A convertible version of the DB 11, the Volante is indeed one of the most beautiful and exclusive convertibles in the world. But make no mistake: capable of extraordinary performance, this Aston Martin has chosen to focus on comfort.
By Frédéric Edmond
Outside, heads turn. Logical: it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful convertibles in the world. Its silhouette is a form of perfection, and better than elsewhere, its fluid lines with racy details manage to moderate the illusion of volume of a car that is 4.75 meters long and 1.95 meters wide. With this Volante, a convertible version of its splendid DB 11, Aston Martin signs an exceptional convertible carried by elegance and sportiness. To the fineness of its features, the manufacturer opposes muscular hips; to the fluidity of its curves, it opposes vigorous rims. And all of this is perfectly harmonized with the brand’s own stylistic identity, characterized by the sumptuous sculpted front grille and the status of the hood.
But don’t be fooled: this DB 11 Volante is not intended for competition. It is still designed for comfort, or at least for everyday use. Thus, the interior plays the business-class card: only the low seat and bucket seats give the thing a truly sporty connotation. The flattering leathers and materials, used cheerfully, betray the more relaxed positioning of this GT. If, on the whole, the manufacturing is unquestionably top-of-the-range, some plastics, at the level of the air vents or the central mirror, do not seem to be up to the standard claimed by the Aston Martin. Even the Japanese ash, used to dress the backs of the seats and line the center console, looks out of place and comes across as a luxury cover rather than a gratifying feature. The thick canvas top, on the other hand, does its job perfectly by offering amazing soundproofing, while being handled quickly, in a few seconds.
The mechanics are still there. Here, no V12 reserved for the coupe: the twin-turbo V8 with 4 liters of displacement develops a power of 510 hp, which is suitable for the cabriolet by allowing it to contain its mass while offering a certain dynamism. This block, with its raucous and rumbling sound at idle, immediately puts you in the mood and a rise in rpm gratifies the driver with a musicality perfectly in tune with its setting. Served by a very responsive eight-speed automatic transmission and 675 Nm of torque, this V8 can take the Volante to 100 km/h in four seconds and up to 300 km/h in no time… as long as you know how to dose it. Indeed, the rear wheels, which are driven, have a hard time digesting so much power when exiting a curve, even when it is light and dry These inconveniences are due toa self-locking differential and large anti-roll bars that are there for a good cause, and do not prevent the vehicle from being used every day, even dynamically. On the road, not surprisingly, the Aston Martin proves to be quite comfortable due to a soft suspension setting, which seems to meet the expectations of a clientele obviously anxious to drive quietly at the wheel of a magnificent GT.
Engine: V8 bi-turbo; Displacement: 3 982 cm3; Power: 510 hp. Torque: 675 Nm; 0 to 100 km/h: 4.1 seconds; Max. 300 km/h; Fuel consumption: 10 liters.
