Introduction James Bond 007 tends to go hand in hand when you mention the English luxury brand, Aston Martin and this DB9 would certainly suit the fictional spy as it oozes class. Ten years after being introduced the DB9 has been extensively re-engineered. This version replaces the old DB9 and the more expensive Virage. Not many car manufactures can achieve a subtle but incredibly good looking GT car but Aston Martin has done it again - the latest iteration of the DB9 is a fantastic piece of kit. Read on to find out why we rate it so highly. Performance 5.0/5 Powered by a stonking 510bhp 6.0-litre V12 engine, the new DB9 can set a blisteringly hot benchmark sprint time of 4.6 seconds. Top speed tops out at 183mph - only place to use this is on a quiet race track or on a derestricted Autobahn in Germany. The V12 engine produces 620Nm of torque and the engine is mated to a semi-auto 'Touchtronic2' six-speed gearbox. You can feel the power of the DB9 and soon as you feather the accelerator. Prod the right pedal and the Aston thrusts you back into the seat while the roar of the engine makes a lovely burble on up- and downshifts. When a car sounds this good, who needs a stereo or an iPod? Certainly not us. There are some things in life that you won't ever get bored of and the Aston Martin DB9 exhaust note is one of them. A nice touch for Aston Martin fans is that every model has an engraved plate on the engine cover with a message telling you who inspected the car for the final time before it emerged from the factory floor. Ride & Handling 4.5/5 This is a GT not a sports car but boy can it go round corners. The new DB9 feels nimble and is surprisingly agile for such a sizeable car when driving enthusiastically. The great thing about the Aston, is that it's as good at travelling at motorway speeds as it is on twisty B roads thanks to the availability of three driving modes. Overtaking slower traffic is a breeze thanks to 620Nm of power you have right the way through the range. Three driving modes allow the characteristics of the car to change to suit the roads. Flicking from the 'Normal' default setting on the Adaptive Damping System to the 'Sport' setting makes the engine more responsive while the steering weights up making twisty routes much more enjoyable. The third mode is called 'Track' and as the name suggests should be kept to track days. This makes the ride as stiff as possible and is best used on smooth race circuits to get the benefit out of this mode. There's one problem with the DB9 - you don't want to get out of the car - we certainly didn't want to hand our test car back because it was so good. For a Grand Tourer the Aston Martin DB9 handles brilliantly. The steering is precise and incredibly well balanced while the level of feedback when in 'Sport' mode is excellent and there is tons of front-end grip. Practicality 4.5/5 Mention Aston Martin and the name creates an iconic image in your head - James Bond 007 being just one that instantly comes to mind. Changes to this 2013 model year for the DB9 include new styling, revised engineering and enhanced equipment levels. The latest DB9 has added a more pronounced rear boot 'flip' to enhance the aerodynamic performance of the car. The DB9 has a low stance emphasizing its sporty prowess. Stand-out features include Bi-xenon headlamps while the striking front grille is also new and has been inspired by the Aston Martin One-77 (which is now sold-out) while the side strakes are classic Aston Martin design cues. Rear ends on cars are usually an afterthought but this is possibly one of the nicest in production. It has a wide stance emphasizing that fact that the DB9 is rear-wheel drive. When a car looks this good it is no wonder that it has been such a hit. Running Costs 4.0/5 Only one engine is available, but trust us you don't need any more choice - the 510bhp 6.0-litre V12 engine is one of the best engineered engines on the planet. The new DB9 has a claimed average of 19.8mpg, that's if you go easy on the right foot - we are guessing you'll be returning around 12mpg in real world driving. If you care about the planet then look away now, the DB9 pumps out 333g/km of CO2. The cabin is a special place to spend time in and is an elegant and luxurious cockpit. The switchgear is made from jewel-like glass - just another small reminder that you are in one of the most luxurious cars on the planet. Up front the leather sports seats give adequate lumbar support for your back and hem you in when you are driving enthusiastically on twisty routes. This Aston Martin DB9 is a high-end car and you get plenty of standard kit befitting of its status. Some of the highlights include numerous airbags, dynamic stability control, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Emergency Brake Assist, traction control, walnut facia trim, leather sports steering wheel, heated front seats, Bluetooth, cruise control satnav, aircon and a boot-mounted umbrella. Motortorque Verdict 4.5/5 The Aston Martin DB9 oozes class and the V12 sounds glorious. You won't just own this car you will fall in love with it. There is a subtlety that few rivals can match. If you can afford the £131,995 then you will not be disappointed by the latest iteration of DB9.
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