Car years are like dog years, so the 12 times the Earth has rotated the sun while the DB9 has been sold is waaay too long.
That'll change in 2016, with Aston Martin finally replacing the DB9 with the DB11. Expect it to share styling elements with the DB10 concept that a certain 007 will drive, and likely destroy, in the forthcoming Spectre film.
It'll be in showrooms late next year, Aston Martin promising that it'll be the first of a whole new range of models from the company. Indeed, an entirely new range is mooted by the end of the decade, Aston Martin's Head of Design and Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman, saying that they'll be much more distinct in style compared to the same but bigger/smaller current line-up. In addition to the new sports cars expect a luxury crossover, it hinted at by the not entirely favourably received DBX concept.
With an engine deal in the bag with Mercedes-Benz's AMG lunatic fringe it's going to be a busy few years for the people at Aston Martin. CEO Dr Andy Palmer, underlines just how important the new DB11 will be, saying: "The coming years will see Aston Martin transform not only its entire range of models but also its scale and global presence, and the new DB11 will be central to that success." Exciting stuff, and not before time.