Aston Martin DB9 GT: How tremendous can one engine really sound?

Stepping inside the centre is very much akin to the Ennis House scene in Blade Runner where the madness of the outside world is forgotten for a minute or two amongst the clean white lines and AM branded knickknacks and books.

IT HAPPENED WHEN collecting the car. Located in the middle of Dubai's industrial heartland that is Al Quoz sits the Aston Martin service centre: a haven of tranquil luxury and finesse set against an almost dystopian landscape of nameless factories and diesel fumes.
Stepping inside the centre is very much akin to the Ennis House scene in Blade Runner where the madness of the outside world is forgotten for a minute or two amongst the clean white lines and AM branded knickknacks and books. The serenity was then shattered, yet in the most exhilarating way imaginable. Someone had fired up the DB9 GT we were there to collect and it was as if Thor had come down for a hammer-throwing contest with the Jolly Green Giant. The car's naturally aspirated six-litre V12 engine coming to life produces a roar that would give a F1 driver a bit of a start despite his or her constant exposure to monster feats of engineering.
We challenge anyone to find the DB9 unattractive. The GT version is only an improvement on the standard model's beauty. Arguably the jewel in the crown when it comes to Aston Martin design, this even sportier incarnation is the final word in understated refinement. Slick sweeping lines and 20-inch alloy wheels add up to a car with presence; that 'x factor' many brands strive for but few can attain. The DB9 GT shuns any over-the-top showiness some of its contemporaries possess for a more dignified experience for its pilot. This is a driver's car and while it may not be the fastest out there, the interior combined with the perfectly poised handling will result in you wanting to live in it.
The DB9 GT will go from 0-100 km/h in about 4.5 seconds - so it's no slouch - although isn't a massive advance on the standard DB9. However with the GT it's more about how the maker has tinkered with the details. There are a few deftly placed GT insignia around the vehicle and altered head and tail lights. The car looks tighter, leaner in fact. The rear-wheel drive provides endless amounts of joy and the stunningly crafted interior is a joy to be in.
Ultimately, though, it is that sound you will never tire of. Place one of Aston's specially made perspex keys in its slot in the central column, put your foot on the brake and take a deep breath as you depress the key and thus ignition- it's a powerful symphony each time.
david@khaleejtimes.com