► Drop-top DB12 Volante has arrived
► Makes public debut at 2023 Monterey Car Week
► Deliveries start toward the end of the year
Aston Martin has launched its new drop-top super-GT: the DB12 Volante. Almost a given at this point, the convertible version of its latest GT car will make its public debut at 2023’s Monterey Car Week.
And, yes, while it is *just* a convertible version of the hardtop DB12, Aston Martin says the Volante was developed in parallel to the coupe to minimise the familiar compromises convertibles bring.
The fundamentals remain the same as the DB12 coupe: a heavily-revised look compared to the previous gen DB11, a hand-built AMG-derived 4.0-litre V8 developing 671bhp fed to the rear wheels via an eight-speed ZF auto, an electronic differential and a five-stage stability control system. A much-improved interior layout and design over the DB11 (including an all-new infotainment system) also features. Standard Michelin Pilot S 5 tyres are shod around 21-inch wheels, and carbon ceramic brakes are an option.
Even so, the Brit brand has focused extensively on ensuring the DB12 Volante is as stiff and as light as it can be. A stiffer front axle, a specific damping tune and modifications to rear spring rates set the Volante apart from the DB12 coupe.
The roof itself has a ‘k-fold’ mechanism and folds down to a height of just 260mm in order to maximise boot space when it’s folded down.