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Open Air
About a year ago, Aston Martin pulled the wraps off the all-new DB12. This elegant grand tourer (or Super Tourer, as Aston calls it) is the latest in a long line of beautiful, powerful DB cars that started almost 75 years ago with the DB2. Now the British marque adds open-air enjoyment to the DB12 by introducing the 2024 Aston Martin DB12 Volante.
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Roof-Down Driving
“For many of our customers, roof-down driving is the greatest pleasure,” said Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer 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,” Felisa enthused.
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Designed as a Convertible
Designers and engineers created the new DB12 Volante simultaneously with its hardtop sibling, sharing the same engineering improvements and updates as the coupe. With its bonded aluminum chassis and stronger structural elements, the new DB12 Volante is almost five percent stiffer than its predecessor. This should result in the same impressive performance and handling as the coupe.
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Under the Hood
Like the DB12 coupe, the new Volante draws power from a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine producing 671 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. That power gets sent to the rear wheels via a carbon fiber prop shaft connected to a rear-mounted ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. Providing an absolutely thrilling experience, this big V8 will propel the Volante to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds — only a tenth of a second behind the hardtop. For the ultimate wind-in-your-hair experience, the DB12 Volante will reach 202 mph.
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Managing the Power
The Aston Martin DB12 Volante gets new intelligent adaptive dampers with stiffer roll bars, and it is the first DB convertible with an electronic rear differential, which works with Aston’s electronic stability control to provide more consistent handling, improved cornering in all weather conditions, and a more comfortable ride when cruising in GT mode. After our drive earlier this year in the DB12 coupe in monsoon-like conditions, we can say with certainty that wet-weather performance is impressive.
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Brakes and Tires
Ensuring that braking power is up to the task of slowing this powerful open-top Aston, the DB12 Volante is fitted with grooved and drilled cast-iron disc brakes measuring 400 mm in front and 360 mm at the rear. Carbon Ceramic Brakes are also available, offering increased braking performance with reduced fade at higher temperatures. The CCB option also lowers the car’s unsprung weight by nearly 60 pounds. The DB12 Volante rides on 21-inch forged alloy wheels fitted with custom Michelin Pilot S 5 tires tuned specifically for the DB12.
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Same Impressive Performance
“Volante possesses all the Super Tourer traits so successfully introduced in the DB12 Coupe,” enthused Aston Martin Chief Technical Officer Roberto Fedeli. “That we have preserved this class-leading performance and handling is testament to the underlying brilliance of the DB12 platform and the work we have done to maintain the advantage of its superb powertrain and chassis in an open-top version,” noted Fedeli.
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Convertible Top
The new Aston Martin DB12 Volante features an electrically operated top that folds completely out of sight, residing below a hard tonneau cover that complements the Aston’s elegant lines. The compactness of the folded top maximizes available luggage space. The top opens in 14 seconds, takes 2 seconds longer to close, and these tasks can be accomplished at speeds up to 31 mph. The roof can also be operated via the key fob.
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Staying Quiet and Comfortable
With eight layers of insulation, the DB12 Volante’s fabric roof has been acoustically enhanced to keep the cabin quiet when the top is closed. Four colors are offered. Black is standard; other choices are Red, Blue or Silver.
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Inner Space
Like its hardtop stablemate, the Aston Martin DB12 Volante retains its exquisite cabin, replete with the finest materials including a range of leathers as well as open-pore wood trims. Setting itself apart from the coupe, the new Volante features wood veneers or carbon fiber on the seatbacks that matches the door inlay for additional eye candy with the roof open.
New Infotainment
The Aston Martin DB12 introduces a next-generation infotainment system developed in-house by Aston. A 10.25-inch high-resolution touchscreen integrates with the dashboard and features shortcuts on the left side of the screen for quick access to vehicle settings, audio and navigation. The system is easy to operate and has significantly improved over the previous generation. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also included.
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Rear Seat
The rear seat of the 2024 Aston Martin DB12 Volante is beautiful, although it’s more suited to admiration rather than actual sitting. The DB12 is considered a GT car with seating for four; however, with front seats in comfortable positions there is zero legroom in the back. The seat could work for a short stint or in an emergency, but it is best considered a stylish location for storing the bags that won’t fit in the tiny trunk.
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