Aston Martin DB9 plug-in hybrid revealed

Designed to showcase how plug-in hybrid technology can improve performance, the petrol-electric Aston Martin DB9 is fitted with two electric motors that drive the front wheels, while its standard 6.0-litre V12 petrol engine continues to drive the rear.

The hybrid system sees total power output reach 522kW, up 142kW up on the standard car's 380kW. The extra grunt enables the car to accelerate from 0-100km/h in less than 3.7 seconds.

Range in all-electric mode is limited to around 30km and the hybrid car’s lithium-ion batteries add around 300kg to the DB9’s dry weight.

The DB9 plug-in hybrid also gets improved handling thanks to torque vectoring technology on the front wheels. With four modes available – safe, sport, drift and custom – the stability control system makes the ultimate cornering setup possible.

Bosch also fitted the Aston Martin DB9 with a bespoke instrument cluster and infotainment system that uses new TFT screens.

The car is undergoing trials at Bosch’s high-speed proving facility at Boxberg in Germany, although Aston Martin won’t confirm whether it could go into production.