2024 Aston Martin DB12 Volante

The DB11 Volante was beloved for its classy look and easy-going nature, but it was ready for retirement some time ago, thanks to an aging interior and dated tech. Aston Martin hasn't been resting on its laurels, however, and as part of an eight-car offensive, the DB12 range was recently revealed as the embodiment of the brand's next generation of sports cars taking over from the DB11. The 2024 Aston Martin DB12 Volante is the new high-performance convertible - but it's no longer just a pretty, pleasant drop-top. This is a Super Tourer with 671 horsepower, an all-new interior featuring a bespoke infotainment setup, and engineering that will ensure no one writes the DB12 convertible off as the meek one alongside the DB12 Coupe.

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The release date for the 2024 Aston Martin DB12 Volante is around the corner. The automaker says deliveries will start in the fourth quarter of 2023, just after its coupe sibling arrives in the USA.

High-end automakers like Aston Martin don't routinely publish price tags, but we're willing to bet the drop-top beauty will cost at least $265k before options and destination charges.

Other ultra-luxury convertibles that could be considered rivals to the DB12 Volante include the Ferrari Roma Spider, which should have a similar MSRP and is equally as stunning to behold. The Roma Spider is a lighter car, so it gets to 60 mph a little quicker. For those who are more focused on the comfort and opulence side of the Super Tourer class, the Bentley Continental GT Convertible is a good option - it makes less power in V8 guise, but there is still a W12 option for 2023. We reckon the 2024 Aston Martin DB12 Volante is worth the price.

The understated elegance of an Aston Martin convertible is something we're not likely to tire of anytime soon, and the DB12 Volante is no different. From the front, the almost-oversized satin chrome vaned grille identifies the drop-top as an Aston, while the side profile is elegantly sculpted and hints at the performance potential under the hood.

Prominent air intakes above the front wheels draw the eye along the beltline and across the languid curves of the haunches. The side sills are recessed to carry on the aerodynamic theme from the front splitter. We love the modern rear end with the thin taillights book-ending the Aston Martin logo, and the dual exhaust outlets are expertly set in a fascia that somehow manages to look elegant and sporty at the same time. A deployable spoiler with Aston's Aeroblade system is standard.

The party piece for the new Aston Martin DB12 Volante is the convertible 'K-fold' roof, which is operated in a two-stage procedure. Lowering the roof takes just 14 seconds, while the reverse takes two seconds longer - it can be deployed at speeds up to 31 mph and can be operated by remote if you're within six feet of the car. It stows below a hard tonneau cover that is seamlessly integrated into the tail.

21-inch forged alloy wheels fill the arches as standard, and these are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 5 S tires which are bespoke for Aston Martin's requirements. There are various designs in Satin Platinum, Satin Black, or Satin Black Diamond Turned, but we love the simple, unfussy design in these pictures that still looks contemporary without cheapening the classy aesthetic.

When it comes to exterior colors for the DB12 Volante, Aston Martin says there's a near-endless array of options to choose from. The roof can also be specified in black, red, blue, or 'black and silver', and racing stripes, gloss black exterior bits, and carbon fiber accents are all optional extras. For a cheekier look, smoked taillights are available, and the brake calipers can be painted black, red, silver, yellow, bronze, or Aston Martin's new Racing Green.

Dimensions for the Aston Martin DB12 Volante include a length of 186 inches over a wheelbase that stretches 110.4 inches. Height is just a smidge under 51 inches, while it's 84 inches from the tip of one wing mirror to the other. Ground clearance is just 3.7 inches.

Dry weight figures for the DB12 Volante come in at 3,959.5 pounds - around 244.5 lbs more than the coupe.

Aston's focus with the new DB12 range has been on merging luxurious comfort with performance, especially in terms of ensuring the drop-top doesn't suffer any penalties for having the roof lopped off. The same powertrain from the DB12 Coupe does duty here: a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that makes 671 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque - a substantial 34% increase from the outgoing DB11 range that had 'just' 528 hp. Torque is available from 2,750 rpm.

The Aston Martin DB12 Volante's engine is hand-built and features modified cam profiles and optimized compression ratios. There are also larger turbos and increased cooling technology, all so that the DB12 Volante can race from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds and on to a top speed of 202 mph.

