Name: New Aston Martin DB12 Volante models and Specifications
Brand: Aston Martin

v8-volante-2dr-auto

The only engine option is a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8. It produces 671bhp, allowing you to get up to the motorway limit briskly using only its mid-range grunt. The car absolutely flies when you rev it hard, but you'll probably see fuel consumption drop into the teens.

The list of standard kit includes heated leather seats, two-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, adaptive cruise control, a DAB radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. We’d be tempted to tick the option box for the 15-speaker, 1,170W Bowers & Wilkins stereo upgrade.

Volante

Sports

Yes, Aston Martin is the preferred manufacturer of a certain (not so) secret agent, but its latest cars offer a lot more than the chance to indulge your Bond fantasies.

The DB12 is a very fast and very luxurious long distance cruiser, and the DBS is arguably one of the most glamorous cars around.

Proving it's not afraid to move with the times, Aston has also embraced&nbsp;the march of the SUV; its DBX707 is a stunning example of what's possible when building a fast, expensive and sporty SUV.

ASTON MARTIN

DB12

V8 Volante 2dr Auto

Aston Martin DB12 Volante

Introduction

Performance & drive

Interior

Passenger & boot space

Costs & verdict

Let’s not beat around the bush here: an Aston Martin DB12 Volante will cost you a small fortune to buy although, presumably, this won’t come as a surprise to you if you’re considering one.

Likewise, we’re guessing you won’t be shocked to learn that it sits in the top insurance group band, drinks like Oliver Reed (official average economy is just 23.2mpg) and servicing costs will be high – especially when you need a new set of tyres.

True, the DB12 Volante won’t depreciate as quickly as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/sl-class/sports/review/n17206">Mercedes-AMG SL 63</a>&nbsp;but you’re still looking at it losing tens of thousands of pounds in the first year of ownership.

On the up side, you get a long list of standard equipment, including heated front seats, two-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-cruise-control-and-should-you-have-it-on-your-next-car/n26822">adaptive cruise control</a>, a DAB radio, LED headlights and an Alcantara suede headliner. Options include ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel and privacy glass.

No version of the DB12 has been crash-tested by <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-safest-cars-on-sale-today/n19724">Euro NCAP</a> or security tested by the experts at Thatcham, but safety kit includes automatic emergency braking (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">AEB</a>), blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition and cross-traffic assist.

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The 671bhp engine in the Aston Martin DB12 Volante is flexible as well as powerful, pulling almost as hard from low down as the V8 in the Bentley Continental GTC while being more eager to rev.

What’s more, it’s the Aston’s engine (actually sourced from Mercedes-AMG) that sounds better as it gallops towards its redline, aided by a switchable exhaust that lets you turn up the volume when you’re in the mood. Think Rod Stewart with laryngitis – deep and gravely, but still properly tuneful.

You’ll appreciate the engine note all the more when you lower the roof (which takes 14 seconds and is possible at speeds of up to 31mph). When it’s down, you’re well protected from wind buffeting all the way up to motorways speeds, as long as you install the wind deflector over the rear seats.&nbsp;

What about the car's dynamics? They're often the Achilles' heel of convertibles because chopping the metal roof off a car forces you to add bracing to strengthen the structure, adding weight and blunting handling?

Well, not here. The ride is firmer than a Continental GTC’s&nbsp;but still on the right side of comfortable as long as you keep the adaptive dampers out of their most focused setting.

At the same time, the DB12 Volante stays very flat and composed through corners, so feels far more agile than the GTC. It benefits from sharp – but never twitchy – steering that provides a stronger sense of connection to the front wheels than you get with the Mercedes-AMG SL 63.

There’s plenty of grip available too, and an electronically controlled differential for the rear wheels helps maximise traction as you power out of corners.

Granted, the GTC remains on another level in terms of isolating occupants from the outside world with the roof up, but the DB12 is still quiet enough to keep you relaxed on long drives.

OUR PICK

Fuel 

Gearbox

0-62 MPH

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In music, "volante" means to move lightly and quickly, and while it would be a stretch to call the Aston Martin DB12 Volante light (it tips the scales at almost 1,800kg), it’s certainly capable of moving quickly, with 0-62mph taking just 3.7 seconds and a top speed north of 200mph.

Still, that’s hardly surprising. This car is the convertible version of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/aston-martin/db12/coupe/review/n25897">Aston Martin DB12</a> coupé, and uses the same 671bhp twin-turbo 4.0-litre petrol V8 engine.

It’s worth noting that convertible Astons haven’t always been as good as their raw ingredients would suggest. The DB9 Volante, for example, flexed like it was made from wet cardboard, and consequently suffered from vague handling and a crashy ride. The DB11 Volante&nbsp;was much more impressive – which is especially encouraging news given that it was the starting point for this&nbsp;DB12 Volante.

