The DB9 is technologically sophisticated and meticulously engineered. Its development programme includes rigorous testing in locations as diverse as Nardo in Italy, Death Valley in the USA and inside the Arctic Circle in Sweden. In total, more than one million testing miles have been covered.
Design and engineering innovations include the organic electroluminescent displays (OEL) in the instrument pack and centre console, which provide greater clarity and resolution, as well as LED (light-emitting diode) rear lamps designed to project further and react more quickly than conventional systems.
The propeller shaft is particularly innovative: it is manufactured from carbon-fibre for lightness and improved transmission refinement. The ‘swan-wing’ doors are another elegant and ingenious design feature, opening out and up to improve access and prevent the doors being scuffed on high kerbs. The DB9 also pioneered the use of ‘ultrasonic’ welding, which is 90% stronger than conventional spot welding, and results in a better finish, yet uses only 5% of the energy.
Aston Martin has developed its own incredibly light and strong aerospace-specification bonded aluminium structure. This unique ‘VH’ (Vertical Horizontal) structure gives the DB9 one of the most structurally efficient body frames in the car industry. Its huge rigidity aids handling, driver feedback and safety. More than any other single component, the advanced aluminium structure is the reason for DB9’s extraordinary nimbleness, responsiveness and overall character.
However, it is not just the body structure that is light and rigid. Other components have been developed with weight reduction in mind, from the aluminium V12 engine and transmission to the forged aluminium suspension and aluminium-bodied dampers. Even the windscreen surround is cast aluminium, while the door frames and inner panels, steering column and gear change paddles are all made from magnesium.
The result is that the DB9 is up to 1300 lb (590 kg) leaner than some other GT cars. That’s the equivalent of six adult males, plus luggage. This light weight, allied to class-leading rigidity, contributes to improved acceleration, agility, steering response, braking and fuel economy, as well as a significantly heightened driving experience.
Lightness and balance make the whole driving experience more pleasurable – from the deft movement needed to open and close the graceful, ‘swan-wing’ doors, to the touch and feel of every control on the dashboard.
The DB9, more than almost any other sports car, is in harmony with its driver, and in harmony with the road.