The Aston Martin DB12 Volante isn’t the product of a meticulously planned long-term strategy. It rides on a strengthened version of the DB11’s chassis, and it’s powered by an uprated variant of its twin-turbo V8. Beneath its sleek new skin hides a multitude of reused parts. The DB12 is instead the result of a reactionary move by Aston’s new leadership, designed to bring a competitive grand tourer to market as soon as possible to combat slowing sales.
In the metal, however, the DB12 is far more than just a stopgap. Despite its unusually brief development cycle, Gaydon’s engineers have successfully created something special from an admittedly good-looking but underwhelming machine. Its 4.0-liter V8 now produces 671 horsepower, enough to compete with any Porsche or Bentley. A new set of adaptive dampers broadens its athletic abilities, while a completely redesigned cabin and tech suite thrust this GT into the twenty-first century. The Aston Martin DB12 Volante may not be all-new, but it finally reaches its full potential.
Calling the DB11 underwhelming may seem harsh initially, but remember that its direct competitors collectively leveled up during its production run. The Bentley Continental GT became properly sporty by integrating the Porsche Panamera’s architecture and clever active anti-roll systems. The Porsche 911 Turbo S pushed further upmarket with the arrival of the 992 generation, improving its interior quality while delivering supercar-besting performance. Even Ferrari made moves, phasing out the forgettable Portofino M and replacing it with the gorgeous Roma. In just a few years, the DB11 was surrounded by formidable rivals it couldn’t fend off.
The DB12, then, can’t just be a refreshed take on the DB11, and in just a few short miles, you can tell it’s not. Its extensively restyled bodywork debuted the carmaker’s current and future design language, evidenced by the subsequent arrival of the Vantage and Vanquish. Like the DBS Superleggera and the DB9 that preceded it, the DB12 is an undisputed show-stopper. It balances classic Aston stylishness and contrasting sporty elements, such as its massive front grille, vented hood, and fenders. Its rear end adopts clear tail lights as its most significant update.
Aston Martin DB12 Volante takes things further by integrating a folding soft top. It’ll take 14 seconds to deploy and 16 to stow away, using a double folding method that reduces its footprint when not in use, saving trunk space. It can be activated at up to 31 mph or from the key fob when standing near the car. To ensure it isolates noise properly, Aston counts on eight layers of fabric. However, a decent amount of intrusion remains at highway speeds.
Beyond its stellar new looks, what hides beneath the DB12’s skin is the secret to its success. As stated earlier, it carries over the DB11’s bonded aluminum structure. However, it benefits from fortified suspension mounting points, a stiffened front end, an upgraded engine brace, and underbody reinforcements. The result is a convertible that’s more torsionally riding than the car it replaces, setting the foundation for a new set of adaptive dampers. These are meant to broaden the Volante’s versatility, allowing it to be firmer when needed and plusher when not.
Its new shocks pair with an electronic rear differential and a shortened set of gears. A more robust chassis allowed Gaydon’s engineers to swap out the DB11’s fairly numb steering column for one that’s non-isolated, hoping to revive steering feel without sacrificing in-cabin refinement.
Present the Aston Martin DB12 Volante with a twisting mountain road, and its focused improvements come together to deliver a vastly improved driving experience. The star of the show is its burbly twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8. It generates 671 hp and 590 pound-feet of torque. That’s 41 hp and 74 lb-ft, more than the discontinued 5.2-liter V12. Simultaneously, it has the added benefit of being both lighter and producing a much more exciting song with a deeper tone that picks up a throaty note as you approach its redline.
Then there’s the power. 671 horses is a lot before you factor in a set of shortened gears and an electronic differential that sends all of it to the rear wheels. Despite Aston making multiple changes to this AMG-sourced V8, it delivers its rush of torque in a familiar way, producing a healthy dose down low in the rev range and thinning out towards the top of the tach. However, the ZF eight-speed’s shortened final drive makes staying in that peek powerband effortless, resulting in an experience that feels about as fast as any Bentley or Porsche in the real world.
