Mirroring the Aston Martin DB9's road-going success, Aston Martin Racing's DBR9 and DBRS9 endurance racers have proved hugely successful on racetracks around the world. With a total of some 20 DBR9 and 30 DBRS9s built and delivered to customer teams around the world, Aston Martins have consistently scored victories in a host of national and international championships.

Since winning on its race debut, at Sebring in 2005, the DBR9 has been established as a constant and hugely competitive car in the GT1 category, scoring back-to-back class victories at the greatest 24-hour race of them all - Le Mans - in 2007 and 2008.

NCS

Prezzi :

Benzina :

5.9 Touchtronic 2 (476Cv) :

Coupé : 179.763€

Coupé Morning Frost : 185.289€

Coupé Carbon Black : 185.960€

Coupé Quantum Silver : 185.960€

------

Volante : 194.505€

Volante Morning Frost : 200.031€

Volante Carbon Black : 200.701€

Volante Quantum Silver : 200.701€

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Vecchio Thread : Aston Martin DB9 Coupé/Volante (Topic Ufficiale - 2004)

Modificato 22 Ottobre 2011 da Touareg 2.5

[Beckervdo]

Unica novità, oltre il nuovo layout delle prese d'aria anteriori, gli ammortizzatori adattivi.

L'auto è stata provata e presentata in anteprima da Classic Driver e verrà commercializzata per fine mese.

June 2010: This is the latest DB9, deliveries of which will commence next month. The engineering team has introduced subtle styling changes and these, together with a now standard, ‘Adaptive Damping System', prompt the British company to proclaim it the “world’s definitive grand tourer”.

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We drove a Touchtronic-equipped DB9 coupé, beautifully finished in the new shade ‘Amethyst Red’ (with interior colour ‘Deep Purple’), back from this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours.

Visually, the changes are as follows: a new grille sits above a new front bumper and revised lower intake; attractive, hexagonal-design mesh is used front and rear; a more pronounced ‘hockey stick’ curve can be seen on the sill, ahead of the rear wheels; clear rear light lenses; 20-spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels as standard, and new headlamp bezels.

As options, 2011MY buyers can choose alternative new-design wheels (fitted to this car), the brilliant Bang & Olufsen hi-fi, a ‘Bright finish’ grille, and a ‘Double Apex’ alloy finish on the centre console – an attractive touch you see here.

The new package is finished off by a new tyre-pressure monitoring system and a revised Bluetooth microphone. It’s evolution rather than revolution – the design, now seven years old, is one of the sexiest out there, so why change it?

Under the skin, the big news is the introduction, as standard, of ADS ('Adaptive Damping System') control, similar to that fitted to the DBS and Rapide. The settings are bespoke to the DB9 and mean that default mode is optimised for ride comfort, while ‘Sport’ tightens things up for more press-on motoring.

As a result, the previous ‘Sports Pack’ option is no longer offered. While most buyers will opt for the extra-cost, six-speed ZF Touchtronic 2 automatic, a six-speed manual is still available.

Behind the wheel, having cleared the immediate post-race Le Mans traffic and gunning the big V12 along French D-roads, the first thing you notice is the improved ride and much quieter cabin. The outgoing journey was done in a V12 Vantage – a fairly uncompromising speed machine, with prodigious engine performance and a sporting, no-holds-barred ride.

Now that Aston has this at one end of the 12-cylinder range (together with the similarly powered, 510bhp DBS) and the luxurious, grand touring Rapide at the other, it can afford to be less compromised with the DB9.

The car has matured into the perfect long-distance GT, with no supercar pretensions; and it's more comfortable in its (still sublimely attractive) skin. The 470bhp, 6.0-litre V12 gives it a top speed of 190mph, while 0-60mph comes up in 4.6 seconds – fast by anyone’s standards.

As ever, a manual will get the most out of the engine, although holding third and fourth with the transmission mapping in ‘Sport’ will cope with most circumstances, unleashing the car’s full potential.

Selecting the firmer damping position with the new ADS button makes the car more responsive to a degree, but it’s less uncompromising than the old, optional Sports Pack. I think that’s partly a function of the much better NVH characteristics of the 2011MY version, and partly due to memories of two drives last year in a manual Sports Pack-equipped DB9 that demanded careful handling in less-than-perfect conditions. It was, I recall, something more akin to the V12 Vantage than Rapide.

The latest DB9 is no less a driver’s car; it’s just that, freed of the necessity to produce a supercar covering all possible buyer profiles, the company can concentrate on producing the perfect long-distance grand tourer, as at home on an everyday commute to Canary Wharf as covering mile after mile from Calais to Cannes.

In the latest-specification DB9 - available now - Aston Martin has achieved this very well.

The car tested was a 2011MY DB9 Coupé Touchtronic. In the UK, the DB9 range starts at £122,445 for the six-speed manual, and £125,445 for the Touchtronic.

The car was finished in Amethyst Red with Deep Purple interior. Options fitted included: 10-spoke lightweight (forged and machined alloy with a diamond-turned face) wheels, £995; Double Apex alloy fascia trim, £495; Bright finish grille, £295; Bang & Olufsen hi-fi, £4750.

Via ClassicDriver

Modificato 4 Dicembre 2010 da Touareg 2.5

[superkappa125]

Temo che ci siamo "accavallati" nel rispondere!

Comunque prova e foto di Classicdriver le avevo già messe io nel topic delle spies una settimana fa.

[Beckervdo]

Temo che ci siamo "accavallati" nel rispondere!

Comunque prova e foto di Classicdriver le avevo già messe io nel topic delle spies una settimana fa.

Ampiamente accavallati

[Touareg 2.5]

Finalmente è stata prezzata . (Noto con dispiacere che nessuno s'è filato sto thread ) .

[Guglielmi]

beh alla fine è poco più di un my...

[Touareg 2.5]

Prezzi :

Benzina :

5.9 Touchtronic 2 (476Cv) :

Coupé : 178.495€

Coupé Morning Frost : 183.975€

Coupé Carbon Black : 184.640€

Coupé Quantum Silver : 184.640€

------

Volante : 193.115€

Volante Morning Frost : 197.475€

Volante Carbon Black : 198.140€

Volante Quantum Silver : 198.140€