PALM SPRINGS – “Just look at the exquisite carbonfibre front splitter,” I mumbled as Aston Martin boss Dr Ulrich Bez stood in front of a floodlight Vanquish Volante on a crisp Californian night and gesticulated about this, the brand’s 13th launch since he joined the Gaydon-based company, which celebrates its centenary this year.
My head instantly swung round to check whether the firm’s design director Marek Reichman heard my faux pas. He didn’t, I think. You see, the entire body of the jaw-dropping Volante is made of carbonfibre – not just the unpainted aero paraphernalia. That not only translates into reduced mass, but it means fewer individual body panels and joins are required, all of which contributes to a more coherent, svelte shape.
And what a shape it is. The windscreen is now “full height” – said to be a first for Aston Martin – which means the glass runs up to meet the fabric roof, thereby achieving a particularly clean transition. Styling cues such as the “sucked-in waist” (that’s Reichman’s colourful description, not mine), elongated side strakes and LED rear light blades are derived from the One-77 supercar while the triple-skin lightweight fabric roof (which takes just 14 seconds to fold) sits beneath a downward-sloping tonneau that slides elegantly underneath the ornate rear spoiler. The rear-three quarter aspect is pleasingly taut when considering the Volante’s boot capacity (a claimed 279 dm3) is 50 per cent larger than that of its DBS ragtop stablemate.
The following morning, when my co-driver and I set off from the quaint desert town in the heart of the Sunshine State, we marvelled at the Volante’s cabin so elegantly attired in luxurious materials: Luxmil leather (with optional quilting) and satin chrome trim, glass buttons that become illuminated when pressed and the haptic feedback feature in the metallic switchgear. Whereas ergonomics are the Achilles heel of older Aston Martin products, the Volante’s facia controls work well and feel expensive.
Aston Martin describes the Volante as a “super grand tourer”, but the claimed 2+2 seating configuration is misleading, because there’s no rear legroom to speak of. What the newcomer does extremely well however, is offer a fine balance between touring ability and raw performance. Over and above the dynamic stability and positive torque control systems, the Volante’s adaptive damping system allows the driver to switch between three distinct damping modes: Normal, Sport and Track, delivering instant adjustment of the car’s ride and handling characteristics.
Like its coupe counterpart, Aston’s VV uses the latest generation of Aston’s VH. The VH (vertical horizontal) architecture comprises a lightweight aluminium structure that includes the addition of significant semi-structural carbon fibre components, as well as the use of bonding derived directly from the latest aerospace technologies.
The inherent stiffness and weight optimisation is immediately apparent in the car’s road attitude. The springs and damper settings aren’t uncompromisingly calibrated, so the ride is generally compliant. By virtue of a 51:49 weight distribution and the quick (15:1) steering ratio, the handling is precise and the tiller communicative – especially when one considers the Volante’s a substantial V12-engined convertible, yet feels light on its… wheels and stops with alacrity thanks to the Brembo carbon ceramic matrix (CCM) braking system (beware: they’re a bit snatchy when cold).
If the Vanquish ragtop felt old-school, but mostly in a good way, it was the performance of the Cosworth-fettled and naturally aspirated AM11 6,0-litre V12 engine that produces 421 kW at 6 750 r/min and 620 N.m at 5 500 r/min for a claimed zero to 100 km/h run of 4,1 seconds and a top speed of 294 km/h.
The Touchtronic 2 six-speed automatic transmission will actuate gearshifts promptly on command and the throttle response is particularly impressive in Sport mode, yet the almost instant torque delivery of a force-fed motor, which doesn’t need to travel all the way to just short of 7k r/min to deliver its payload, feels somewhat amiss.
However, that will be of little concern to a Volante owner on those days that they just want to soak up the rays and flatten the asphalt for hours on end; the Aston’s motor will happily spin along below 3 000 r/min and never skip a beat. Should you feel the need to press on, well, then there should be very few cars will be able to keep up with you.
Specifications*
Model: Aston Martin Vanquish Volante
Engine: twelve cylinder, V configuration
Capacity: 5 935 cm3
Power: 421 kW @ 6 750 r/min
Torque: 620 N.m @ 5 500 r/min
0-100 km/h: 4,1 secs
Fuel consumption: n/a
Top speed: 294 km/h
Price: R4 000 000 (est)
*According to the manufacturer.
