CONFESSION time: I've always had a soft spot for Aston Martins.
They're cool, sophisticated, British ... and very addictive.
Drive an Aston and you're admired. People let you pull out. Drive a Ferrari and you're flash.
But Aston as a company has stalled and spluttered along for years.
Bankrupt seven times, it got lucky seven times.
Unable to finance itself, it still has to go cap in hand to investors to fund new models.
The reality is that Aston has sold just 70,000 cars worldwide in 102 years.
Ford sells 70,000 Fiestas in the UK in six months.
But, finally, Aston is about to explode into life.
New British boss Andy Palmer has a five-year plan to triple sales from 3,500 a year to 11,000-plus by 2020.
All the sports cars are being replaced, starting with the DB11 (the DB9 successor) next year. That will be followed by a new Vantage in 2017 and a Vanquish a year later.
I'm told Bond's DB10 — not for public sale but created specially for new 007 film Spectre — hints at the new Vantage.
Think the current line-up is too closely related? Palmer promised: "They will all look like Aston Martins, but I want my 76-year-old mother to tell the difference between a Vantage, DB and a Vanquish."
Sports car sales will be capped at 7,000 a year to maintain a level of exclusivity.
It also happens to be the double-shift capacity at Gaydon, Warwicks.
Then, in 2019, Aston will break new ground by launching the DBX four door crossover.
With targeted sales of 4,000 a year, that will give Aston the numbers it needs to be self-sufficient.
Palmer is adamant Aston will not survive without it.
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The next question is, where will the DBX be built? PM David Cameron has pitched for Wales — which would create hundreds of new UK jobs — but there have been TEN offers from other countries.
Expect a decision in months.
But Palmer still isn't done yet. He still hasn't filled the toy shop.
Expect a new Lagonda supersaloon by 2020. Plus two new specials a year like this year's £1.5million Vulcan and the £250,000 Vantage GT12. They sold out in days, such is the lure of Aston.
There's also talk of an "ultimate supercar" designed with F1 legend Adrian Newey and Red Bull.
Palmer said: "There is around, would I spend it on the DB9 GT?
Probably. And for two good reasons ...
First, the DB9 is an icon. A modern classic. It is finally being pensioned off next year to be replaced by the DB11. But, after more than a decade on the road, there's no denying the DB9 is still jaw droppingly beautiful.
Second, this swansong DB9 GT is powered by an uprated 6-litre V12 producing 547hp of British goodness.
That makes it the most powerful DB9 yet - and one of the last non-turbos.
Mercedes will supply Aston with 4-litre twin turbo V8s in the future - the same lump that's in the AMG GT S - and Aston will make the V12 turbocharged for efficiency.
So the DB9 is being scrapped - and so is the naturally-aspirated V12.
Sounds like a decent investment, then.
Although there might, just might, be one last ultra-exclusive special edition to come.
Now back to the awesome GT. Open the swan wing doors (they angle up so they don't scrape the kerb), slide into the luxurious GT-badged leather seat and press the crystal-topped key into the dash.
You have just awoken a monster.
Race through the six-speed auto and she'll do 0-62 in 4.5 - a tenth quicker than the current DB9 - and top out at 183mph.
And this is a 2+2-seat grand tourer, don't forget.
The GT is more luxurious inside too. That handcrafted elegance is now complemented by a touchscreen infotainment system, first seen in the Vanquish, that can even read text messages.
I'd tick the box for the carbon-fibre trim, One-77 steering wheel and the boot-mounted umbrella (for the brownie points). But £5,495 for a Bang & Olufsen sound system? Nah. Just open the window - and soak up that free-breathing noise. It's glorious.
VERDICT: Exclusive. Expensive. Pure Aston Martin.
Key Facts
- Price: £140,000
- Engine: 6-litre V12 (547hp)
- Economy: 19.8mpg
- 0-62mph: 4.5 seconds
- Top speed: 183mph
- Max torque: 620Nm
- Road tax: £505
- Out: September
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