While Aston Martin’s DB12 Volante has often been shrouded in undercover agent references, we’ll exercise restraint with this newcomer, as for the first time in the brand’s 110-year history, the car itself is so exquisite that it doesn’t need camouflage paint or heat-seeking missiles to enhance its beauty and magnetism. The sleek new sports car demands much more horsepower and torque to harness its unbridled power, leaving the competition in its dust. With the recent introduction of Vanquish and Vantage, the DB12 signifies a revival for Britain’s iconic brand, reclaiming its position as the world’s top-selling grand tourer and sending a defiant message to Germany and Italy: Aston Martin’s investment under Lawrence Stroll’s leadership has borne fruit.
The initial offerings from Aston Martin failed to resonate with us. Although the outgoing DBS Superleggera boasted sinister curb presence and a sleek, modern silhouette, it fell short of achieving that iconic, timeless allure that defined the DB5 and DB9, leaving an air of impermanence in its wake? However, the DB11’s identical criticism is rectified by the DB12, which charting a bold new design trajectory, addresses these concerns overnight. The redesigned entrance grille, featuring six horizontal slats (five on the Vantage, seven on the Vanquish), has dramatically redefined the vehicle’s aesthetic appeal, bestowing a more dynamic and angular silhouette upon its front end. While the Volante appears to surpass its peers, a notion mirrored by many enthusiasts of high-performance convertibles akin to the Porsche 911 Cabriolet and the Bentley Continental GT Convertible.
You won’t find a DB12 badge until you lift the hood or open the door to reveal it on the door sill. Since their inception in Aston Martin’s designs, swan doorways have remained an iconic feature, characterized by their subtle upward swing, carefully calibrated to avoid scraping against curbs. The innovative hinges enable seamless integration with doors at any desired angle, showcasing engineering prowess without flaunting ostentatious design like some high-performance sports cars’ scissor doors.
As twilight descends, Titanium Gray appears substantial, its tone subtly shifting with the fading light. Yet, beneath this dominant hue lies a rich tapestry of colours, including an entire legion of emerald tones within Aston Martin’s comprehensive colour spectrum. What sets Aston’s online configurator apart from its competitors – including BMW’s extensive Individual customizer – is a concise yet informative paragraph accompanying each paint colour, providing context on its significance and rich history. By hovering over the iconic 1959 Racing Green colour, enthusiasts are treated to a delightful surprise – a direct nod to the very same hue that adorned the championship-winning DBR1 racing car at Le Mans. Develop a concept car inspired by the Podium Inexperienced, similar in essence to the AMR24 Formula 1 vehicle, while incorporating the F1 safety and medical cars’ innovative features. The configurator meticulously elucidates its entirety, while also offering profound insights into each colour, imbuing an unparalleled level of profundity within the spectrum.
The interior design has made a groundbreaking leap forward in innovation and style. The initial generation of Aston Martin interiors offered a premium experience, but one hampered by cramped quarters, cluttered design, and an overreliance on dated Mercedes technology that was both reliable yet antiquated. No extra. With Aston’s fashionably keen eye for detail, the brand has taken its aesthetic to new heights by thoughtfully incorporating an array of intricately embroidered, debossed, and cutting-edge electronic badges and logos into its digital offerings. The switchgear exudes opulence, its initial button and gearshift trim resembling the luxurious feel of a Bentley’s interior, seamlessly merged with the tactile sophistication of a Porsche. There’s no Mercedes to be seen anywhere. The singular stalk controlling various vehicle functions, along with a minimalist approach to steering column-mounted inputs, results in a surprisingly sparse array of intuitive controls, leaving much to be desired.
While Aston prioritizes both performance and practicality.
The introduction of a 10.3-inch touchscreen has allowed Aston to use in-house software for most controls, while dedicated hard buttons or dials have been assigned to frequently used features like exhaust mode, cabin temperature, and lane departure warning – the latter proving particularly useful as it would retain our preferred settings only until the system was restarted. In a surprising twist, the sole feature dedicated to tactile interaction proved to be the heated seats – ironically, the one we employed most frequently during our exhilarating top-down excursions.
