ge4961837706678161089
Gautam Sharma11 Aug 2014
NEWS

Aston debates designation for DB9 successor

Latest-gen sportster will feature state-of-the-art 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 and lightweight new aluminium platform, but what will it be called?
Aston Martin's DB9 is due for replacement in 2016 – the current generation has been soldiering on since 2004 – but UK's Autocar magazine suggests the company's top brass is still debating what the new model will be called.
"It'll definitely be a DB," Aston design director Marek Reichman told the publication, "but what number will follow that is yet to be decided."
If the British carmaker was to follow a strictly numeric sequence, the new-gen vehicle would be called the DB10, but that won't necessarily be the case, especially as Aston went straight from DB7 to DB9 last time around.
"We skipped a number last time to try to emphasise what a big step the new car was," Reichman told Autocar. "As the next one will be at least as big a step forward, there's no reason why we couldn't do so again."
However, it's also possible that Aston will simply stick with the existing DB9 nomenclature, particularly as it is a well-established model.
The big change – and a long-overdue one – is that the next-gen model will be underpinned by an all-new bonded aluminium platform, and its propulsion will come from a state-of-the-art 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine (pictured) built and supplied by Aston Martin's new technology partner, Mercedes-AMG.
Rather than being a bespoke engine, it will be largely as per the motor that will power the upcoming Mercedes-AMG-GT, albeit with a few tweaks to the exhaust system and, possibly, revised turbo boost pressure.
As it stands, the blown 4.0-litre V8 kicks out 375kW, which is just shy of the 381kW eked out by the current DB9's 6.0-litre V12, but the Merc-AMG unit out-torques the latter with its 650Nm (on tap from just 1750rpm), compared with 620Nm at 5500rpm.
Another big step forward will come from the adoption of Mercedes-Benz's new nine-speed automatic transmission, usurping the ageing six-speed ZF auto used by the current DB9.
Autocar speculates the DB9 replacement will be a much more dynamically capable car than the existing vehicle, especially as an Aston insider has revealed it will be "dramatically" lighter.
In addition to being mechanically revamped, Reichman has also promised the newcomer will usher in a much greater visual change than has been the case with Astons over the past decade.
"There'll be a little more revolution in it," he told Autocar. "It will be unmistakably an Aston and a DB at that, but it will look fresh and modern."
Meanwhile, Daimler (Mercedes-Benz) has just announced it will boost its stake in Aston Martin from 4 to 5 per cent, in addition to supplying the latter with electric and electronic components to deepen its alliance that was initiated last year.
According to reports, Daimler and Aston Martin are also in talks with regards to using Mercedes technology to develop an SUV that the Aston would launch by 2017. 
The model diversification would be a key step in boosting the British marque's sales volumes, which numbered around 4200 vehicles last year.
Share this article
Written byGautam Sharma
See all articles
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Stay up to dateBecome a carsales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.
Download the carsales app
    AppStoreDownloadGooglePlayDownload
    App Store and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.
    © CAR Group Ltd 1999-2024
    In the spirit of reconciliation we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.