Aston Martin Builds New Test Center

By Anthony Fontanelle

Aston Martin may not be filling the Internet’s news sites with updates and new cars almost every day but for some people, they believe that the car brand is certainly taking its time and working on its updates slowly, surely, and silently. And that may be for a good purpose for when they have completed their goal, they should be able to work on their press release and announce to the public the finished product of their months of silence.

We have learned a couple of months back that Aston Martin already had opened the very first design studio which was purposefully built. It was created in their headquarters in Warwickshire and it is already running and is operational. At present, The Auto Channel had reported that they were going to be launching a new project for their brand and that would be through the building of a new test center which they would be able to utilize. The report continued that Aston Martin would be putting in the foundation of the new test center in Germany’s Nurburgring race circuit.

At present, reports have it that the planned test center for their vehicles has already had the foundations put in and work is already going on. A building already in the area would be improved and transformed so as to be able to have their test center ready and available for use by May this year. That would only be a couple of months away but if Aston Martin would be focusing on this project right now, they may complete the test center ahead of schedule.

“When we open the Aston Martin Nürburgring Test Centre at the end of May this will be our second major new facility in less than 12 months since the company entered new ownership. The Nürburgring has played a vital part in improving the performance and durability of all modern Aston Martins. Our new test centre will allow us to further increase the performance of our cars and to share something of the unique Nordschleife experience with our customers,” Dr. Ulrich Bez, chief of Aston Martin, shared.

With the new test center operation by May, Aston Martin may be able to check out all the parts that they vehicles would be having - from the engine to the MSD Pro-billet distributor to the catalytic converters and to everything else in between - without much hassle. The joys of owning a facility such as this.

Aston Martin DB9

By Jan Hvizdak

The brand new DB9 is the embodiment of the future of Aston Martin. It is a two-seater sports car which sets a new benchmark with its outstanding mixture of dexterity, power, refinement, styling and craftsmanship.

With its extraordinary new aluminium-bound frame, the DB9 is widely regarded as amongst the most advanced and technologically intricate sports cars in existence. It houses the latest incarnation of Aston Martin’s 6.0 litre, V12 engine, boasting an output of 450 bhp and a maximum speed of 186 mph. The DB9, however, has much more significance than its position as a leading sports car. It signifies a new phase in the history of Aston Martin, being the first car to be constructed by hand at the company’s new facility in Warwickshire in the United Kingdom. This is where all future Aston Martin models will be designed and developed.

Construction

Every panel on the DB9’s bodywork is made from either aluminium or featherweight composites, and the steering column and interior door frames are made of magnesium. The use of state-of-the-art materials even extends to the gearshift paddles, which are made from magnesium alloy. This technology means that the DB9 weighs in at just 1710 kg – extraordinarily light for a prestige sports car equipped with a myriad of luxuriant features. The effect of this weight on the DB9’s performance is noticeable, allowing the manual version to reach a top speed of 186 mph, and producing a 0-62 mph acceleration time of just 4.9 seconds.

Transmission

A ZF “drive-by-wire” 6-speed automatic transmission is available, doing away with a standard gear lever. In its place, the drive, park, reverse and neutral functions of the gearbox are controlled by buttons.

The automatic model also comes with a Touchtronic manual setting, whereby the driver is able to carry out gearshifts using paddles which can be found behind the steering wheel. Automatic gear changing has been designed to give perfect equilibrium between speed of operation and smoothness of gear changes. There is also a traditional, 6-speed manual transmission system available.

The dexterity and handling of the DB9 are supported by its perfect 50/50 weight distribution between front and rear. Such precision has been achieved in part by the decision to locate the gearbox at the rear of the vehicle. This is facilitated by a shaft made of carbon fibre, contained in an aluminium tube, which transfers torque to the gearbox from the engine. The aluminium wishbone suspension and dampers also improve the DB9’s handling.

Interior Styling

The cabin of Aston Martin’s latest sports model is constructed by hand, using top quality materials. This gives the interior an understated, practical character. Aluminium is used here too, making it the most abundant material in the car’s body and structure. The use of the lightweight metal extends even as far as the instrument panel dials. Top quality Bridge of Weir leather trim is used in the DB9’s cabin, and the Aston Martin’s audio system has been specially designed by UK audio experts Linn.

The DB9 went on sale in spring 2004 as a replacement for the DB7. Its predecessor was the most successful Aston Martin ever built.

In co-operation with Kiersten Stetser and Rod Brito there is another Aston Martin DB9 review on the web. This article's author Jan Hvizdak also wrote review on Mercedes-Benz E Guard car.