The Aston Martin DBS 770 Ultimate Volante is the ultimate open‑top GT

Besides the roof, everything is more or less the same with this open-lid version as the coupe. That means a puffed-out splitter, extra vents in the bonnet, flared side skirts, an enhanced diffuser, stunning honeycomb wheels and the option of a special livery to make it all pop.

That also means this is the most powerful Aston Martin Volante ever made, with a monster 770PS (566kW) at 6,500rpm and 900Nm (664lb ft) of torque between 1,800 and 5,000rpm. Those figures come from a revised induction system and a jump in boost. It also gets the stiffer front end for better steering feel – particularly useful on the less rigid Volante platform – and revised dampers. There’s also the tuned eight-speed ZF transmission for quicker shifts.

One definite difference between the Coupe and the Volante is that the lidless car will be rarer. While 300 Coupes are set for production, just 199 Volantes will be available. Predictably, they’re all sold and were before even the Coupe was revealed. Ho-hum, we’re sure some will be on the used markets for folding money over £300,000, following deliveries starting in the second half of this year.

As for what’s to follow the Ultimate? The language around it has been very absolute, suggesting this could be the end of the line for the V12-engined flagship Aston Martin. There have been no specifics and we can’t imagine a world without it, so we’re quietly hopeful…