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From July 2006, Aston Martin began offering DB9 customers an optional
Sports Pack. Essentially, the car features a new lighter 5 spoke wheel design
and revised suspension to make the DB9 even sharper handling. The attractive
wheels are in fact exactly the same size as those of the standard car but are
each
more than 1kg lighter and feature titanium bolts. They even use the same
Bridgestone tyre.
The DB9 Sports Pack’s spring rates are increased by 68 per
cent at the front of the car and 64 per cent at the rear. The front anti-roll
bar is modified, and the dampers are revised to support the new spring and
anti-roll bar characteristics. Together, the changes optimise body control and
front-end grip without compromising ride quality or adding weight. The ride
height is reduced by 6mm, lowering the car’s centre of gravity and further
reducing body roll while leaving ample ground clearance and backed up by
modified bump stops.
The composite undertray is also replaced by a load-bearing
aluminium panel that performs the same function in managing underbody airflow
while adding further structural stiffness, to resist larger lateral loads fed
into the front of the car by the uprated front springs and anti-roll bar.
Back in 2004 and Evo magazine was, I think, the only
motoring publication critical of the DB9 handling. Well, after driving a
9 with sports pack and they were impressed and completely won over.
Also, I need to add that the Sports Pack isn't just available for
new cars, it can be retro fitted to any DB9 by official dealers and Works
Service too. This particular UK registered example to the left was photographed near the
paddock of the Le Mans circuit during the time of the 24 hour race in June 2006.
The morning frost car, a rare manual, was taken at the 2007 Geneva Salon.
In some circles, the DB9 Sports Pack is also known
as the 'Sport Dynamic Pack' or SDP, but this is not the correct factory
description - SDP was used to describe the uprated pre 'S' Vanquish. |
