Aston Martin DB9 Coupé
You might have seen elsewhere that CAR was embedded in the Aston Martin pit team at the weekend's 2010 Le Mans 24-hour race. Which meant we were well placed to pilfer one of the facelifted DB9s on display at the Aston customer hospitality unit at the French race circuit and drive it back to Blighty.
A 'facelifted' 2010 Aston Martin DB9? It doesn't look very different!
Yes, let's call it the 2011 model year DB9. Aston types hesitate to use the word 'facelift', it's just part of the continuous improvement that's gradually spruced up the DB9 since launch back in 2003.
CAR bumped into Aston Martin design director Marek Reichmann in the AMR pits at Le Mans and he gave us the lowdown on the 2011 DB9. 'We are continuing the elegant feel of the DB9: there's a new front bumper, new side skirts, new colours,' he explained. 'These are mild changes – we've made 12,000 DB9s since launch and don't feel the need to start afresh. There are also plenty of under-the-skin changes.'
Still looks the biz, then?
You bet. I've previously criticised Aston's current line-up for looking too samey and while I stand by that, there's no arguing with the basic building blocks of the Aston look. The DB9 set the template back at the 2003 Frankfurt show, but carries its years well. This is an elegant 2+2 coupé, and looks every inch the £122,445 sports car from every angle. I especially love the coke bottle swell to the hips that lends the DB9 a sprung, muscular feel.
What's new? The double-decker grille with (slightly tacky) perforated mesh low down is fresh, while the sidesills are recontoured with a more exaggerated 'hockey stick' kink said to be most visible on lighter colours and the rear bumper and lights are minutely different, too. Fresh wheel designs are available and our car came in a fetching silvery green.
resoures ; car
A 'facelifted' 2010 Aston Martin DB9? It doesn't look very different!
Yes, let's call it the 2011 model year DB9. Aston types hesitate to use the word 'facelift', it's just part of the continuous improvement that's gradually spruced up the DB9 since launch back in 2003.
CAR bumped into Aston Martin design director Marek Reichmann in the AMR pits at Le Mans and he gave us the lowdown on the 2011 DB9. 'We are continuing the elegant feel of the DB9: there's a new front bumper, new side skirts, new colours,' he explained. 'These are mild changes – we've made 12,000 DB9s since launch and don't feel the need to start afresh. There are also plenty of under-the-skin changes.'
Still looks the biz, then?
You bet. I've previously criticised Aston's current line-up for looking too samey and while I stand by that, there's no arguing with the basic building blocks of the Aston look. The DB9 set the template back at the 2003 Frankfurt show, but carries its years well. This is an elegant 2+2 coupé, and looks every inch the £122,445 sports car from every angle. I especially love the coke bottle swell to the hips that lends the DB9 a sprung, muscular feel.
What's new? The double-decker grille with (slightly tacky) perforated mesh low down is fresh, while the sidesills are recontoured with a more exaggerated 'hockey stick' kink said to be most visible on lighter colours and the rear bumper and lights are minutely different, too. Fresh wheel designs are available and our car came in a fetching silvery green.
resoures ; car
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