2016 Aston Martin DB9 GT Owner’s Manual

The 2016 Aston Martin DB9 GT is a stunning grand touring car that has the right mix of luxury, speed, and style. The DB9 GT is elegant and sophisticated because it has a form that is both classic and aerodynamic. The Aston Martin logo on the front grille draws attention, and the car’s smooth lines and muscular proportions give it a sense of power and speed. Inside the carefully made cabin, high-end materials and the latest technology make for a luxurious and comfy space. The DB9 GT has a hand-built 6.0-liter V12 engine with 540 horsepower that gives it exciting speed and a thrilling ride. The 2016 Aston Martin DB9 GT offers a memorable ride with style, comfort, and pure driving pleasure, whether you’re going on a straight highway or a winding road.

Driving Techniques

Procedures for driving this vehicle may be unfamiliar to many new owners. To make sure that you have a safe and enjoyable entry into this new phase of Aston Martin motoring, please take time to safely acquire the necessary new driving skills. Practice in safe, lower-speed conditions before investigating the high-performance potential of the vehicle.
Performance driving courses are available to enable you to fully understand the control functions of your vehicle and also the basic principles of performance driving. Contact your Aston Martin Dealer for further information.

Running-In
This vehicle is fully hot tested during manufacture and no special running-in procedures are necessary. Nevertheless, it is recommended to limit engine loads (e.g. by accelerating gently and by using lower gears on steep hills or when negotiating tight turns) during the first 1500 km/900 miles.

Track Days
Before using this vehicle on track days contact your Aston Martin Dealer for vehicle set up, service parts and recommendations.

Wet Conditions
When driving in wet conditions, water can build up under your tyres so that they ride on a layer of water. This is called aquaplaning or hydroplaning. When this happens, you have little or no control. Aquaplaning is more prone to happen at higher road speeds if there is a lot of water on the road and particularly if the tyres are also underinflated or approaching minimum tread depth.
It is important to take bends or curves at a safe, reasonable speed, particularly when driving on wet or slippery road surfaces.
Slow down when it is raining.

Driving Through Deep Water
If in any doubt about whether to drive through deep water, always take the side of caution to avoid potentially costly damage to the vehicle’s engine or other essential systems.
Never drive in water deeper than the lower edge of the front bumper. Water can be splashed up into the engine air intakes located in the front upper grille and cause extensive damage to the engine or the vehicle may stall. Always proceed with extreme caution, especially when the depth is not known.
When driving through water, traction or brake capability may be limited. Once through the water, always dry the brakes by driving slowly while applying light pressure on the brake pedal.
Waves caused by other vehicles or natural causes can also splash water in the engine air intake.

Starting the Engine

Warning: Only use the vehicle key in the ignition control. Do not place any objects, including fingers, into the ignition control other than the vehicle key. Objects other than the vehicle key may cause the ignition control unit to fail.
In extremely low temperatures (-20°C and below) do not allow the engine to ‘rev’ above 4000 rpm, while at a standstill or when moving off, until the coolant temperature gauge reaches normal operating temperature. Revving the engine before fully warming up may cause severe engine and transaxle damage.
Do not press the vehicle key while driving. If the key is pressed in and released the engine will stop. If the key is removed from the ignition control while driving the engine will stop but the steering lock will not engage until the vehicle has come to a complete stop. The vehicle key must only be inserted into the ignition control with the two indents first, as shown. Attempting to insert the larger end of the key first may damage the ignition control.

Ignition Sequence

1. Position ‘0’ (Ignition OFF)
2. Position ’I’ (Ignition OFF and Accessories ON)
3. Position ‘II’ (Ignition ON)
4. Engine start

Engine Start
Check that the park brake is applied.
Fully press the brake pedal down.
Insert the vehicle key into the ignition control and press the key fully in (the ignition control will show red), hold in until the engine starts then release.

Engine Start
Check that the park brake is applied.
Fully press the brake pedal down.
Insert the vehicle key into the ignition control and press the key fully in (the ignition control will show red), hold in until the engine starts then release.

Starting From Cold
The Engine Control Module (ECM) automatically compensates for cold or warm start conditions and makes appropriate adjustments to the fuel and air mixture and ignition timing.

