Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Ford saved Aston Martin from the scrap heap. And after so many years, and so many millions invested, it's a shame the Blue Oval isn't able to enjoy the fruits of its labor. Because Aston Martin is on a roll. Aston was sold in 2007 to a private investment group headed by David Richards; think of him as Britain's version of Roger Penske. Serious car guy CEO Ulrich Bez remains at the helm. The model lineup is proliferating, including the upcoming Rapide sedan and a high-tech, million dollar plus flagship called the One-77. The marque is once again chasing an overall win at Le Mans, five decades after it last did so. And of course, Aston Martin remains the automotive clothier of choice for the world's favorite spy. Not bad for an outfit that, prior to Ford's involvement and Bez's guiding hand, had been at bankruptcy's doorstep too many times to count.

The last DB9 we tested (October 2005) struck as us pretty, yet somehow short of the expected magic. Its 450-horsepower V-12 was strong but lacked response and sounded a bit lifeless. The car didn't like to be pushed, the transmission temperature warning light flashing its objection often during hard mountain driving (on an admittedly hot summer day). Its shifts were none too responsive, either. So we were eager to give this updated version a go to see if these issues had been noted and addressed.

It's hard to believe the DB9 is now five years old, as is the strong, light, and flexible VH chassis architecture on which it's constructed. This model was the first modern Aston Martin to be built at the company's then-new Gaydon, England factory, and carries on the design themes established a decade earlier by Ian Callum's DB7 and seminal Vanquish. The DB9 still looks fresh and beautiful -- elegant proportions never go out of style. It forms the basis for the edgier, sportier DBS range and has received a makeover for model year 2009.