The DB9 has been refreshed once again by Aston Martin, eight years after the car’s launch. Design-wise, it borrows a few styling cues from the outgoing Virage, along with more oomph from the V12 engine. It has a starting price of 131,995 pounds and comes with a 5.9-liter engine that produces 510 bhp (up from the previous 470 bhp) and 457 lb-ft (compared to 442 lb-ft). Some of the changes brought by AM’s engineers include dual variable valve timing, revised block and new head, updated intake manifold and a tweaked fuel pump. The result? The 2013 DB9 does the 0-62 mph sprint in 4.6 seconds, making it 0.2 seconds quicker than the previous version. However, the top speed is only 183 mph, representing a 7 mph decrease.
As standard, the revised DB9 is fitted with carbon ceramic brakes developed by Brembo that are 12.5 kg lighter than the usual cast iron brakes. Also standard are the company’s adaptive dampers which come with three modes: Normal, Sport and Track. An optional feature available is the lightweight seats which turn the 2+2 DB9 into a proper two-seater, lowering the curb weight by 17 kg. These seats have a carbon fiber and Kevlar composite structure.
Speaking of carbon fiber, Aston Martin has used this material for the diffuser, splitter and door mirror housing, as well as for the cabin’s door pulls, upper fascia and the gear selector paddles. The 20-inch alloys have received an updated design, while other equipment includes a reversing camera, leather headlining and automatic windscreen wipers.
