Dual-stage driver and passenger airbags, seat-mounted side airbags and seat belt pretensioners offer further protection. In the Volante, rear roll-over hoops are automatically deployed, when required, from the rear headrests.

DB9's active safety - the ability to help avoid an accident occurring in the first place - begins with its inherent agility and responsiveness. The lightweight, rigid body structure and superbly tuned suspension and steering are further aided by a host of advanced electronics. These include Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and the latest-generation ABS brakes which, should the system detect loss of grip, combine to help keep the car stable and balanced.

Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) are also employed. EBD balances the front-to-rear braking bias, to give optimal braking performance. In an emergency, EBA sensors detect when maximum braking is required and automatically apply the appropriate force.

Although engineering development is carried out exclusively at Aston Martin, whenever appropriate solutions and expertise existed outside the company, that is where Aston Martin's engineers turned.

For instance, Volvo in Sweden is recognised as the world leader in automotive safety engineering. All the safety systems used in DB9 have been designed and tested using Volvo's latest safety technologies, best-practice design guidelines and advanced computer-aided engineering.

All crash and safety testing was conducted at Volvo's world-renowned safety centre in Sweden, which has probably the best facilities in the world for all aspects of safety engineering and crash-test analysis.