The Aston Martin DB12 Volante is a 680PS 202mph soft‑top

Yes, everything the coupe does, the DB12 Volante does without a roof. That means it packs the monster 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 from Mercedes-AMG, that features a bespoke tune and hardware from Aston Martin to give it a character all of its own. Once you get that roof up – just 14 seconds at speeds up to 31mph, if you’re wondering – the DB12 Volante will get to a sturdy to speed of 202mph, having cracked 62mph in under four seconds on the way.

The Volante also features the DB12’s broader hips and reprofiled face, for a look perhaps not as divorced from its predecessor as some would have liked. All the same, it’s a very pretty thing, with the fabric drop-top adding that bit of Rivieran elegance, that Volantes always have.

The DB12 Volante also gets the all-new cabin of the DB12, which is markedly the biggest improvement the new family of cars brings to the table over past Astons. With an entirely new driver's display, 10.25-inch touch infotainment and HMI, the grainy two-gen-old Mercedes systems are thoroughly a thing of the past. The big test of course – one that Volantes have failed in the past – will be how the new centre console and dash deals with the added sunlight in terms of reflections and usability.

DB12 Volante: No longer the ‘soft’ option

Aston reckons both the Volante and Coupe were developed in tandem and thus, feature similar measures to boost stiffness over the outgoing Aston GT range. To that end, the Volante sees an overall 3.7 per cent increase in torsional stiffness, thanks in part to revised rear suspension upper mounting points and lateral connections, as well as a new engine cross brace. We hope they’ve paid attention, given the 4.0 twin turbo mill is no minnow, whose torque will take some containing. That said, they pretty well managed it with the 700PS-plus DBS Volante, so the DB12’s development ought to have been procedural. 

Indeed, Aston Martin CTO Robert Fedeli reckons the DB12 Volante is “no longer the ‘softer’ option”, as Volantes have so-often been dismissed in the past.

“Volante possesses all the Super Tourer traits so successfully introduced in the DB12 Coupe. That we have preserved this class-leading performance and handling is testament to the underlying brilliance of the DB12 platform and the work we have done to maintain the advantage of its superb powertrain and chassis in an open-top version. No longer the ‘softer’ option, DB12 Volante offers the stimulation of a true sportscar with the unique pleasure and satisfaction that only a convertible Aston Martin can deliver.

“A rare and true sporting convertible in every respect, this is a car to challenge preconceptions and find a new generation of Volante customer”.

We’ll get our first look at the new Aston Martin DB12 Volante in the metal at Monterey Car Week this week, with the car going on display at The Quail and Pebble Beach. The Californian sun should give us an indication of the answer to the question of cabin ergonomics with the roof down, too…

Beyond that, DB12 Volante deliveries are scheduled to begin by the end of this year, with prices expected to start not far off £200,000.