![]() ![]() 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. 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. 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. 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). The springs and damper settings aren’t uncompromisingly calibrated, so the ride is generally compliant. The inherent stiffness and weight optimisation is immediately apparent in the car’s road attitude. 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. What the newcomer does extremely well however, is offer a fine balance between touring ability and raw performance. Whereas ergonomics are the Achilles heel of older Aston Martin products, the Volante’s facia controls work well and feel expensive.Īston 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. 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. ![]()
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