DB9 customers will soon have the option of specifying factory fitted ‘Sports Pack’ suspension and alloy wheels on new cars delivered by the factory. The offer will be available at Aston Martin dealers from July.

The pack features new five-spoke forged aluminium alloy wheels (lighter than the standard), modified springs and front anti-roll bar, and lowered ride height.

Already highly regarded as a 'drivers' car', the modifications to the DB9 will give a significant reduction in ‘unsprung’ mass, thus allowing the suspension to react more quickly to inputs such as bumps and cornering forces – resulting in improved grip, steering response, body control and ride quality. A reduction of 5% in the unsprung weight on each corner of the car is achieved by a 1kg saving on each wheel - and the use of titanium wheel nuts. The new, lighter 19-inch wheels are the same size as the standard wheel and use the same Bridgestone tyre.

The new 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. In addition, 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.

The cumulative effect is significantly improved dynamic response, and especially steering feel - making, Aston Martin believe, "The DB9 feel lighter, more positive on turn-in, more agile and more involving for the enthusiastic driver".

Text - Classic Driver
Photos - Aston Martin