First Drive: 2005 Aston Martin DB9
Early on, Aston looked at ceramic brakes, active damping, and tubular control arms, but stuck to more cost-effective technologies. Exotic GT cars have to deliver some semblance of value for dollar even if the back seats in this 2+2 would be a tight fit for dwarfs and hobbits.
The DB9's beauty is clear to see, inside and out. It may be the highest-quality Aston Martin ever built; it exhibits jewellike attention to detail and combines high chassis technology and the cachet of a sonorous V-12 engine. Mahvelous. Simply mahvelous.
Convertible version of the DB9 will make its debut this summer, and a six-speed manual transmission becomes available next year. Look also for an eight-cylinder AMV8, built off the same platform and priced against the Porsche 911.