Aston Martin introduced the DB9 in 2005, and the response from both the press and the public was overwhelming. For 2008, the DB9 has lost little of its luster, and both the model and the Aston brand are as popular as ever.

The DB9 is available as either a 2+2 coupe or 2+2 convertible, called the Volante. Both are built on Aston's proprietary Vertical/Horizontal (VH) chassis, a highly advanced bonded aluminum structure that provides immense structural rigidity. Also, both the coupe and Volante are powered by a 450-horsepower, all-aluminum 5.9L V12 that produces 420 ft-lbs of torque, and both cars can be ordered with either a six-speed manual or Touchtronic automatic. Either DB9 is capable of nearly 190 mph, and 0 to 60 mph comes in just 4.7 seconds with the manual, 4.9 seconds with the automatic.

The 2008 DB9 coupe and Volante offer a host of creature comforts you won't find on lesser cars, including a six-disc Linn stereo, premium leather interior, walnut fascia trim, 10-way power seats with heat and three-position memory, satellite navigation, Bluetooth capability, and an umbrella holder.

The Volante's power top is made of attractive, durable material and takes just 17 seconds to go up or down. In the down position, it stows compactly beneath an attractive hard tonneau that sits flush with the body of the car, creating a seamless look front to back.

Optional equipment includes a choice of interior fascia and door trims, personalized sill plates, 15-spoke wheels, a 950-watt Linn audio system, and satellite radio. And because all DB9s are built by hand, customers can personalize their cars with any combination of exterior colors and interior leathers (more than 20 each) they want. Six top colors are available on the Volante.

Safety is paramount in the DB9, and in addition to the safety structures built into the chassis, each car comes equipped with dual-stage driver and passenger air bags and seat-mounted side air bags. Additionally, the Volante's A-pillars are reinforced to withstand massive loads, and the car also features tilt sensors; in the event of a roll-over, two rigid safety hoops deploy from the rear seat headrests.

Model Strengths

Sleek, sexy styling; first-class, hand-built craftsmanship; ultra-powerful V12 engine and superior performance; refined luxury.

Model Changes

For 2008, Aston Martin's V12-powered DB9 sees just a few changes overall. Outside, the car remains largely the same, while inside, minor accents have been updated, and a new information and entertainment system is offered. Perhaps the biggest change is to Aston Martin itself, which was sold by Ford in late 2007 to an investment consortium.

Model Value

The 2008 Aston Martin DB9 is the epitome of the luxury GT. Hand-built at Aston's Gaydon facility, the DB9 is a race-bred car that easily delivers triple-digit speeds, plush interior ergonomics, an advanced chassis and suspension, and a distinctive, sexy shape in keeping with its family heritage. Available as either a 2+2 coupe or a convertible (Volante in Aston-speak), it has few rivals able to match all it has to offer.

The Aston Martin DB9 is a grand tourer launched by Aston Martin in 2004 and is the first new car to be built at Astons Gaydon facility. The name DB stems from David Brown, the owner of Aston Martin for a sizeable part of its history. This model, which was designed by Ian Callum and finished by his successor, Henrik Fisker, superseded the now-discontinued Aston Martin DB7 which started production in 1994.

The DB9 comes in two variants coup and Volante convertible, each with a 6.0L 450 brake horsepower V12 engine taken from its sister car the V12 Vanquish. The Vanquish engine produces 10 bhp more. In fact, this V12 engine is why Aston Martin did not call the car the DB8, which could suggest 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 Martins 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. The car has been adapted for sports car racing by Prodrive. The DBR9, as it is called, first saw competition at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2005 and won the LMGT1 category, but was beaten by arch-rivals Corvette Racing in the Le Mans GT1 class.

In 2006, Aston Martin introduced a Sports Pack for the DB9, which includes increased structural stiffness, lighter 19-inch forge