Billed as a “true driver’s car first and foremost” and “no longer the ‘softer’ option (compared with the coupe)”, the Aston Martin DB12 Volante is a head-turning – but harder-edged – open-top super tourer that can catapult from 0 to 100 kph in 3.7 sec.

Unsurprisingly, the newly unveiled DB12 Volante, which makes its global debut at Monterey Car Week in California this week, is just as beautifully sculpted as its coupe sibling – or, arguably, better looking still. The key difference, of course, is the Volante’s electrically-operated (8-layer) “K-fold” fabric roof – so named due to the 2-stage folding procedure engineered to achieve an admirable 260-mm stack height.

When raised, the newcomer’s sinuous roofline maintains the recently revealed DB12 Coupe’s sleek profile, but once lowered (and concealed beneath the hard tonneau), the DB12 Volante’s uninterrupted beltline culminates and, let us quote the Gaydon-based manufacturer verbatim: “a lithe and muscular tail that puts the lumpen efforts of package-compromised rivals to shame”. Well, there you have it!

Said to have been developed in parallel with its coupe sibling, the new DB12 Volante shares the tin-top’s acclaimed bonded aluminium structure. Aston Martin notably fine-tuned the specification of all elements of the Volante’s underbody, such as stiffening the suspension mounts (by 140% at the front, it claims), which facilitated the implementation of a non-isolated steering column, as well as suitable steering and damper tuning to deliver “precise on and off-centre steering” feel.

And, thanks to changes to underbody components, including the fitment of an engine cross brace, DB12 Volante’s global torsional stiffness is said to be 3.7% better than that of its predecessor.

Claimed to deliver “best-in-class potency”, the DB12 Volante’s Mercedes-AMG-derived 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 powerplant produces 500 kW at 6 000 rpm and 800 Nm of torque between 2 750 and 6 000 rpm; it features modified cam profiles, optimised compression ratios, larger turbos, and increased cooling to achieve an increase in output of 34% compared with that of its V12-engined predecessor.

Apart from its 3.7-sec zero to 100 kph time, the DB12 Volante is said to have a top speed of 325 kph.

Power is fed to the newcomer’s 21-inch forged alloy rear wheels (fitted with Michelin Pilot S 5 tyres as standard) through a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission with a range of shift programmes that complement each of 5 drive modes (including a quartet of ESC settings). Like its coupe sibling, the DB12 Volante also uses a shortened final drive ratio and an electronic rear differential (E-Diff).

Other highlights of the package include new intelligent adaptive dampers, which “have a 500% increase in bandwidth of force distribution compared to previous-gen hardware”. Compared with DB12 Coupe, the Volante features revisions to the rear spring rate and a dedicated damper tune.

Stopping power is provided by 400-mm brake discs at the front, with 360-mm discs at the rear, while a fade-resistant carbon ceramic brake system, which is said to save 27 kg in unsprung mass, is optional.

In terms of its interior execution, what distinguishes the DB12 Volante’s cabin from that of its coupe counterpart? Wood veneer (or carbon fibre) panels on the seatbacks, matched with the door trim inlays.

The aforementioned fabric roof (available in four colours) takes 14 seconds to open and 16 seconds to close and can be used at speeds of up to 50 kph. For added convenience, the roof mechanism can be operated via the remote key, provided the user is standing within a 2-metre radius of the car.

The new infotainment setup is a multi-screen system with online connectivity and 10.25-inch Pure Black touchscreen technology, augmented with capacitive single and multi-finger gesture control. Buttons are retained for the mechanical operations of gear selection, drive selection, heating and ventilation, plus there are override switches for chassis, ESP and exhaust, lane-assist and park distance control settings.

In the event that the twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8’s Basso profondo exhaust note gets too monotonous (hey, it’s highly unlikely –but not impossible), the DB12 Volante comes standard with a Bowers & Wilkins 390W 11-speaker audio system with surround-sound mode and QuantumLogic sound processing.

For true audiophiles, Aston Martin has developed an optional 15-speaker, double amplified 1 170W surround sound system in conjunction with Bowers & Wilkins. It features high-performance loudspeakers, such as Aluminium Double Dome tweeters and Continuum midrange speakers, supplemented by dedicated 3D headline speakers and a potent subwoofer.

When will the DB12 Volante be available in SA?

Production of DB12 Volante will commence soon, with the first deliveries scheduled to begin during Q4 2023. According to John Wittle ­– the brand and sales manager at Aston Martin Johannesburg and Cape Town – the DB12 Volante will arrive in Mzansi in May 2024. Its price will be revealed closer to that date.

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