What's all this about?
Having already revealed the DB12 Coupe earlier this year, it’s time for Aston to launch the Volante convertible version. Powered by the same V8 but offering open-top thrills thanks to its fabric roof, Aston Martin calls the convertible DB12 “a class-defining car of unmatched elegance and sporting character”.
Looks good...
Oooh, yes. Aston Martin has stuck with a fabric roof that has an electrically operated ‘K-fold’ mechanism, allowing it to fold into a stack just 260mm tall. That means it can be tucked away under the rear deck without impinging on boot space, but while still offering the chance for an elegant rear-end design.
Raising the roof takes 16 seconds and can be carried out at up to 31mph, even in a 31mph headwind, while the roof can also be raised or lowered remotely using the key fob. For that to work, however, you have to be within two metres of the car.
How has Aston adapted the DB12 to turn it into a convertible?
Not that much, really. The company says it always planned to make the DB12 in coupe and convertible forms, so the structure is largely pretty similar. Naturally, though, some changes have been made, including tweaks to the suspension mounting points and the inclusion of an engine cross brace. In total, the Volante is 111kg heavier than the Coupe.
But the engine's still the same?
It is indeed. The Mercedes-sourced 4.0-litre V8 still lurks under the bonnet, offering 680hp and 800Nm of torque – up by a third compared with the old DB11’s V8 – and sending all the power to the rear via an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox. With the extra weight, the Volante is naturally slightly slower from 0-62mph, but not by much. Where the Coupe gets from 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds, the Volante takes 3.7. And both will achieve the same giant top speed of 202mph.
What does Aston have to say about all this?
“For many of our customers, roof down driving is the greatest pleasure,” said Aston’s CEO, Amedeo Felisa. “Aston Martin Volantes have captured that emotion and expressed it in unique style for more than six decades. With the new DB12 Volante we have changed the rules, creating a car that intensifies those feelings by preserving all the purity and exceptional sporting capabilities of the DB12 Coupe. A rare and true sporting convertible in every respect, this is a car to challenge preconceptions and find a new generation of Volante customer.”
When can I have one?
The final quarter of this year, apparently. The DB12 Volante is set to debut at this week’s Monterey Car Week in California, but the first customer cars will arrive before the end of this year. And before you ask about prices, Aston Martin hasn’t said anything yet.
James Fossdyke - 14 Aug 2023
