The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante is the answer of Great Britain to the Ferrari 12Cilindri. A rare mixture of elegance and drama combines the old World glamor with brutal modern force. When the 835PS Twin Turbo V12 clears its neck, experience is bordered on the divine.
Some things never go out of fashion. A Hermès Birkin. An Omega Speedmaster. And now maybe a naturally sucked V12. Retro is still very strong in the world of six -digit super sports cars. The Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider is already a classic, and the top top-top interior gills are supported by an engine that is pure theater. No turbo four. No hybrid system. Just do shift, which can best shift.
Aston Martin was not about to complain. The Vanquish Volante with its 5.2-liter twin turbo shop V12, which produces 614 kW (835 hp), is a British, sophisticated, but no less terrifying, counterpoint. Less brazen than his Italian rival, but maybe no less capable. Think of Sting against Gianna Nannini. But anyone who expects a compatible gentleman cruiser has a shock. This is not a soft convertible of the old school. It is a technical attack on the senses. The engine is a master class: reinforced block, revised cylinder heads, optimized cam profiles and lighter, faster spool turbos. The Peak Boost comes tougher and earlier thanks to improved injectors and a temporary discharge function. But all of this becomes academic as soon as the V12 comes alive.
Experience is wild at the top. Even when idling, the Vanque grows with a threat. The full 1,000 -NM punch in the rear tires with such a fadder that grabs becomes a fleeting concept. The speedometer struggles to keep step. 0–100 km/h are over in 3.4 seconds and it only stops 345 km/h. The acceleration of the in-course is violent. From 160 km/h, the volant extends with the type of power that most electric cars in comparison. This is Apex Predator Territory. Asphalt, meet Darwinism.
For those who murmur that “not everything is not everything”, fair enough. But although the vanquish is not as nimble as a miata (at 1,880 kg with roof mechanism, how could it be?), It is in the curvy parts. The weight is cleverly managed, with almost perfect balance (49.5: 50.5 front-after-after-rear), a lightning-fast e-diff, which only blocks 135 milliseconds and stiffer anti-roll rods. The revised front strut chamber and the additional reinforcement of the rear – including a carbon cross – add further rigidness. The volant can roll with a hint of mass by rapid bends, but it never feels awkward. Think of Grand Waltz, not nervous.
The adaptive Bilstein dampers, which can also be seen in the DB12, were set again for a more appealing drive. “We have re -elected hydraulic damping to give the driver more control,” says Chief Engineer Simon Newton. Despite no important structural reinforcements, the volume feels. The thresholds are double thick compared to the coupé and the rear wheel suspension has been revised to master the additional roof weight. The spring rates rose by 7%.
In sports and sports+everything is tightened without affecting comfort. The steering is beautifully assessed – no artificial weight, only crisp, communicative feedback. The GT drive mode is ideal for long-distance cruises, but for the full vanquish effect, sport is magic. And surprisingly, it doesn’t drink like a monster: we achieved an average of 15.8 l/100 km above a spirited test route.
Apple CarPlay Ultra is available on the Tech front with a 10.25-inch instrument display and touchscreen climaton. As for luggage? The roof is 219 liters in the trunk. Roof down, 187 liters. Managing, if not generous.
But let’s be honest. You don’t buy a Vanquish Volante for the boots. You buy it for the feeling. At € 417,000, it is € 31,000 more than the coupé. But what price do you organize one of the best GTS with open open top gts? As a driving experience, a design statement and a celebration of the combustion engine – it is worth every penny.
