Yes, a convertible fits well with summer atmospheres. But the Aston Martin DB12 Volante is more than that. It is sportier than ever, but also much better balanced. A top performance from this small but sympathetic sports car brand.
Aston Martin has had some difficult years. The only brand ambassador, James Bond, was milked dry and new models were hardly produced. Even a 111-year-old British car brand cannot rely on traditions forever. In order to be future-proof, there was work to be done.
Bentley boss Adrian Hallmark will soon take over from former Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa. AMG CEO Tobias Moers was also the boss of Aston Martin for a short time. Three top executives from three different countries. With the right British, German and Italian influences, the future of the brand should be bright.
German V8 is anglicized
In Formula 1, Aston Martin is doing quite well, in the GT3 class the brand even delivers some serious blows. But the most important thing is the renewal of the range for the public road. The DBS provides glamour, the DBX for the extra sales that SUVs simply generate. The Vanquish is one of the most desirable gran turismos. But the DB12 is still a bit like the 911 of Aston Martin. Its predecessor, the DB11, was just like the Vanquish more of a GT than a thoroughbred sports car; ideal for the chic boulevards or long journeys.
The DB12 has a sportier character. The four-liter biturbo V8, purchased from AMG, speaks fluent English after an extensive British treatment: the V8 sounds deep, but civilized. The hard, typically German hammering was eliminated. The power increased considerably compared to the DB11. That delivered a relatively modest 535 hp, while the DB12 manages to mobilize no less than 680 horsepower.
Sporty, yet understated
To prevent a sports car with classic rear-wheel drive and so much power from ending up backwards after the first corner, Aston Martin took measures. The DB12 has a new, super-stiff chassis with electronically controlled rear axle differential, which is linked to a forward-thinking central computer via a spider’s web of sensors. The ESP has four settings, there are five driving programs and the carbon-ceramic brakes ensure ultra-short braking distances. The steering is more direct than that of the DB11. This means that the German, Italian and British know-how come together perfectly in the DB12.
To ensure that the Volante drives just as sportily as the coupé, the bodywork was fitted with numerous reinforcements. This of course adds weight, and the electrically operated fabric roof from the German company Webasto also contributes to this. But Aston Martin has distributed the kilos so well that the balance is hardly disturbed. Finally, the suspension and damping were adjusted, so that the Volante does not have to be inferior to the coupé in terms of driving characteristics.
The new Aston Martin DB12 Volante also looks fantastic: perfect proportions, a neat disguise for the V8 aggression, beautiful details. The open roof offers an unrestricted view of the beautiful interior, with its high-quality materials and a magnificent mix of analogue elements and inevitable digital features, such as the instrument panel and the large screen in the middle.
Sounds like your favorite opera
And then it starts, the soft growling sound of the V8 seeps into the cockpit, the long bonnet offers a fine view. Like an upper-class vehicle, the DB12 gets going; it uses the torque of the engine to apparently relaxed revs to speed up. It never becomes aggressive, which does not suit cool Brits with their stiff upper lip. GT mode suits the Volante best: it is fast, steers precisely and sounds like your favourite opera.
There are also Sport and Sport Plus, and these programs have also undergone noticeable improvements. Its predecessors had a hot-headed character, while the DB12 is better balanced. The sprinting capabilities are impressive, the handling is superior and the stability convincing. Thanks to the excellent traction, the DB12 Volante never takes unexpected steps to the side. You never miss four-wheel drive for a moment – that would have made the Volante more sluggish, but hardly less safe. Now the balance is perfect.
Conclusion
The Aston Martin DB12 Volante is an engaging sports car, complemented by the almost indescribable thrill of open-top driving. Despite the extra kilos of the fabric roof and the reinforcements for better rigidity, the character of the Volante is much the same as that of the coupé. The sporting capabilities are beyond doubt and comfort is not neglected either.
Source: www.autoreview.nl
