Wednesday 3rd September 2003

Aston Martin DB9

450bhp V12 to power the next generation Aston Martin

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[swilly]

It may very well just be the angle of the photographs, but that DB9 from side and rear has rather a lot of hum-drum middle-priced family car about it.

[PetrolTed]

You've got a point. Hints of something japanese about it. Hopefully stunning in the flesh nevertheless.

[BigBadJohn]

It looks pretty damn fine to me, but, at the risk of sounding like a fool, why is it not called DB8?

[g4ry13]

The Vanquish is the DB8???

[ErnestM]

The tail lights need a rethink. Looks like they came off of a Mitsubishi Eclipse. Other than that, quite a stunning beast.

ErnestM

[T350 Guy]

That rear shot looks remarkably similar to the much touted smaller AMV8 Vantage that is to be the new 'low price' entry model.

I feel another family of clones of various sizes coming on.........

[billb]

should have round rear lights but still better than the vanquish's allegro lookalike efforts. bet it'll steal a lot of sales from the vanquish if it sounds the same. lets hope theres no ford switchgear if tvr can produce their own so should am. new lambo,360,db9,911, bentley - quite a choice round the 100k time to sell the house!

[Twin Turbo]

Seems strange that most of the pictures I've seen have not been very flattering. All of the studio shots seem to loose the gorgeous curves. AutoExpress, normally the runt of the car mag litter, have some superb outdoor shots of the car that look sooooooo much better.

Oh, and it's got a great interior too. Sort of a mix of Bentley GT meets Vanquish.

I really really want one

[faisalkhan]

Yeah, looks like a Volvo--unremarkable. Someone took the Aston grille and put a coupe body around it. Very uninspired.

Hopefully this is different from the much more nicely proportioned LMV8 (baby Aston) we have been hearing about.

[danmangt40]

I think its absolutely gorgeous and great for Vanquish buyers. AM knows that this will steal sales from the current vanquish with 450 hp. I think the vanquish is going to get some heavy hp upgrades. That 6 liter v12 has got to have room for more. Bet they won't change the price much either, what with the gap between the db9 and vanquish.

[tuscan_s]

Isn't it the AMV8? Looks no different to me!

[dick dastardly]

tuscan_s said:

Isn't it the AMV8? Looks no different to me!

That's what I thought. If not then they'll be manufacturing 3 different cars which all look way too similar, with only price making a real difference.

Why would anyone pay £100,000 more for one than the other when to the average person they are all the same car?

[RichB]

T350 Guy said:

That rear shot looks remarkably similar to the much touted smaller AMV8 Vantage that is to be the new 'low price' entry model. I feel another family of clones of various sizes coming on.........

Sort of like DBMkIII/DB4/DB5/DB6 then. Rich...

[st170j]

Called DB9 as DB8 is too much like XK8.

[v12bry]

See my other posting regarding the name.

I've got to admit that I don't think it is as nice looking as a DB7 (which I feel is even better than the Vanquish anyway). As for the comments about it looking Japanese and mid-priced family saloon, well shame on you!!!

Check out Top Gear magazine this month. I don't normally buy it, but had to because it had this in it. Great report on how Aston Martin are cooler than Ferrari. Couldn't agree more. I've said it before. Ferraris are for boys. A real gentleman drives and Aston Martin. Hence the DB5 has just been voted as the coolest car ever.

Now if you will excuse me, I have a soapbox to varnish!!

[v12bry]

See my other posting regarding the name.

I've got to admit that I don't think it is as nice looking as a DB7 (which I feel is even better than the Vanquish anyway). As for the comments about it looking Japanese and mid-priced family saloon, well shame on you!!!

Check out Top Gear magazine this month. I don't normally buy it, but had to because it had this in it. Great report on how Aston Martin are cooler than Ferrari. Couldn't agree more. I've said it before. Ferraris are for boys. A real gentleman drives and Aston Martin. Hence the DB5 has just been voted as the coolest car ever.

Now if you will excuse me, I have a soapbox to varnish!!

[JustPassingBy]

Those who think the tail-lights on this car are perhaps a little mundane for a vehicle of its pedigree should wait until they see them in action. Not your ordinary "Eclipse" lamps by any stretch of the imagination. There are many reasons why this car costs such a frighteningly large amount of money

[wfg]

"should have round rear lights "

i'm not a fan of round headlights, though those lights on the db9 don't fit either.

i'm hoping the trend of ugly, multi-colored clear lenses ends soon

[v12bry]

Can't say I am a lover of round rear lights. I have seen a few DB7's with the conversion done, and it just doesn't float my boat. Still, everyone's different.