Convertibles come with an aura of freedom and adventure that any coupé will find difficult to match, but they are often seen as less accomplished than their roofed counterparts. This, however, is not the case with the Aston Martin DB12 Volante. This is a sports car blessed with levels of handling and performance to compete with any grand tourer out there.
Evolving from the DB11, the DB12 represents the very pinnacle of Aston Martin’s achievements in developing topless cars. With its low-set profile, wide stance and beltline that runs uninterrupted until it merges with the powerful rear, it’s certainly an arresting sight.
Aston Martin DB12 Volante is by far, the most accomplished convertible the marque has every produced.
As standard it comes with 21-inch forged alloy wheels fitted with tyres specially made by Michelin for Aston Martin. The cherry on the cake is its K-fold fabric roof, a much lighter alternative to a metal one, which comes with the added benefit of extra luggage space.
The interior design is a true leap forward from its predecessor. It is not just the ultra-luxurious hand-stitched embossed leather, or the unique panels (wood veneer or carbon fibre) on the seatbacks matched with the door-trim inlay, but also the architecture of the cabin itself. This is clean and minimalistic, with physical switches for the more frequently used controls, leaving the rest behind the touchscreen. The Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound hi-fi system has been designed to create a soundscape and audio performance bespoke to the DB12.
The interior of the Aston Martin DB12 Volante has been designed not just as a luxurious space, but as a functional, driver-centric cabin, with physical switches for the more frequently used controls, leaving the rest behind the touchscreen.
But the focus of the design is concentrated on the driving experience, so many of the elements that contribute to its wild looks simply improve performance. For example, the new front splitter and the larger wheel-arch-liner apertures are there to accelerate the car’s cooling down process.
Switch on the engine and feel the DB12 Volante roar into life. Foot down and it’s just you and the open road. Supported by an exceptionally rigid bonded-aluminium structure and massively improved suspension, this is a thoroughbred – a car that does 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds, courtesy of its 4.0 Twin-Turbo V8 engine delivering 671bhp and a torque of 800Nm.
Aston Martin DB12 Volante offers the most thrilling driving experience in terms of agility and responsiveness. This is a car ready to take anything you or the road throw at it.
The Volante shares its punchy 8-speed automatic transmission with its coupé sibling, as well as shorter gears and several driving modes, a four-stage ESC, intelligent adaptive dampers and other adjustments sure to satisfy the demands of even the pickiest of drivers. The large paddles behind the steering wheel enhance the manual experience and add an extra feeling of connection to the road.
“If you really want to see what the Aston Martin DB12 Volante can do, take it to a track. I’ll say no more.”
– Julia Pasarón
Whether you’re tackling a tight corner or negotiating a sinuous mountain road, the DB12 Volante is there to work with you, responding instantly to every single instruction with surgical precision. If you really want to see what this beauty can do, take it to a track. I’ll say no more. More information and enquiries HERE.
Words: Julia Pasarón
Photos of Julia Pasarón © Dominic Fraser
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