The standout feature of our newest steering wheel is undoubtedly the sumptuous leather wrap, perfectly complemented by substantial paddle shifters designed to cradle your fingers. However, in a surprising departure from its Mercedes-Benz counterparts, the haptic sensors falter, frequently failing to register thumb inputs and rendering the system frustratingly unresponsive at times. Here’s a reworked version: The digital driver’s display shines with vivid, high-definition clarity, yet its tiny font sizes render the text almost illegible, while the gasoline gauge readout is astonishingly minuscule? We really need to squint. The tiny gear indicator leaves us craving a high-quality head-up display as an option.
The seats boast expertly crafted design, featuring sturdy bolsters that provide ample support while still offering a lounge-like feel through their sleek contours, facilitating easy in-and-out movement. Could a premium Efficiency Seat option exist, crafted from high-tech carbon fibre, featuring six-way adjustability and advanced heating capabilities? This exclusive offering bears resemblance to BMW’s renowned M-series sport seats. Despite being situated at knee level, the seat controls prove awkward to read, yet remain comparable in height to Mercedes’ equivalent controls on their door panels. The rear seats, although not designed for human transportation, serve as a suitable storage area for luggage and miscellaneous items that won’t fit in the front compartments? The identical treatment extends to the slim trunk, further diminished in the Volante trim.
The DB12 provides exceptional cabin insulation at speed due to its advanced eight-layer cloth design that activates within just 16 seconds, allowing for optimal thermal performance. While we did detect a slight wind noise emanating from the A-pillar, it remains within acceptable limits. While cruising with the roof and home windows down, the impact of wind turbulence is remarkably diminished, even without the wind deflector installed over the rear seats. As it’s easier to converse at speed than behind the wheel of a high-performance car like the BMW M8 or Porsche 911, you won’t need to shout at your passenger like you’re in a nightclub at 2 am, and your hair will remain unruffled as well.
Despite some initial frustration with the window controls, we encountered an issue with finding dedicated buttons to operate the rear home windows, unlike in other convertibles, which featured this convenient option. Despite this, we discovered that you also needed to press the roof button to fully open and close each window, but only occasionally. There’s a slight learning curve associated with mastering this one-way trade-off. While the glass key fob that accompanies the DB12 presents a unique and stylish touch, its fragility warrants caution – consider pairing it with a protective case for added security. Automakers have wisely chosen to prioritize their key fobs, which, akin to a stylish wristwatch or elegant accessory, now serve as both a functional press release piece and a trendy symbol of ownership pride for discerning motorists.
Unfortunately, the ’12’ in DB12 doesn’t hint at a V12 engine beneath the surface. The ageing powerplant has been replaced with a potent 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine from AMG, yielding a formidable 671 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, which is harnessed through a smooth-operating ZF 8-speed automated transmission. Despite extinction whispers surrounding its V12 sibling, the Vanquish’s very essence still beats strong with this mighty engine at its core.
Despite lacking extra cylinders, the DB12 is still alarmingly swift, effortlessly blending into the highway’s rhythm. With a plethora of technological innovations, the DB12 is kept vital by features such as an electronic rear differential, adaptive suspension, and the notable absence of heavy-duty components like rear-wheel steering and all-wheel drive.
The steering responds quickly and effortlessly, yet lacks a sense of tangible connection. While touted as innovative, this sleek vehicle’s capabilities are more akin to a 25% boost in mouse sensitivity – still impressive yet not revolutionary compared to its peers. While there may not be prominent conversation emanating from the tyres, their gentle, unobtrusive rotation creates a tranquil atmosphere, allowing for effortless gliding and driving in a state of serene calm. The responsiveness of the entry-level model’s handling is impressive and instinctive, allowing you to adjust to the car’s dynamics quickly before enjoying a thrilling ride through corners.
