The DB9 is in fact a replica of sorts!
Ford gave Aston Jaguar's XK8 design and told them to make a car from that.
(Ford owned Aston and Jag at the time)
That was the DB7 which could trace it roots back to the XJS, DB9 is a very different car with a bonded aluminium chassis, they also use the same chassis in all the current Astons as well.