Carscoop: Edo Competition

Reason says that if you're wealthy enough to buy an Aston Martin DB9 and for whatever reason you want to upgrade to a DBS, you either replace the first one or simply add the second model to your collection. But that wasn't the case with an unnamed Russian owner of a five-year-old DB9 who approached Edo Competition to turn his car into a DBS.

The German tuning house agreed and after six months of work, the DB9 had been transformed into a DBS... replica. The conversion involved replacing the car's steel body panels with lightweight carbon fiber pieces, and adding new 20 inch wheels and numerous aerodynamic parts, such as a carbon fiber front skirt and rear diffuser.

The DB9's interior was also refinished. Edo Competition says that the choice of materials and colors was left to the customer, who, in this case, went for an Alcantara/leather interior with carbon fiber inserts and metal accents. A new high-end audio-system completes the interior makeover.

Rather than just performing cosmetic changes, Edo Competition upgraded the mechanicals and customized the car according to the wishes of its owner.

The modifications to the DB9's 5.9-liter V12 engine bump output from 470 to 550-horsepower allowing the DBS replica to sprint from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in around 4.1 seconds and top out at 320km/h (199mph) instead of 295km/h (183mph).

A programmable control unit for the exhaust system, an upgraded adjustable sport suspension and a new braking system with 405mm disc and 6-piston calipers up front and 380mm discs and 4-piston calipers at the rear, complete the transformation of the DB9 to a DBS replica.

Engine Specs
Engine V12 cylinder engine
Power 550 hp / (404 kW) at 6,800 rpm
Max torque 600 Nm at 5,500 rpm
Performance Specs
Top speed 320 km / h
0-100 km / h approx 4.1 s

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2010/06/edo-competition-transforms-aston-martin.html?m=0

Apparently edo competition doesn't think 517 horsepower is enough to propel Aston Martin's DBS around. "Not quite enough," as they put it. To remedy the situation, edo did a number on the ECU and breathing situation.

For people new to the tuning concept, that means new air filters, high-flow catalytic converters, and a new remote controlled exhaust system. Result: 550 horsepower and 600 Nm / 442 lb-ft of torque (+30 Nm / 22 lb-ft).

"This is enough power to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.1 seconds and continue on to a top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph)." I'll bet it is.

About the RC exhaust:

"[It] comes with a programmable control system that monitors backpressure inside the exhaust and opens the 70 mm butterfly valves when a pre-determined level of backpressure is exceeded.

The unique advantage of this system is that it provides good torque at low engine speeds without sacrificing top end horsepower...The driver can adjust the sound of the DBS at any time using a remote control."

The wheels are 21 inches, and it obviously it comes with an adjustable sport suspension; nothing new there. What's new is the brakes.

Remember those 6-egg-omelet-sized brakes on Koenigsegg's Agera? 'edo competion' has taken it to a full dozen: 6-piston calipers clamping 405mm discs up front. That's 15.9 INCHES. 380mm discs - usually more than enough to use up front on megasuperhypercars - do stoppage out back with 6 more pistons each.

The car pictured here is just a corporate example of what edo can do to the DBS. Remember, the sky's the limit (rub fingers together to simulate having money).

- By Phil Alex