The new Aston Martin DB12 Volante isn’t a soft grand tourer destined for drives along the waterfront, but it could be. Not only is this the best-looking car on sale today (argue with a wall), but it has an extraordinary breadth of capability with genuine performance, daily driver comfort, and plenty of cutting-edge technology. If the DB12 is a giant leap forward for Aston Martin, where does this leave the convertible DB12 Volante? Is it an evolution, or does it take a step back from greatness? We spent the day with the new model to find out.
RELATED: Aston Martin Valiant is a Hardcore V12 Driver’s Car Fit For an F1 Champion.
How Much Does the Aston Martin DB12 Volante Cost?
The new Aston Martin DB12 Volante costs from AUD$492,000 plus on-road costs in Australia.
Of course, this number will skyrocket quickly if you add options, and our test car has plenty. Unfortunately, the spec sheet provided doesn’t tell us the price of anything, and neither does the website, so we can’t play a game of ‘guess the price’. However, the spec sheet is three pages long, and we wouldn’t expect much change from AUD$700,000. Still, when you look at the competition, it’s not bad value, if that’s even possible.
While most customers shopping at this price point know exactly what they want, the Aston Martin DB12 Volante competes with other convertible grand tourers, including:
- Bentley Continental GTC S – from AUD$568,400 plus on-road costs
- Ferrari Roma Spider – from AUD$520,300 plus on-road costs
- Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo – from AUD$475,000 plus on-road costs
The Aston Martin DB12 Volante is unquestionably the best-looking of the four. However, the Bentley Continental GTC S is soon to be replaced by the much improved new model, and we’re just waiting on pricing and availability details for Australia.
What Powers the Aston Martin DB12 Volante?
| Aston Martin DB12 Volante | |
| Engine | 4.0-litre Twin-Turbo V8 petrol engine |
| Power | 500kW @ 6,000rpm |
| Torque | 800Nm @ 2,750-6,000rpm |
| Drive type | Rear-wheel drive |
| Transmission | ZF 8-speed torque-converter automatic |
| Weight (kerb) | 1,898kg |
While the V12 is no more, there’s little to complain about with the 4.0-litre Twin-Turbo V8 engine, which produces 500 kW (680 PS) of power at 6000 rpm and 800 Nm of torque between 2750 and 6000 rpm.
It’s a Mercedes-AMG-sourced unit, but it might as well be a completely different engine with modified cam profiles, optimised compression ratios, larger turbos, and increased cooling. This helps achieve the big number, which equates to an increase in output of 34 per cent compared with the DB11. The result is a 0-100 km/h time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 202 mph.
Power is sent to the ground with a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission. Of course, a brutal (and beautiful) sound accompanies the performance, and this might be one of the loudest cars you can buy today.
Compared to its competitors, the Aston Martin DB12 Volante isn’t the quickest. The new Bentley Continental GTC Speed is more powerful, with a hybrid 4.0-litre Twin-Turbo V8 engine that produces 782 PS and is quicker in a straight line, with a 0-100 km/h time of 3.4 seconds. The same goes for the less powerful but quicker Ferrari Roma Spider (620 CV), which completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in 3.4 seconds, and the Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo, which completes the 0-100 km/h sprint in 3.6 seconds.
What’s the Interior of the Aston Martin DB12 Volante Like?
We’ve spoken at length about Aston Martin’s strides in the interior department, and the theme continues with the DB12 Volante. It’s a perfect blend of craftsmanship and technology, and the quality reflects the price tag with handbag-like leather and wood finishes throughout the cabin.
The interior is identical to the DB12 Coupe, except for the seatbacks, which match the door trim inlays in either wood veneer or carbon fibre to provide another visual element when the roof is down.
Speaking of which, the roof is an electrically operated ‘K-fold’ roof, which basically means it folds down in two stages. Roof operation takes 14 seconds to open and 16 seconds to close and can be used at speeds of up to 50 km/h and into a 50 km/h headwind. It’s engineered to achieve a 260 mm stack height, so it takes up minimal storage space in the boot. However, there’s not much luggage space when the roof is folded down, and there’s just enough for a smaller set of golf clubs if you’re lucky.
