Aston Martin DB12 Volante convertible revealed

The new Aston Martin DB12 Volante is aimed at being the world’s first open-top ‘super tourer’, and is the most powerful V8 convertible grand tourer (GT) by Aston Martin currently.

1. Aston Martin DB12 Volante is 111kg heavier than the coupe
2. It has the same top speed of 325kph as the DB12
3. DB12 Volante will rival Ferrari Roma Spider, Bentley Continental GTC 

Aston Martin DB12 Volante platform

The Volante’s brief was to deliver the same “uncompromised” handling and performance provided by the DB12 coupe, Aston Martin explained. Chopping the roof off reduces the torsional rigidity required for outright dynamic ability, so special attention was paid to reinforcing the Volante’s chassis.

The suspension mounts have been made stiffer – by 140 percent at the front end – and a crossbrace has been added across the engine bay. These revisions mean the DB12 Volante has 3.7 percent more torsional rigidity than its DB11 predecessor. That car’s ‘K-fold’ soft top is carried over to the DB12 Volante. It can open in 14sec and close in 16sec, doing so at vehicle speeds of up to 31mph.

The addition of the roof and extra chassis bracing incurs a significant weight penalty of 111kg. The Volante is otherwise unchanged compared with the DB12 coupe.

Aston Martin DB12 Volante interior, powertrain

Inside, the drop-top is unchanged, save for the option of wood-veneer seatbacks matched to the doorcards – to create “an extra layer of visual interest” when the roof is down, according to Aston Martin.

The DB12 Volante is powered by the same Mercedes-AMG-sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, which sends up to 680hp and 800Nm of torque via an eight-speed automatic gearbox and to the road through the rear wheels.

Despite the additional mass, the Volante’s straight-line performance only marginally trails that of the coupe: it dispatches the 0-100kph sprint just 0.1sec slower, in a claimed 3.7sec. It powers on to the same 325kph top speed.

Aston Martin DB12 Volante price

The hard-top Aston Martin DB12 is priced at Rs 4.8 crore (ex-showroom, before options). Expect the convertible DB12 Volante to be priced slightly higher. When launched, it will rival the Ferrari Roma Spider and Bentley Continental GT Convertible. Production of the DB12 Volante is set to begin imminently, with deliveries commencing globally by the end of 2023. 

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