Aston Martin DBS V12
September 12th, 2008
The heart of this wonderful car is a handmade 6.0 litre V12 engine from the DBR9 racing car, tuned to produce 510 bhp (380 kW/517 PS) at 6500 rpm and 420 lb·ft (569 N·m) of torque at 5750 rpm. The V12 power plant features a new by-pass air intake port that opens above 5500 rpm to boost engine breathing as well as re-profiled air inlet ports that further improve airflow into the combustion chamber. A curb weight of 3737 pounds (1690 kg), combined with the 510 bhp (380 kW/517 PS) V12 help the DBS accelerate 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.2 seconds and reach a top speed of around 200 mph (322 km/h). The DBS is fitted with new vented carbon ceramic brakes discs – a first for a road-going Aston Martin, it reduces unsprung weight by 12.5 kg (28 lb). The front wheels are fitted with 398 mm (15.7 in) diameter carbon ceramic brakes with six-piston calipers. The rear wheels have 360 mm (14.2 in) diameter brakes with four-piston calipers. The double wishbone alloy suspension features an adaptive damper controlled suspension which uses two separate valves to set the dampers to five different positions, allowing instant adjustment of the car’s ride and handling characteristics. Also included is a new, exotic, hand finished interior with black lacquer, brushed alloy, semi-aniline leather and Alcantara as some of the materials. The car comes with a six speed manual transmission standard and is expected to retail for approximately $265,000 USD. Sales are expected to start in spring of 2008. On January 22, 2008, spy photos of a convertible DBS otherwise known as the DBS Volante appeared on the internet.
The new Aston Martin's DBS is the hottest supercar to be announced by the company and highlighted in the James Bond film Casino Royale to promote the idea. Aston Martin CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez summarized the philosophy that was the driving force behind the conception of the new Bond car in the Press Release, explaining that “The DBS is not of the understated elegance of a DB9, nor the youthful agility of the V8 Vantage. It is explosive power in a black tie and has its own unique character which will equal that of James Bond.”
During production of the movie Casino Royale, the DBS was still on the Aston drawing board. Aston therefore had to hand-build a "hero" car for static scenes. For one of the film's stunt sequences they donated three DB9 road test prototypes made up with custom bodies to look like DBSs; all three cars were eventually wrecked. During filming, stunt co-coordinator Gary Powell discovered the cosmetically modified DB9's centre of gravity was too low to make the car roll during a ramp jump. The crew increased the ramp height to 4 times the original, but it still refused to roll. In the end, an air cannon installed behind the driver’s seat drove a cylinder into the road, forcing the car to roll 7 1/2 times, breaking the world record.
Remarkably, the DBS returned in Quantum of Solace, with James Bond doing a chase scene in Italy. As rumor has it, during filming, the stunt driver delivering the car for the scenes lost control of the car in April 2008 in a severe storm, and drove, reportedly, the only car on that moment available for filming into Lake Garda.
Aston Martin DB9
July 13th, 2008
Furthermore, the DB9 model is the first new car to be built at Aston's Gaydon facility. The name "DB" stems from David Brown, the owner of Aston Martin for a sizeable part of its history. The DB9, which was designed by Ian Callum and finished by his successor, Henrik Fisker, superseded the now-discontinued Aston Martin DB7 (also by Callum) which started production in 1994.
Aston Martin DB9 comes in two variations: coupé and "Volante" convertible, each producing 470 bhp (350 kW) coming from a 6.0L V12 engine, originally taken from its sister car the V12 Vanquish. Actually, this V12 engine is why Aston Martin did not call the car the DB8, which could imply that it has only eight cylinders. One report states that Aston Martin believed that this car was such a huge leap from the Jaguar XJ-S based DB7 that it named it DB9 instead of DB8, which they thought would indicate a gradual evolution. As of 2004 production is expected be up to five thousand units a year which is roughly the same as its rivals, in particular the Ferrari F430 and Porsche 911 Turbo. This car was designed to ensure Aston Martin's continued survival into 21st century in light of its past financial troubles. Traditionally being a maker of more exclusive automobiles, CEO Dr. Ulrich Bez assures Aston loyalists that production numbers of the new DB9 will be slightly higher than previous models; however, the Aston will still retain only a small statistical percentage of the high-end sports car market. The car has an artificial neural network implemented at the hardware level to detect engine misfires.
In 2006, Aston Martin presented a "Sports Pack" for the DB9, which consist of increased structural stiffness, lighter 19-inch forged aluminium alloy wheels complete with titanium wheel nuts, 6 mm (0.2 in) lower ride height, in addition to revised spring and damper rates.
Performance:
Power: 470 bhp (350 kW/477 PS) @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 443 ft·lbf (601 N·m) @ 5000 rpm
Weight: 1,760 kg (3,880 lb)
Top Speed: 186 mph (300 km/h)
0-60 mph (0-97 km/h): 4.7 seconds
0-100 km/h: 4.90 s
Power-to-weight: 263.16 bhp/ton
DB9 Volante. The Aston Martin DB9 Volante is the convertible version of the DB9 coupe. It is a handwork edition in limited numbers and has enhanced styling. Powered by the same 5.9 litre, DOHC 48 valve V12 as the DB9 and is completed with 450 bhp (331 kW) and a top speed of 186 mph (300 km/h). Because it is a convertible version it hits 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds, two-tenths of a second slower than the hard top. The Volante is taller than the hardtop, standing at 51.2 inches (1,300 mm) compared to 50.1 inches (1,270 mm). The transmission options are either the 6 speed manual or the 6 speed TipTronic II automatic. In the beginning of 2008, both the coupe and Volante were facelifted. The engine was tweaked to produce 470 HP (up from 450), which resulted in a 0-62mph (0-100kph) time of 4.6 seconds, and a top speed of 190 MPH. Also, the centre console was adjusted to match more closely with the newer DBS model. It also gained the key and start-up procedure of the DBS, namely, the Emotional Control Unit.
So as to memorialize and celebrate Aston Martin's victory at the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, a special edition of the DB9 was released. Known as the DB9 LM, the car is limited to only 124 exemplars. All are coupes, and will only be available in a unique color known as Sarthe Silver, named in honor of the Circuit de la Sarthe, where Le Mans is run. The Sports Pack is included, while the brake calipers are painted red and a chromed mesh grill are added.
The DB9 has been modified for use in sports car racing by Prodrive. At first, the DBR9 was launched prior to the 2005 season, running in the ACO and FIA's GT1 class. It retains the DB9's six litre V12 engine, but has been extensively modified to decrease its weight as well as to improve performance. The DBR9 won in its debut at the 2005 12 Hours of Sebring, and has gone on to take wins in the American Le Mans Series, Le Mans Series, FIA GT Championship, as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Alongside the DBR9, a DBRS9 variant was also developed. This car runs in the GT3 category, mostly used for small national championships as well as the FIA GT3 European Championship. Cars in the GT3 category are closest to their road car equivalents. The cars have their interiors stripped out to save weight and safety enhancements are fitted. Limited and strictly policed alterations can be made to the suspension, engine and bodywork. The DBRS9 also uses the standard V12, but is not as highly tuned as the unit in the DBR9. Bodywork modifications are likewise more subdued.
