Now in its sixth year of production, the DB9 coupe and its convertible twin, the DB9 Volante, remain among the world’s freshest, most elegant, and exciting grand touring cars. Aston Martin’s unmistakable grille, elongated headlights, and voluptuous body sides are complemented by an interior that combines the best of traditional British craftsmanship with a decidedly modern design aesthetic. The result is irresistible in both coupe and convertible forms. The ragtop eschews the folding hard tops now in vogue for a traditional fabric roof that folds neatly under a body-colored tonneau. Bristling with power from its V-12 and blessed with a state-of-the-art bonded-aluminum body structure—the DB9 is more than up to the job. The 5.9-liter engine’s power output has been improved from 430 hp to 470hp, which also raises the car’s top speed to 190 mph. A revised suspension with Bilstein dampers should also improve the placement of the 19-inch wheels, which now feature a 10-spoke design.
Pros: That beautifully British V-12 exhaust note is hard to top.
Cons: Not the DBS.
