New Aston Martin DB12 Volante joins DB12 Coupe

As a complement to the DB12 Coupe, Aston Martin has introduced the new DB12 Volante. The models are the first in the British marque’s next generation of sportscars, with the new DB12 Volante offering ‘topless’ motoring.

High-performance convertibles are nothing new to Aston Martin, and with the DB12 Volante, the well-known style and craftsmanship have been revitalised by advanced technologies and state-of-the-art engineering.

Central to the DB12 Volante experience is, of course, the folding roof. This is electrically-operated and called a ‘K-fold’ roof. Named due to the 2-stage folding procedure engineered to achieve a class-leading 260 mm stack height.

It has 8 layers of insulation, for acoustic enhancement to improve interior comfort. When raised, the roof line maintains the DB12’s profile. When lowered, the K-fold mechanism sits low beneath a hard tonneau cover to create a beautifully elegant tail.

The 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 even with a headwind of the same speed.

For additional convenience (and to impress friends or passersby), opening and closing can be activated remotely from within 2 metres of the car.

Developed at the same time as the Coupe, the DB12 Volante shares the same rigid bonded aluminium structure. Additionally, there was focus on the detail engineering and specification of all elements of the Volante’s underbody.

Torsional stiffness is an important issue in convertibles which do not have the roof structure to provide the stiffness.

Revisions in key structural elements, such as the rear suspension upper mounting points and lateral connections, as well as performance additions, including the engine cross-brace, boost the DB12 Volante’s overall torsional stiffness by almost 5%.

Of equal importance for vehicle integrity and dynamic performance, the mounting points for all suspension attachments were extensively upgraded laterally (140% on the front axle). Indeed, the main difference between DB12 Coupe and Volante are detail revisions to rear spring rate and a dedicated damper tune.

These changes, in line with the development of the DB12 Coupe, allowed the use of a non-isolated steering column and complementary steering and damper tuning to deliver precise on and off-centre steering connection with class-leading linearity of vehicle response.

Other highlights include new generation intelligent adaptive dampers, which have a 500% increase in bandwidth of force distribution compared to previous generation hardware. This gives the DB12 Volante a range of dynamic capability and character far in excess of class rivals.

Standard 21-inch forged alloy wheels are fitted with ‘AML’ coded Pilot S 5 tyres made to Aston Martin’s requirements by Michelin. Braking is provided by cast-iron 400 mm front discs and 360 mm rear discs as standard.

Customers can also opt for al Carbon Ceramic Brake system which gives increased braking performance, reduced brake fade and a 27-kg weight saving in unsprung mass.

The car’s superlative performance is delivered by a hand-built 4-litre Twin-Turbo V8 engine, tuned by Aston Martin engineers to produce 680 ps/800 Nm. Power delivery to the wheels is through a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission.

This high output (34% more than the DB11)  has been achieved having modified cam profiles, optimised compression ratios, larger turbos, and increased cooling. It enables a claimed 0 to 100 km/h time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 325 km/h.

Within the DB12 Volante cabin is a clean, contemporary design with the finest materials used, personalised to customers’ requirements. Standard are the bespoke infotainment, Bowers & Wilkins surround sound hi-fi and HMI systems immersing occupants in a fully connected state-of-the-art experience.

The DB12 range is the first to receive Aston Martin’s next-generation infotainment system. Entirely bespoke and developed from scratch with industry-leading suppliers, it is the carmaker’s first in-house system. It also supplemented by a new connectivity app.

The new system is a fully integrated multi-screen system with full online connectivity and displayed using 10.25-inch Pure Black touchscreen. Understanding the need for balance between touchscreen commands and the positive tactility of physical switches, buttons are retained for the key mechanical operations of gear selection, drive selection, heating and ventilation.

“For many of our customers, roof-down driving is the greatest pleasure. Aston Martin Volantes have captured that emotion and expressed it in unique style for more than 6 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,” declared Aston Martin’s CEO, Amedeo Felisa, at the car’s global debut at the Monterey Car Week in California this week.