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2005 Aston Martin DB9 Volante Preview
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| Page 2: Features |
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Four-wheel-disc brakes with ABS, electronic brake force distribution and brake assist come standard. The brake discs are vented and grooved rather than cross-drilled for maximum effectiveness. Stability control is also standard, despite the Aston Martin DB9 Volante's sticky 19-inch wheels and tires. Every Volante comes equipped with side airbags and a rollover protection system that deploys roll hoops from the 2+2 convertible's rear seat headrests. The front A-pillars and windshield header are designed to withstand twice the DB9 Volante's weight. The cabin is awash in leather, wood and aluminum trimmings. Scotland's Bridge of Weir outfits the 2005 Aston Martin DB9 Volante with up to 20 shades of soft, supple leather. Three exposed wood trims are available: walnut, mahogany and bamboo. The engine fires by pushing a clear glass starter button that is sand-etched with the Aston Martin logo. It glows red when the engine is running, and blue when the DB9 Volante is turned off. Gauges are floodlit rather than backlit for maximum clarity at night, and the trip computer is an organic electroluminescent display for high resolution and sharp contrast - even in sunlight. Linn, a Scottish audio expert, provides 950-watts of maximum power and a 200-watt subwoofer. The 2005 Aston Martin DB9 Volante sheds its roof in 17 seconds, tucking it beneath a power-operated hard tonneau for a finished look. Handmade in Gaydon, England, Aston Martin expects that as many as half of all DB9 sales will be the Volante model. Pricing will be announced closer to the new model's arrival on the market. --Photos Courtesy of Aston Martin
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About Christian Wardlaw
Christian Wardlaw joined Autobytel's Automotive Information Center (AIC) in January 2003, and current serves as Manager of Content Development for Autobytel. Previously, Christian spent eight years as Editor-in-Chief and Director of Automotive Data for Edmunds.com. A writer, editor, and automobile aficionado, Christian is a different sort of car enthusiast. His passion lies in the vehicles that people most often buy, rather than with high-performance sports cars or ultra-luxury sedans. “Given the choice to spend an hour with a Dodge Viper or a Honda Accord, I’ll choose the Accord,” he claims. Unless, of course, the driving venue is a racetrack. Christian has been a car enthusiast all of his life, uttering “car” as his first word while growing up in Detroit. A graduate of Western Michigan University, he holds a bachelor’s degree in English. His daily drivers include a 1994 Mazda Miata, a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata, and a 2005 Nissan Murano.
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