Aston Martin DB9 Sports Pack CAR review

A special edition Aston, I thought that stuff was reserved for run-out Corsas.

You've got the wrong end of the stick, the Sports Pack is an option for Aston owners who prefer to zoom than dawdle. The DB9 has always been a great looking car but sadly it’s never been as good to drive as to look at. The ride was too crashy for a GT, the throttle too aggressive, it was a handful in the wet and skipped over bumps. This one should be better.

So what’s changed?

Most obviously there are four sexy new alloys. And they don't just look good, they're lighter too, by 1kg each to the benefit of unsprung weight. Even the wheelnuts are serious: they’re made from titanium. Aston reckons that unsprung weight is down five percent per corner. But the biggest changes you mostly can't see, unless you spot the 6mm reduction in ride height. Spring rates are up 68 per cent front, 64 per cent rear, the front anti-roll bar is thicker and the dampers and bump-stops are uprated to suit. Also new is a load-bearing aluminium panel that performs the same job as the old composite undertray but adds further structural stiffness.