A ZF eight-speed automatic transmission is standard, sending power to the rear wheels through an electronic limited-slip rear differential. There are five dynamic driving modes - Wet, GT, Sport, Sports Plus, and Individual - with different shift strategies and tailored steering and chassis calibration to give you the most thrilling experience. And when you need to come to a stop, braking is taken care of by cast-iron 15.7-inch front and 14.2-inch rear discs, although carbon ceramic brakes are available on the options list. These save weight and are designed to reduce brake fade.

A lot of work has gone into making the DB12 Volante a genuine sports car. For starters, it has a bonded aluminum structure, and the rear suspension upper mounting points and lateral connections have been enhanced. There's an engine cross brace and a standard, all of which improve torsional rigidity by almost 5%. The re-engineering of the chassis was necessary since there's a whole new level of dynamics in the DB12 range.

The steering has also been fine-tuned, all of which should work together to create a car that's stable when you need it to be and responsive and nimble when you want it to be.

Official figures have yet to be released, but the automaker claims a 23.2-mpg rating on the WLTP cycle. The outgoing DB11's V8 ratings of 18/24/20 mpg on city/highway/combined are likely to be a more accurate guide, with the more powerful DB12 Volante probably using a little more fuel overall.

The fuel tank has a capacity of 20.6 gallons, so range is likely to be in the region of 370 miles - assuming it uses about 18 mpg.

One of the biggest gripes with the DB11 the DB12 replaces was the aging cabin and sluggish infotainment setup, so it's a delight to see how much effort has gone into an all-new interior. And the DB12 lineup is the first product from the British marque to showcase the bespoke infotainment system that's been developed in-house, from scratch.

Spending time inside an Aston Martin has never been a punishment, but the new design is much more contemporary and ergonomic. There's a 10.25-inch Pure Black touchscreen front and center that has pinch-to-zoom functionality and is compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The bespoke HMI system is supplemented by a new Aston Martin customer connectivity app that allows owners to control the system from their devices.

Navigation is new, too, with 3D mapping, lane guidance, and real-time traffic overlays. A Bowers & Wilkins surround sound audio system with 11 speakers is standard, but there's an optional 15-speaker halo unit with double amplification, Aluminum Double Dome tweeters, Continuum midrange speakers, 3D headline speakers, and a subwoofer for those who want it. Speaking of sound, the eight-layer insulated fabric roof has been acoustically enhanced to maximize comfort in the cabin.

Despite the fresh tech in the new DB12 Volante, the automaker hasn't done away with physical buttons and dials. Key mechanical operations like gear selection, drive mode selection, and heating and ventilation are managed by these buttons, and there are override switches for frequently used systems like the ESP, chassis, exhaust, lane assist, and park distance control.

Of course, only the best materials are used inside the DB12 Volante, including standard leather upholstery and black Alcantara on the A-pillars and header. Buyers can also choose to upholster their DB12 in semi-aniline leather or a combination of semi-aniline leather and Alcantara. We're certain that interior color schemes for the Aston Martin DB12 Volante will be plentiful, with Q by Aston Martin available, too, for even more customization options. You can even choose what color seatbelts you want.

Cabin accents range from light or dark brushed aluminum to Light Ash Open Pore or Dark Walnut Open Pore wood, and Satin 2x2 Twill Carbon Fiber is also there should you want a sportier look. The drop-top DB12 differs from the coupe in that the Volante gets the wood veneer or carbon fiber panels on the seatbacks to match the door inlays for visual continuity when the roof is down.

Features-wise, seat heating as standard, and the seats in the Aston Martin DB12 Volante can also be upgraded to Sports Plus Seats or even Carbon Fiber Performance seats. Added extras to make it even more opulent include a heated steering wheel, seat ventilation, and 16-way power adjustment for the perches.

The safety suite is more generous than before, too, which is even more proof that Aston has stepped up to the plate. Forward collision warning, emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, door open assist, and a driver drowsiness detection system are all made standard, alongside the 360-degree camera.

Cargo space in a convertible is usually a little underwhelming, but no 2+2 GT is designed for practicality anyway. Still, the 2024 Aston Martin DB12 Volante has 9.3 cubic feet of cargo space, thanks to clever packaging that sees the roof fold as flat as possible.