Aston Martin Vantage And DB9

These spy shots are the evidence that Aston Martin is preparing to build the AM V8 Vantage shown as a concept at the Detroit Show earlier this year. And it looks as though the new baby Aston is going to scare the life out of the likes of Porsche when it arrives in showrooms in 2005, priced from about £60,000. The new model will be the smallest Aston ever produced, and is tipped to feature a range of Jaguar-derived engines.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By @Automedia

August 2003

The flagship will have a 400-HP powerplant based on that of the XJR, while an entry-level car is expected to come with a tuned version of the XJ6's 240-HP 3.5-litre engine. And as if that wasn't enough, we've also got footage of Aston's DB9 undergoing testing at Germany's Nürburgring circuit.

With styling cues also taken from the AM V8 concept, but much larger in size, it will take on the Bentley Continental GT when it hits showrooms next year. Expected to cost from around ΂£100,000 the DB9 will be a luxury grand tourer rather than a sports car, and will take its power from the 6.0-litre engine seen in the Vanquish.

A production version of the DB9 will make its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, while the Vantage is expected to stun home crowds at next May's British event