Our only complaint about the cabin of the Aston Martin DB12 Volante is the space taken up by this folding roof along the top of the windscreen. While gorgeous from the outside, the locking mechanism is quite bulbous on the inside, and you spend a lot of time looking at it when the roof is shut—at least, we did at six feet tall.
Technology-wise, the car combines a new, in-house-designed 10.25-inch Pure Black touchscreen infotainment system with a Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system. This system brings wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and WHAT3WORDS destination input when phone reception isn’t available.
Physical buttons remain for the gear selection, drive selection, heating and ventilation, and override switches for Chassis, ESP and Exhaust, Lane Assist, and Park Distance Control. We would also love quicker access to the speed limit warning because this mandatory system is quite annoying in a 500kW convertible.
Bowers & Wilkins’s 390W 11-speaker audio system is standard. However, we recommend the optional 15-speaker, double-amplified 1,170W surround sound system, which combines high-performance loudspeakers, such as Aluminium Double Dome tweeters and Continuum midrange speakers, with dedicated 3D headline speakers for outstanding audio.
How Does the Aston Martin DB12 Volante Drive?
This was our first time driving the new Aston Martin DB12, and what a leap forward the brand has made over its previous product line-up. Where just about every previous Aston Martin felt five years behind the competition, the brand has pushed the technology boundaries just enough with the DB12 to bring a benchmark driving experience that still feels every bit as sexy and masculine as those famous Astons from Bond movies in the past.
Punch out of corners with the shortened Final Drive Ratio and Electronic Rear Differential (E-Diff) is strong and addictive. With all 800 Nm of torque available from 2750 rpm, it hits like a horse and combines with a thumpy V8 soundtrack.
With a kerb weight of 1,898 kg, it weighs less than a BMW M4 Competition Convertible, which is surprising for a vehicle with this much leather and suede. It’s not as heavy as you might expect, and this helps the overall driving experience, especially through corners where you can explore the four-stage ESC and five pre-defined dynamic modes. It can be as lively or as sensible through the rear axle as you want because of this ESC system, and it will stick a permanent smile on your face with its poise and power delivery.
This customisable ESC system combines with intelligent adaptive dampers, which have a 500 per cent increase in bandwidth of force distribution compared to previous-generation hardware. It’s never too harsh or plush and finds the middle ground between performance and luxury better than any other Aston Martin.
We can’t tell you how it compares to the DB12 Coupe because we haven’t driven it, but we can tell you the Volante has a revised rear spring rate and a dedicated damper tune.
You won’t find fault in the Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS), which uses a non-isolated steering column and a constant 13.09:1 ratio rack because it’s very good. However, could Aston Martin still take a note from Porsche’s book in this department? Yes. Still, it balances a swift, natural-feeling rate and ultimate response.
The same cast-iron 400mm front discs and 360mm rear discs are standard to the Volante, with an optional Carbon Ceramic Brake (CCB) system that offers less fade and 27kg unsprung weight saving.
Man of Many’s Verdict on the Aston Martin DB12 Volante
If you have more than half a million dollars lying around to spend on a car and want the best-looking vehicle on sale, the Aston Martin DB12 Volante is the logical choice. However, there’s substance that goes beyond the looks here. It’s more than a good-looking car with a powerful engine under the bonnet; it’s a well-rounded package with a balance of technology that works with you and encourages you to enjoy every moment in the car, no matter the occasion.
From the power and sound of the twin-turbo V8 to the 15-speaker, double-amplified 1,170W surround sound system and new in-house infotainment system, the DB12 Volante has a breadth of capability that Aston Martin would previously only dream of. Because of this, it’s one of the best cars the brand has created.
It’s certainly one of the best cars we’ve driven this year, and while the raw numbers don’t place it at the top of the food chain, there are few cars we’d rather drive.
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