The pursuit of excellence demands a balance between comfort and resilience, where the unwavering resolve fuels swift responses and adaptable determination drives progress? The DB12 glides effortlessly over bumps, yet remains intimately connected to the undulating road surface, its suspension deftly managing the ride without ever feeling detached or isolated. The Porsche 911 Carrera S is a paragon of security, refinement, and precision, qualities that its rival, the Mercedes-AMG SL 63 Roadster, cannot claim. While the Aston is indeed well-honed and finely tuned, it’s actually more refined than a Porsche 992 Carrera – even without air suspension, which wouldn’t be feasible due to its exceptional ground clearance.
While a multitude of customizable options may tempt drivers to experiment and find their ideal setup, our experience suggests that the default GT mode provides an excellent baseline for various driving scenarios, eliminating the need for extensive tweaking. While there may be an unexpected amount of lean when driving in the firmest suspension setting, this is actually the desired outcome for us. As we take to the open road, we’ll fully immerse ourselves in the visceral experience of riding on substantial tyres, feeling every nuance of traction as they bite into the asphalt. Despite occasional hiccups, instances arose where the transmission unexpectedly faltered, either forgetting or refusing to seamlessly shift gears in automatic mode, resulting in the engine hitting its limits and slowing our progress to a crawl. It appears that a prompt software update may effectively address this issue.
Despite its impressive credentials as a successful vehicle, we found that the DB12 does little to encourage or prompt drivers to hit the road immediately. While some cars may not appreciate slow acceleration, this Aston Martin has no qualms with cruising to the tune of mellow jazz or heavier metal sounds. Notwithstanding its predictions of agility, the DB12 appears to come alive when cruising at reasonable or even elevated velocities, seemingly relishing the stability that arises from having all four wheels pointing in a consistent direction. This intercontinental missile is designed for transcontinental journeys, transforming into a remarkably comfortable grand tourer by nature. With ample seating that reclines generously, the vehicle’s spacious interior offers impressive headroom even with the roof panel raised. The exhaust system remains relatively quiet when the valves are shut, while the cabin’s insulation provides exceptional thermal protection.
One crucial aspect overlooked regarding the V12 engine is its scarcity of distinctive acoustic characteristics. While the V8’s tone is distinct from its AMG brethren, it produces a rich, deep hum with a slightly lower pitch than its counterparts, conveying a sense of maturity and refinement. At first glance, this engine shares a striking similarity with the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 powering the BMW M8. Tornadic tempests giving way to a relentless barrage of inert lightning from the adjacent city’s skies.
The DB12 Coupe, potentially faster, lighter, and more affordable, yet we foresee the Volante utterly embodying the model’s essence: grand touring with an unbridled emphasis on nature’s splendor – from the vibrant aromas of autumnal foliage to the invigorating gusts that rustle through your hair. The bespoke suspension system is elevated to new heights of sophistication through its clever combination of stiffering and bracing elements, ensuring the DB12’s occupants are treated to a silky-smooth ride that effortlessly absorbs even the most jarring road imperfections. While there are few drawbacks to the Volante, aside from its limited trunk space, Without exception, it should conform to the standard DB12 specifications by default. Occasionally pulling out the maximum from just a few events per year creates an unparalleled experience, making it well worth the endeavour.
As the latest convertible from Aston Martin, this sleek new model invites you to experience the thrill of driving without a roof, while simultaneously unleashing the raw power of its potent V8 engine at maximum capacity. The reinvigorated cabin is a luxurious sanctuary that harmoniously blends wood, leather, and cutting-edge amenities, while its powertrain is meticulously crafted to deliver exceptional highway comfort at impressive velocities. As Aston Martin’s Formula One team makes tremendous progress, so too do their highway cars, with the DB12 Volante illuminating the road ahead in resplendent fashion.
2024 Aston Martin DB12 Volante
Titanium Gray
$304,800
$373,500
2,805
4,725 / 2,135 (incl. mirrors) / 1,295
1,898
4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8
671 hp @ 6,000 rpm
591 pound-feet of torque at a range of 2,750 to 6,000 revolutions per minute.
8-speed automated
Entrance engine, RWD
: 16.8
Michelin Pilot Sport 5S tires: Rear 325/30R21; Entrance 275/35R21