Stopping the Engine
Press the vehicle key fully in and release. The engine will stop as the key returns to position ‘I’. Withdraw the vehicle key from the ignition control.

Maximum Engine Speed
The maximum safe engine speed is 6,850 rpm. If this speed is exceeded, fuel supply to the engine is
reduced. As the engine speed reduces back to a safe level, fuel supply is progressively restored.

Automatic Transmission

The automatic transmission has two drive modes.

Auto Drive Mode
In auto-drive mode, gearshifts are made using the Park, Reverse, Neutral and Drive (PRND) buttons mounted on the centre stack. While driving forward, gearshifts are made automatically according to various driving parameters, i.e. road speed, currently selected gear and accelerator demands. When the vehicle is stationary, the transmission will select first gear, ready to move off immediately when the accelerator is pressed. While in auto-drive mode, move to touchtone mode at any time by pulling back on either the upshift or downshift paddles, mounted behind the steering wheel. As a paddle is pulled back a gearshift will occur, which will be an upshift or downshift according to which paddle is pulled.

Kick-Down
In auto-drive mode, kick-down is used in circumstances where rapid acceleration is required, i.e. when overtaking. Kick-down operates when the accelerator pedal is quickly and fully depressed, causing the transmission to change down to the lowest gear possible to achieve maximum acceleration. The gear engaged depends on the road speed at the time of kick-down.

Touchtronic Mode
In touchtronic mode, forward gears and Neutral are selected by using the paddles located behind the steering wheel. Reverse and Park are selected by using the PRND buttons.
While in touchtronic mode, move to auto drive mode at any time by pressing the D button, or by pulling and holding the upshift (+) paddle until drive mode is selected.
Select Neutral by pulling on both the upshift and downshift paddles at the same time.
Neutral can also be selected by pressing the N button.

PRND Buttons

1. PARK: Press and release to select park once the vehicle is stationary. The transmission will mechanically lock. If the vehicle key is moved to position ‘0’ or removed from the ignition control while the vehicle is at a standstill, the transmission will automatically select park.
   Always make sure that the park brake is ON. It is not possible to select Park above 2 km/h.
2.  REVERSE: When stationary and with the footbrake applied, press and release to select Reverse. When reverse is selected, R will show red in the Gear Position Indicator Display (GPID) (B) and a warning will be heard.
3. NEUTRAL: When stationary and with the footbrake applied, press and release to select Neutral.
4. DRIVE: When stationary and with the footbrake applied, press and release to select forward gears.
   If the brake pedal is not pressed the message centre will show PRESS BRAKE PEDAL and a warning will be heard.
   The left message centre (A) shows the current gear selection R, D1, D2, etc., while the Gear Position Indicator Display (GPID) (B) shows D (Drive), R (Reverse) or P (Park) according to current gear position. While in auto drive mode the GPID will show ‘auto’.

Vehicle Rocking Motion
If the vehicle speed is less than 4 km/h, the reverse may be selected from the drive, without pressing the brake pedal, to create a vehicle ‘rocking’ motion i.e. to enable vehicle movement out of mud, snow, etc. If 4 km/h is exceeded then the transmission will automatically select Neutral.

Touchtronic Controls

Forward gearshifts are selected by pulling back and releasing the gearshift paddles mounted on the steering column. Neutral is selected by pulling back both paddles together and releasing.
Park and Reverse are selected by using the centre stack mounted PRND buttons.

1. Downshift paddle.
2. Upshift paddle.
   Neutral can also be selected by pressing N.
   From Park, Reverse or Neutral, and with the footbrake applied, pull back on either the upshift or downshift paddle to enter touchtronic mode. As the vehicle speed increases and decreases, make upshifts and downshifts by pulling and releasing the upshift or downshift paddle.

If no gearshift has been requested by pulling back on a paddle, upshifts and downshifts will occur automatically if the engine speed rises or lowers to its maximum or minimum operating limits. This does not occur if the transmission is in sport mode (Refer to ’Sport Mode’, page 5.7).
If driving in high gear, pull and hold the downshift paddle to select the lowest available gear. For example, if in sixth gear then second gear is selected.
When stationary, select Neutral by pulling back on both paddles simultaneously. When selecting Neutral from Park, the brake pedal must be depressed.