(from Edo Competition Press Release) An Aston Martin DB9 turns into a DBS

The transformation

Within the space of six months, edo competition, located in the Westphalian Ahlen, has transformed a 5 year old DB9 into an Aston Martin DBS. And that’s exactly what a Russian customer asked for: Turn a DB9 into a DBS.

This not so trivial conversion involved replacing steel body panels with carbon fiber pieces and increasing the engine output from 470 to a staggering 550 horsepower. That’s why it will now do 320 km/h (199 mph) when the old car topped out at 295 km/h (183 mph). Its new 20 inch wheels and wider body contribute to a more muscular appearance, and numerous aerodynamic parts, such as a carbon fiber front skirt as well as a carbon fiber rear diffuser, underline the car’s sporting credentials.

The custom interior presented a unique challenge: The dashboard, center console, headliner, door panels and seats were refinished with utmost precision. The choice of materials and colors was left to the customer, who, in this case, opted for an Alcantara/leather interior with carbon fiber inserts and metal accents.

An additional highlight is the high-end audio system that was installed in the car, promising pure auditory bliss. No corners were cut in trying to extract the best possible sound from the new high-end speakers. In order to be able to enjoy the new entertainment system, a new exhaust system featuring butterfly valves was fitted, allowing the driver to change the sound from ferocious to unobtrusive and quiet.

But that’s not the only function. This high-performance exhaust system which was specially developed for the DB9/DBS also helps the engine produce more power and torque. A programmable control unit monitors exhaust backpressure and opens 70 mm butterfly valves when the pressure exceeds a selected threshold. The exhaust is made from stainless steel and the chrome exhaust tips round off its classy appearance.

A new edo competition sport suspension system makes the revitalized DB9 more athletic. To accommodate different driving styles, the suspension is adjustable in ride height, stiffness, as well as compression and rebound damping. After the DB9 received a considerable boost in output and handling performance, there was one more area that needed to be addressed: safety. This is why edo competition developed a new braking system for the Aston. 405 mm rotors and 6 piston monobloc calipers act on the front wheels, while the rear axle is fitted with 380 mm rotors and 4 piston monobloc calipers. High-performance brake pads and braided stainless steel brake lines are used on all four corners.

This marked the end of the transformation and the work was completed. The DB9 had been turned into a DBS. Rather than just performing cosmetic changes, edo competition had also refined the mechanicals and customized the car according to the wishes of its owner.

The result: A happy, very satisfied customer and a big thanks to the entire edo competition Motorsport team.

Phoenix-based Rizk Auto has brought us a forgotten item in the Aston Martin catalog: the short-lived DBR2.  The DBR2 was a Le Mans-class race car released in 1957.  But due to various regulations over engine capacity, the DBR2 was cast out of major competition.  Its chance at glory came with the ’57 Le Mans, but the car couldn’t muster the full twenty-four hours.  It puttered along until 1960, when it was retired and sold to private collectors.

Rizk has resolved those old problems by making its version the perfect balance of Space Age design with ’50s cool.  The featherweight aluminum chassis is linked to a composite body, both lined with heat-resistant shuttle-craft coating.  The curb weight for the car is just 2,100 lbs.  Buyers can opt for old-school equipment, with a carbureted Jaguar inline-six or V-12 mated to a 5-spd. manual, or go modern with a fuel-injected Chevrolet 6.2 L V-8 with a 6-spd. auto or manual.

Aston’s put out its official gallery for the DBS drop-top, the Volante.  Just to remind some of you who are ignorant, the DBS is Aston Martin’s intense alternative to the DB9.  The Volante loses only 25% of the structural rigidity of the coupe.  That’s thanks to strengthened panels–some of which are made up of carbon fiber for a cut in weight.  The Volante still weighs in at a hefty two tons.  Don’t worry too much about that though: the 6.0 L V-12 remains intact with its 510 hp.  The engine’s linked to a 6-spd. manual-shift or a Touchtronic automatic gearbox for the lazy.  Onboard monitors tame the cabrio’s natural body roll.  Don’t worry about noise either: a thirteen-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo system is standard.