So, what’s changed? Well, in addition to giving it a thorough restyle, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/aston-martin">Aston Martin</a> has tried to sharpen up the handling while simultaneously delivering a more luxurious feel.

In this review we’re going to look at how successful it’s been, plus we’ll compare the Aston Martin DB12 Volante with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/convertibles/n17007">best convertible</a> rivals, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bentley/continental-gt/sports/review/n24424">Bentley Continental GTC</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/sl-class/sports/review/n17206">Mercedes-AMG SL</a>.

A 16-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat and a steering wheel that offers a wide range of movement combine to make it easy for people of different shapes and sizes to find a good driving position in the Aston Martin DB12 Volante.

What’s more, the seats feel plusher than those in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/sl-class/sports/review/n17206">Mercedes SL</a> and are more supportive in corners than the big, armchair-like items in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bentley/continental-gt/sports/review/n24424">Bentley Continental GTC</a>. It’s just a pity some drivers might find that they catch their left knee on the electric seat controls, which are mounted on the side of the centre console.

You sit comparatively low down behind a high dashboard and wide windscreen pillars, so forward visibility could be better. Plus, the high boot lid means the standard parking sensors and 360-degree parking camera will be appreciated, even when the roof is folded away.

Fortunately, you should have no complaints about interior quality. True, the DB12 Volante doesn’t feel quite as robust as a Continental GTC, but the standard of assembly is still impressive, and the materials used are suitably premium. Soft&nbsp;hand-stitched leather covers most surfaces, and the speaker grilles and other details are made from stainless steel instead of the plastic you get in the SL.

You can specify a clear and punchy 15-speaker Bowers &amp; Wilkins stereo with 1,170 watts. Meanwhile, the standard 12.3in <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment touchscreen</a> is Aston Martin’s own development (replacing the Mercedes-sourced system in the DB11). Wired <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> and wireless <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> are standard, and the screen is sharp and responsive enough – although our early test car did suffer from some <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-sat-nav-apps/n24915">sat-nav</a> and Bluetooth glitches.

Helpfully, you still get physical controls on the centre console for commonly used functions. For example, adjusting the audio volume or the temperature for the climate control can be done simply by rolling a scroll wheel back and forth.

The Volante is the drop-top version of Aston Martin’s sporty, rapid and luxurious DB12 grand tourer

Although the Aston Martin DB12 Volante offers a more intimate, sporty feel than a Bentley Continental GTC, there’s still plenty of space in the front. Head and leg room are both good, even for very tall adults, and the relatively wide interior means there's plenty of elbow room.

Storage space includes a wireless charging tray for your phone, two small cupholders, a centre armrest cubby and door bins that can each hold a drinks bottle horizontally.

The rear seats, on the other hand, are very cramped and best viewed as a nicely upholstered luggage shelf for coats and bags. Fitting the wind deflector&nbsp;makes them uninhabitable. The Continental GTC and Mercedes-AMG SL are better if you often carry more than one passenger.

With the roof up, the DB12 Volante has a bigger boot than the SL, but when you compare them in roof-down mode, the SL wins (its roof doesn't take up any boot space). The GTC has a bigger boot in all situations.

In numbers, the DB12 Volante gives you 262 litres of boot space with the roof up, which is enough for two carry-on suitcases with maybe a couple of soft bags squeezed on top of them. With it&nbsp;down, the space shrinks to 169 litres and is shallower, so the suitcases will still fit but you can forget about additional bags.

volante

Some rivals are more practical, but the Aston Martin DB12 Volante is great to drive and feels special inside, so it’s well worth considering if you’re shopping at this rarified end of the new car market.

What we're looking for:<ul><li>Wind-in-the-hair excitement</li> <li>Roof that’s quick and easy to raise and lower</li> <li>Comfortable seating for four adults</li> <li>Sufficient practicality for everyday use</li> <li>Little wind buffeting</li> <li>Quietness, whether the roof is up or down</li> <li>Minimal shaking and shimmying over bumps</li></ul>

Despite the British weather, UK car buyers are among the biggest enthusiasts for wind-in-your-hair motoring, so convertibles have always been surprisingly popular here. It’s best to be able to react to the fickle climate, though, so a roof that opens (and closes) quickly is every bit as important as good top-down cruising refinement.

There are precious few bespoke drop-tops these days, so your choice of models is generally limited to soft-top versions of existing models. But there are still some fantastic options out there.

Convertible

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Ride comfort shouldn’t be sacrificed at the altar of handling sharpness</li> <li>Plenty of power from a melodic engine</li> <li>Handling that doesn’t come at the expense of a back-breaking ride​​​​​</li> <li> Practicality is not essential but nice to have </li></ul>

Driving fun is right at the top of any sports car buyer's priority list, and every one of our award candidates has backroad entertainment coded into its DNA.

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