Aston Martin DB9

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The Aston Martin DB9 is a super-luxurious, super-exclusive, super-stylish two-door, four-seat luxury coupe with few competitors in today's market. The DB9 is the grand-touring leader in a lineup that includes the Vantage, Rapide and Vanquish models.

The DB9 emerged in 2004 as a 2005 model in the U.S. as a replacement for the outgoing DB7 lineup. The elemental change it brought: a change from steel-body construction to a lighter-weight bonded aluminum body, derived from Aston Martin's modular "VH" architecture. Like its then-cousins at Jaguar (both were then owned by Ford), the Aston Martin DB9 lost weight but made tremendous gains in body rigidity.

The gains paid off when paired with the DB9's 450-horsepower V-12 engine. Paired with a ZF six-speed automatic transmission and steering-wheel controls, the DB9 also sported an aluminum control-arm suspension and big 19-inch wheels and tires, as well as a host of electronic safety systems such as stability control--making it Aston Martin's most sophisticated vehicle yet.

Performance in those first years was stunning, if not quite to the level of Porsche or Ferrari four-seaters to come. The DB9 could reach 180 miles per hour, and could accelerate to 60 mph in under 5.0 seconds.

In 2011, the Aston Martin DB9 saw some of its most comprehensive updates since it was launched. A new grille design and a new front bumper were added, along with clear taillamp lenses and 20-inch wheels and tires. The V-12 engine was massaged to 470 hp and 442 pound-feet of torque, mated to the paddle-shifted automatic, while 0-60 mph times dropped to under 4.6 seconds. An adaptive suspension became available, allowing ride comfort to be switched between sport and comfort modes. Tire-pressure monitors were added, and a Bang & Olufsen audio system offered audiophile-quality music.

In 2012, Aston Martin introduced the Virage, a strikingly similar car to the DB9 but with slight powertrain differences and some exterior styling cues derived from Aston's One-77 supercar. It had been intended as a companion piece--or replacement--for the DB9, but after just a year of availability, Aston Martin withdrew the Virage and introduced a refreshed DB9 for the 2013 model year.

Today's Aston Martin DB9 has inherited some of the Virage's details--LED side repeaters and grille, mostly. The powertrain's still a V-12, but it supersedes even the one in the Virage with 510 horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque. The interior offers the same hand-stitched leather as the Virage and some glass switchgear--even a pop-out pen from the console.

Both coupe and Volante (convertible) versions are available, with a base price in the high $180,000 range.