Just like all the other DB cars that came before it, Aston Martin's latest DB12 is getting the droptop treatment. While the DB12 Volante comes as no surprise, taking the elegant styling of its coupe counterpart and trading out its fixed roof for a fabric one, its appearance remains just as fetching. And just like the coupe, Aston Martin touts the Volante as being a "super tourer," which is supposed to blend Aston Martin's usual grand-touring ethos with supercar-level performance.
The Volante's roof adds eight layers of insulation to mimic the hushed ride often seen in hardtop GTs, and it can be raised and lowered within a respective 16 and 14 seconds. The roof can be operated at speeds of up to 31 mph, and is controlled remotely within a two-meter radius using the Volante's key. Aston Martin will offer the fabric roof in four color options at launch, including black, red, blue, and a black/silver combination. Of course, there will be many more configurations available for the full exterior and interior.
Connections to the coupe continue under the hood, where the Volante is powered by the same AMG 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8, which produces up to 671 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. The Volante also follows its fixed-roof counterpart in removing the DB11's V12 engine option, though Aston Martin promises that it will resurface in the forthcoming DBS replacement. While the Volante does manage to match the coupe's top speed of 202 mph (with the roof up, that is), it takes a swift 3.6 seconds to reach 60 mph, which is a mere tenth of a second behind the DB12 coupe. In usual droptop fashion, the Volante adds on an extra 240 pounds compared to the regular DB12, which means it should weigh around 4350 pounds.
The Volante routes all of its power to the wheels through a rear-mounted eight-speed automatic, which is joined by an electronic rear limited-slip differential, a carbon fiber prop shaft, and a torque converter. The DB12 convertible screeches to a standstill with the help of its 400-mm front and 360-mm rear brake discs, though this setup can be swapped out for lightweight carbon ceramic brakes. The Volante also features DB12-specific Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires, which surround its 21-inch forged wheels.
The cabin has been vastly improved compared to the mechanically-similar DB11, as the DB12 Volante adopts the beautiful new interior that first debuted in the coupe. Higher-quality materials surround a new 10.25-inch display, which is now discreetly integrated directly into the dashboard. The larger screen also makes leaps and bounds in terms of ergonomics, with a new touchscreen system replacing the frustrating old controller layout. An array of physical controls flows into the stitched center console, with functions that include heating and ventilation for the seats. The DB12 Volante also has a standard 11-speaker sound system, which can be upgraded to a 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins setup.
For those who are eager to see the DB12 Volante in person, there's a full public debut scheduled for The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering on August 18, which comes as part of Monterey Car Week. Production begins in the third quarter of this year, with initial deliveries set to commence in the fourth quarter.
Would you choose the DB12 Volante over the fixed-roof coupe?
Image Credits: Aston Martin
Revealed
Aug 14, 2023
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The Aston Martin DB12 Volante Makes For One Stunning, V8-Powered Droptop
Aston says the Volante matches the DB12 coupe's top speed of 202 mph.
Just like all the other DB cars that came before it, Aston Martin's latest DB12 is getting the droptop treatment. While the DB12 Volante comes as no surprise, taking the elegant styling of its coupe counterpart and trading out its fixed roof for a fabric one, its appearance remains just as fetching. And just like the coupe, Aston Martin touts the Volante as being a "super tourer," which is supposed to blend Aston Martin's usual grand-touring ethos with supercar-level performance.
The Volante's roof adds eight layers of insulation to mimic the hushed ride often seen in hardtop GTs, and it can be raised and lowered within a respective 16 and 14 seconds. The roof can be operated at speeds of up to 31 mph, and is controlled remotely within a two-meter radius using the Volante's key. Aston Martin will offer the fabric roof in four color options at launch, including black, red, blue, and a black/silver combination. Of course, there will be many more configurations available for the full exterior and interior.
Connections to the coupe continue under the hood, where the Volante is powered by the same AMG 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8, which produces up to 671 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. The Volante also follows its fixed-roof counterpart in removing the DB11's V12 engine option, though Aston Martin promises that it will resurface in the forthcoming DBS replacement. While the Volante does manage to match the coupe's top speed of 202 mph (with the roof up, that is), it takes a swift 3.6 seconds to reach 60 mph, which is a mere tenth of a second behind the DB12 coupe. In usual droptop fashion, the Volante adds on an extra 240 pounds compared to the regular DB12, which means it should weigh around 4350 pounds.
The Volante routes all of its power to the wheels through a rear-mounted eight-speed automatic, which is joined by an electronic rear limited-slip differential, a carbon fiber prop shaft, and a torque converter. The DB12 convertible screeches to a standstill with the help of its 400-mm front and 360-mm rear brake discs, though this setup can be swapped out for lightweight carbon ceramic brakes. The Volante also features DB12-specific Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tires, which surround its 21-inch forged wheels.
The cabin has been vastly improved compared to the mechanically-similar DB11, as the DB12 Volante adopts the beautiful new interior that first debuted in the coupe. Higher-quality materials surround a new 10.25-inch display, which is now discreetly integrated directly into the dashboard. The larger screen also makes leaps and bounds in terms of ergonomics, with a new touchscreen system replacing the frustrating old controller layout. An array of physical controls flows into the stitched center console, with functions that include heating and ventilation for the seats. The DB12 Volante also has a standard 11-speaker sound system, which can be upgraded to a 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins setup.
For those who are eager to see the DB12 Volante in person, there's a full public debut scheduled for The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering on August 18, which comes as part of Monterey Car Week. Production begins in the third quarter of this year, with initial deliveries set to commence in the fourth quarter.
Would you choose the DB12 Volante over the fixed-roof coupe?