Not all cars make the transformation between coupe and convertible gracefully. That is emphatically not the case with the 2024 Aston Martin DB12 Volante, the drop-top version of the English brand's new "super tourer." Aston Martin will show the car this week during the Monterey Car Week festivities, and those who get to see it are in for a treat.
While the DB12 Volante shares some bodywork with its predecessor and thus doesn't look too different on the outside, it's a better car in a number of ways. There was a big focus on making the car stiffer overall, with special attention to making big gains in rigidity in important areas like suspension mounting points. These tweaks allowed Aston Martin engineers to mount the steering column more rigidly, which is said to improve off-center response and feel.
The cabin is also significantly reworked over the DB11's, the centerpiece being a new, Aston Martin-designed infotainment system that's a big improvement over the old Mercedes system used in the '11. There's also a new center console that proudly features physical buttons, switches, and knobs over today's de rigueur haptic touchpads and screens. The DB12 Volante may not be an all-new car, but inside, it should certainly feel like one.
As with the coupe, power comes from an AMG-sourced 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 that benefits from specific Aston Martin hardware and software. It makes 671 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque compared with the 528 hp and 513 lb-ft of torque of the DB11 Volante. Aston Martin says it'll run from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds and onto a top speed of 202 mph. Who needs a blow-dryer when you could just get a DB12 Volante?
The transmission is a ZF eight-speed automatic mounted at the back, which uses a shorter final drive ratio than the DB11's gearbox and divvies up power between the wheels with an electronically controlled limited-slip differential. In terms of suspension, the main difference between DB12 coupe and Volante is in the rear spring rates—presumably higher to deal with the extra weight of the top mechanism—and the adaptive damper tuning. As with the coupe, 21-inch forged wheels are standard as are Aston Martin-specific Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tires.
Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but for reference, the MSRP for a 2023 DB11 Volante is $233,200. Production will commence in the coming months, and customer deliveries will start before the end of the year.
A car enthusiast since childhood, Chris Perkins is Road & Track's engineering nerd and Porsche apologist. He joined the staff in 2016 and no one has figured out a way to fire him since. He street-parks a Porsche Boxster in Brooklyn, New York, much to the horror of everyone who sees the car, not least the author himself. He also insists he's not a convertible person, despite owning three.
