Review: Aston Martin's DB9 GT is sensual but pricey

LOS ANGELES -- The convertible version of the Aston Martin DB9 GT is a car that is meant to be touched -- and heard.

Whether it is drawing a finger across the open-pore burled ash on the dashboard or admiring the hand stitching on the abundant leather, the DB9 beckons.

And it is all brought to life with the most tactile element of all, the crystal key, which is plugged directly into the center stack to start the sports coupe, such that Aston's winged logo becomes integral to the experience.

Throw in the car's heritage, the amazing performance of its 12-cylinder engine, the sensual operation of its canvas roof and the envious looks you're sure to get while cruising through the neighborhood, and it begins to dawn on you that Aston can actually dare to charge $217,775, including shipping, for this little bauble.

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As we saw recently, you can get some of the same sensations in a Jaguar F-Type for less than half the price. But that misses the point.

The DB9 GT Volante -- what Aston officially calls its convertibles -- isn't so much a car as it is a performance. You find yourself standing on the sidewalk just staring at its proportions, your eye dancing from its rakish bow to its sweetly tapered tail.

Just starting the infernal machine becomes a ritual. You slide behind the seat, insert that unique key, press one of the jewel-like buttons on the dashboard to put the GT in gear and release the hand brake positioned left of the driver's seat.

Yes, a simple starter button and gear-shift lever would have worked just as well. But the DB9 is a two-plus-two meant to pull heartstrings. Thrills, not practicality, are what this two-plus-two is all about.

The GT version of the DB9 was introduced in June, the latest in the DB lineup that stretches back to 1948. The most famous in the lineup was the gadget-laden silver DB5 that Sean Connery drove as James Bond in Goldfinger. The GT is intended to showcase the brand's latest powerful engine -- 30 more horsepower than the non-GT -- and the car's hand-built craftsmanship. (The point is hard to miss: the "hand built in England" label appears on the door sills and engine cover.)

As if owning an Aston wasn't already rare enough of an experience, buyers of the GT are encouraged to customize the droptop in ways to make the car uniquely their own -- all the way down to the color of the brake calipers hiding behind the 10 spokes of the 20-inch wheels.

Around town, you don't realize the car's performance potential. It's mild mannered until you press the pedal to the floor. Then, all bets are off. The DB9 is powered by a 6-liter, V-12 engine with 48 -- count 'em -- valves that produces 540 horsepower. The torque curve is such is that it's equally responsive from a stop or when it comes to mustering passing power. Zero to 60 miles per hour comes in a snappy 4.4 seconds. Top speed, if you dare to find out, is 183 mph.

Needless to say, gas mileage is miserable. The two-seater -- good luck fitting much more than a suitcase into the back seat -- is 13 miles per gallon in the city, 19 mpg on the highway and 15 overall. That's 7 mpg less overall than a Cadillac Escalade SUV.

Cruising on the freeway with the top down was hardly a pleasant experience, the sonorous exhaust overwhelmed by traffic and wind noise. But driving along rural roads with the top down was sublime, especially as a sky full of wispy clouds rolled in at sunset.

It became part of a car that has to be experienced, not just driven. To fully appreciate the DB9 GT, one needs the entire performance, not just a single act.

What stands out

Craftsmanship: "Hand made in England"

Power: Zero to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds

Price: Same price as a tract house

2016 Aston Martin DB9 Volante

What? A luxury two-plus-two sports coupe

When? Deliveries begin in October

Where? Built in Gaydon, England

How much? $214,950 (gulp) plus $2,825. Price includes Gas Guzzler Tax

What makes it go? A 6-liter, V-12 engine producing 540 horsepower with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Top speed: 183 mph

How big? 15.4 feet long, 6.7 feet wide

How thirsty? 13 miles per gallon in the city, 19 mpg highway, 15 overall

Overall? Seductive, but oh-so-expensive