Aston Martin is all set to give the elegant DB9 Volante its world premiere on January 4th at the 2004 Detroit Motor Show – the sixth new car from the company in less than two and a half years.
The DB9 Volante is the latest model from Aston Martin and is also the 13th convertible from the company – joining a prestigious line-up of post-war convertibles that stretches back to the DB2 of 1950 and includes the DB4, DB5, DB6, V8 and DB7. However, this will be the first convertible ever to use Aston Martin’s unique VH Platform (Vertical/Horizontal) Strategy and the first to be built at the newly opened Aston Martin Gaydon facility.
The DB9 Volante will be built alongside the DB9 Coupe, which was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2003. Both models will be hand-built at Aston Martin Gaydon with the Coupe being delivered to customers in Spring 2004 and the Volante in Autumn 2004. It is expected that more than 2000 DB9 models will be sold next year of which around 50% will be the Volante model.
Dr Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin said: ‘From the outset of the DB9 programme we knew we wanted a convertible model. So the Volante has been designed, engineered and built from the outset as a convertible ‘ it’s not a Coupe with just the top taken off.
‘The DB9 Volante has all of the traditional styling cues youd expect from a convertible Aston Martin. It’s very elegant and perfectly proportioned from every angle, while subtle embellishments help create a powerful-looking sports car.’
Designed by Henrik Fisker, Aston Martin’s Design Director, who took styling cues from previous Aston Martin convertibles, the DB9 Volante has a fully retractable hood that is stored within the body of the car when closed allowing the car to retain a very smooth and elegant profile.
I wanted to ensure that the DB9 Volante was unmistakably an Aston Martin, but it had to retain all of the values of a convertible. Even with the hood raised it had to look beautiful, said Henrik Fisker.
The hood is operated by the push of a button and retracts within just 17 seconds. When down, it folds behind a hard tonneau cover, which then electrically closes flush with the DB9s bodywork. The DB9 Volante has a boot capacity of 197-litres (170-litres in the DB7) and has two rear seats.
In the event of an accident, sensors in the DB9 Volante detect the risk of a potential rollover and two roll-hoops are deployed from the rear seat headrests, while front seat passengers are protected by the windscreen A-pillars which can withstand twice the total weight of the car.
Like the DB9 Coupe, power for the Volante is supplied by Aston Martin’s low emissions, all-alloy, 48-valve, 6.0-litre, V12 engine. No performance figures have yet been issued by Aston Martin but the Volante will be able to achieve a 0-62mph (100kph) time of under 5 seconds and a top speed of more than 180mph (300kph). Like the DB9 Coupe it will be offered with a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission.
Story by Story by Aston Martin, Edited by Supercars.net
In Detail
| submitted by | Richard Owen |
| type | Series Production Car |
| built at | Gaydon, Warwickshire, England |
| body stylist | Henrik Fisker |
| interior designer | Sarah Maynard |
| price $ | $ 180,250 |
| price £/td> | £122,950 |
| engine | 60º V12 |
| position | Front Longitudinal |
| aspiration | Natural |
| block material | Aluminum |
| valvetrain | DOHC, 4 Valves per Cyl |
| fuel feed | Fuel Injection |
| displacement | 5935 cc / 362.18 in³ |
| bore | 89 mm / 3.5 in |
| stroke | 79.5 mm / 3.13 in |
| compression | 10.3:1 |
| power | 302.0 kw / 450 bhp @ 6000 rpm |
| specific output | 75.82 bhp per litre |
| bhp/weight | 263.16 bhp per tonne |
| torque | 570 nm / 420.4 ft lbs @ 5000 rpm |
| body / frame | Extruded Aluminium Bonded Monocoque? |
| driven wheels | RWD w/LSD and Traction Control |
| front tires | Bridgestone REO 50 235/40 ZR19 |
| rear tires | Bridgestone REO 50 275/35 ZR 19 |
| front brakes | Vented & Grooved Discs w/4-Piston Brembo Monobloc Calipers, ABS, EBD, EBA |
| rear brakes | Vented & Grooved Discs w/4-Piston Brembo Monobloc Calipers, ABS, EBD, EBA |
| front wheels | F 48.3 x 21.6 cm / 19 x 8.5 in |
| rear wheels | R 48.3 x 24.1 cm / 19 x 9.5 in |
| steering | ZF Rack & w/Servotronic Power Assist |
| f suspension | Double Wishbones w/Coil Over Aluminum Covered Monotube Dampers, Anti-Roll Bar |
| r suspension | Double Wishbones w/Coil Over Aluminum Covered Monotube Dampers, Anti-Roll Bar |
| curb weight | 1710 kg / 3770 lbs |
| wheelbase | 2740 mm / 107.9 in |
| front track | 1568 mm / 61.7 in |
| rear track | 1562 mm / 61.5 in |
| length | 4697 mm / 184.9 in |
| width | 1875 mm / 73.8 in |
| height | 1318 mm / 51.9 in |
| transmission | Rear Mounted 6-Speed Manual or Six Speed Auto |
| top speed | ~300 kph / 186.4 mph |
| 0 – 60 mph | ~4.7 seconds |
| 0 – 100 mph | ~10.8 seconds |
| city fuel econ epa | 18.09 L/100 km or 13 mpg-us |
| hwy fuel econ epa | 13.07 L/100 km or 18 mpg-us |
Auction Sales History
$185,000+ when sold new in 2006. 11,156 original miles. Ultra rare 6-speed manual, liquid gold. Loaded with factory and aftermarket options:high spec alarm, optional front grill, navigation, heated front seats, rear window screen, walnut veneer, rear park sensors, cruise control, Bluetooth connection. Aftermarket features: Quicksilver exhaust, enlarged-enhanced air box, carbon fiber engine cover, rear lamp inserts, focal speakers, 1000 watt Alphasouik amplifier, Passport 9500i, radar built into dash and rear drifters, Valentine one radar built into rear view mirror, Lidarhigh power limited edition quad(radar jammer), iPod hook up.
Auction Source: 2012 Daytime Auction by Mecum
This DB9 Volante was sold new in Beverly Hills, CA and has been driven just 22,068 miles since. It is finished in Jet Black with Obsidian Black and Phantom Grey full leather, which features optional GPS Satellite navigation, Bluetooth phone preparation and Linn 260W 5.1 surround sound audio system. The car additionally has optional factory red painted brake calipers, power-folding wing mirrors, light grey interior stitching, walnut dash board veneer and walnut door cappings. Original MSRP upon delivery was $182,905 plus the cost of the upgraded wheels. Included with purchase are the leather-bound owner’s handbook, complete dealer maintenance history and print-out of the options from Aston Martin and a spotless CARFAX report noting zero history of accidents or other is
Auction Source: 2012 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction
Keyword: 2004 Aston Martin DB9 Volante