Aston Martin has released official images and information on its new halo drop-top: the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante.
In addition to becoming the first Vanquish model to adopt a folding canvas roof, the Volante is the firm’s first drop-top model to feature a carbon-fibre body shell stretched over its aluminium substructure.
Although there is the inevitable weight penalty that accompanies all sportscars when the roof is chopped off, the difference between the 1 844 kg Volante and its fixed-roof sibling is just 9 kg. Aston Martin also claims that this new construction improves torsional rigidity by 14 per cent over that of the preceding DBS Volante.
The centrepiece – that folding roof – is a triple-layer item that can be electrically folded beneath an aerodynamic, dual-dome, tonneau cover in just 14 seconds. Aston Martin has modified the stowage arrangement to free up 279 dm3 with the roof up or down.
Power is provided by the same 6,0-litre V12 doing service in the fixed-roof Vanquish. Coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission, this unit channels 421 kW and 620 N.m to the rear wheels – good enough for a claimed 0-100 km/h run of 4,1 seconds on the way to a 294 km/h top speed.