The figures support this, too. The Aston Martin DB12 Volante scoots to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, impressive for a convertible closing in on 4,200 pounds and continuing onto a 202 mph top speed. Its bespoke Michelin Pilot S 5 tires partly make this acceleration possible. However, these figures only tell half the story because while a Turbo S Cabriolet or a Continental GT Speed will put power down undramatically, the DB12 remains more eager to slide its rear. Alongside the standard GT, Sport, Sport+, and Wet drive modes, the DB12 allows you to dial in its traction and control system in increasingly tail-friendly settings. As such, you can fine-tune how much yaw angle you’re comfortable with, with the Volante supporting you with a technological invisible hand.
Shooting out of a corner then is far more exciting than planting your foot down and watching its speedo rocket upwards. An extra layer of consideration is required to keep its rear end in check, which grounds you in the moment. Even as you approach a bend at speed, the DB12’s livelier steering weighs up nicely while effectively communicating how much grip its front tires still have. Although its steering is pretty relaxed, it makes up for it with a newfound feedback layer. An optional $14,500 carbon ceramic brakes provides excellent stopping power and consistent performance.
And yet, despite its heightened athleticism, the Aston Martin DB12 Volante doesn’t fall in the predictable of becoming overly firm to dial out body motions. Even in the firmest Sport+ setting, the Volante remains perfectly compliant, so much so that you’ll probably forget you’re in the raciest mode at all. It’s a worthwhile trade-off because although the DB12 isn’t quite as balanced in the bends as a Turbo S Cabriolet, it’s firm enough to be fun without forgetting it’s a grand-tourer first.
As fun as the Volante is to hustle up a mountain road, it’s equally at home just running around a big city. With the top down and its suspension set to comfort mode, the DB12 makes for an excellent commuter that’s easy to get in and out of and offers plenty of storage space. Although some harsher road imperfections will still translate vibrations through the cabin, the Aston presents a more distinct proposition in a city like Los Angeles, where 911s are plentiful. It slots neatly between the slightly firmer 911 Turbo and the uber plush Continental GT, about in line with the Roma, its closest rival.
While the DB11’s interior felt more at home in the early 00’s, the Aston Martin DB12 Volante surpasses it with a best-in-class cabin. Like the DBX707 I drove a few months ago, the DB12’s interior isn’t just impressive from a technological standpoint. However, its vastly upgraded digital instrument cluster and central infotainment screen certainly help. Instead, the Aston’s secret sauce is just how well it makes this cabin feel as expensive as it is. Practically every surface is covered in leather, and despite using fingerprint-friendly glossy black trim for its center console, it sports tons of physical buttons and switches.
The big news for owners of any previous-gen DB11, DBS, or Vantage is that the DB12 comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and direct connectivity with the carmaker’s app. However, every detail has been considered and upgraded even as we zoom in on how its various scroll wheels feel and the satisfying clunk produced by its drive mode selector. The same goes for the elegant stitching of its seats, dashboard, and door panels. The DB12 doesn’t just feel like a leap forward. It’s clearly the product of a vastly restructured brand.
The Aston Martin DB12 Volante costs $268,400, including a $3,400 transportation and handling fee. This positions it above the $246,195 Turbo S Cabriolet but below the $281,920 Ferrari Roma Spider and the $332,200 Bentley Continental GTC Speed. With options such as its $14,500 carbon ceramic brakes, $11,900 Spirit Silver paint, and $10,100 Saddle Tan interior, this particular Volante carries an as-tested price of $331,000.
The Aston Martin DB12 Volante may not have resulted from a meticulously planned long-term strategy, but you’d be hard-pressed to tell. By every measure, it supersedes the DB11 it replaces with outstanding performance, vastly improved handling, and a redesigned cabin that feels befitting of a car costing well above $300,000 with options. While some of its read-end styling carries over and is starting to look its age, and refinement improvements can be made regarding noise isolation, the Volante is a fabulous grand tourer overall.
Rather than wait for a complete development cycle to replace the DB11 with something all-new, Aston Martin decided to react quickly and bring a competitive GT to market sooner rather than later. And as the DB12 reaches its full potential, it’s clear that was the right move.
This article appeared in our October 2024 Issue.
