Details of the new 2013 version of the Aston Martin DB9 have been released by the British automaker, confirming the demise of Virage. Well, the Virage is now kind of integrated into the DB9. As you can clearly see, the new DB9 inherits more than a few of that car’s styling cues. It is as gorgeous as ever though.
Compared to the current DB9, the new model gets a new front-end with Virage’s bumper, grille and headlights. On the sides you notice the sculpted skirts that make the whole thing look lower and more chiseled, and at the back, a more pronounced boot spoiler, as well as a rear bumper straight from the Virage.
The new Aston Martin DB9 comes in either Coupe or Volante (convertible) forms.
Apart from the looks, the 2013 Aston DB9 is also heavily improved underneath. It gets carbon ceramic brakes as standard, and has superior aerodynamics thanks to a carbon fibre front splitter available as part of the exterior Carbon Pack. Air intakes mounted behind the lower front grille also force feed air into the brake discs to aid cooling.
The car also gets the Gen4 Adaptive Damping System (ADS) with three Normal, Sport and Track modes.
Under the bonnet you still get the same 6.0 liter V12 which has been around for ages (and can race its roots back to Ford Mondeo V6), but it’s been heavily revised for the DB9. It gets new head including dual variable valve timing, enlarged throttle bodies, uprated fuel pump, revised intake manifold and machined combustion chambers.
The result of all that is a significant bump in power, from 470 PS and 600 Nm of torque to 517 PS and 620 Nm of torque. So it’s kind of a DBS underneath. As you know the DBS itself has been replaced with the more powerful Vanquish.
One area we would have liked to see more changes is the cabin. The 2013 DB9 has exactly the same interior as the current model. Sure, the materials have improved, and there’s even more leather and carbon everywhere you look, but that dashboard really needs upgrading.
One new option here is the 2+0 seating system, which deletes the rear seats and replaces the front seats with ones made form carbon and kevlar. They shed 17 kg off the weight of the car but they are probably very uncomfortable!
AS for the equipment, besides the automatic lights ans wipers, you now get 20-inch alloys wheels in a variety of designs, full-grain leather interior, leather sports steering wheel, electrically adjustable Sports seats with side airbags, memory seats and exterior mirrors, satellite navigation, automatic temperature control, trip computer and Organic Electroluminescent (OEL) displays – the DB9 13MY’s list of standard equipment is suitably generous while buyers keen to further enhance the luxury look and feel of their Aston Martin sports car can select from an extensive range of optional equipment features.
Options include reversing camera, Aston Martin wings or DB9 headrest embroidery, and the exterior package which comprises carbon fibre front splitter and rear diffuser, carbon fibre mirror arms and caps and dark tailpipes with a graphitic finish. The interior pack offers a carbon fibre upper facia, carbon fibre gear selector paddles and carbon fibre door pulls.
And finally, the price. 2013 Aston Martin DB9 will cost £131,995 (UK RRP); €174,994 (German RRP); $185,400 (USA MSRP); and 21,995,000 JPY (Japan RRP).
