If the new James Bond movie producers are looking for a sexy Aston Martin for 007’s next big-screen outing – here it is.
The new 214mph flagship Vanquish Volante promises the most dramatic on-screen appeal as well as the ultimate wind in the hair motoring and is launched to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the open-top nameplate.
Drop-top Aston Martins have proved a favourite with both the world’s most famous fictional secret agent, and the monarch he now serves ‘On His Majesty’s Secret Service’.
For Bond and King Charles are both huge fans of past Volantes.
The new two-door, two-seater sports car is hailed today by Aston Martin ‘the world’s fastest, most powerful front-engined convertible’ and its ‘crown jewel’.
Powered by a massive 835 horsepower twin-turbo 5.2-litre V12 engine delivering a ‘knockout punch’, the new Volante accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 3.4 seconds – just 0.1 seconds slower that its hard-top coupe sister model.
Could this be James Bond’s next car? Vanquish Volante is Aston Martin’s stunning new £360k drop-top sports car
Prices to raise the roof
Priced from around £361,000 – a £27,000 uplift on the hard-top coupe – the new Volante will contribute to the total Vanquish model production run limited to under 1,000 a year, with first convertible deliveries starting this autumn.
Aston Martin says their new flagship convertible ‘brings unprecedented drama, power and speed to the category’.
It features an innovative and lightweight ‘K-fold’ roof which can be opened in 14 seconds, closed in 16, and is operable on the move up to 31mph via an elegant metal switch on the centre console.
Within a two-metre radius of the car, the roof can also be opened or closed remotely from the key fob.
The new two-door, two-seater sports car is hailed today by Aston Martin ‘the world’s fastest, most powerful front-engined convertible’ and its ‘crown jewel’
Aston Martin says their new flagship convertible ‘brings unprecedented drama, power and speed to the category’
The Vanquish Volante features an innovative ‘K-fold’ roof which can be opened in 14 seconds, closed in 16, and is operable on the move up to 31mph
The firm says it has a level of thermal insulation directly comparable to Vanquish Coupe: ‘With a class-leading stack height of just 260mm when retracted, the acoustically enhanced fabric roof can be stowed under the tonneau behind the seats without interruption to the seamless flowing lines of the body.’
Launching the new British supercar, the company said: ‘The new Vanquish Volante is the crown jewel in a model lineage extending back 60 years.
‘Quite simply the fastest, most powerful open top series production Aston Martin to date and, alongside its coupe stablemate, the fastest, most powerful front engine production car on sale today.‘
It noted: ‘Vanquish Volante offers all the raw thrill of the coupe with an unmatched visceral open air driving experience.
‘There are few better ways to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the iconic Volante name with the announcement of its latest example.’
Powered by a massive 835 horsepower twin-turbo 5.2-litre V12 engine delivering a ‘knockout punch’
The new Aston Martin Vanquish Volante accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 3.4 seconds – just 0.1 seconds slower that its hard-top coupe sister model
The new Vanquish Volante also has bespoke suspension designed to account for the unique weight distribution
Sticking to the road
Power from the vast engine is fed to the rear wheels via an eight-speed ZF gearbox.
The car’s Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) has helped improve performance in tighter corners and provide stability and composure through fast sweeping curves, leading to ‘supercar-levels of driving dynamics’
The new Vanquish Volante also has bespoke suspension designed to account for the unique weight distribution.
New dampers allow ‘outstanding levels of wheel control’ within each drive mode.
In GT mode, Vanquish Volante is configured to ‘breathe’ with the road to provide ‘ that long-legged, effortless character that are the hallmarks of the very best Grand Tourers.’
Sport and Sport+ modes offer ‘a new dynamic character, providing progressively more response and tighter body control’.
A carbon ceramic brake system weighing 27kg less than conventional iron discs is fitted as standard to provide ‘suitable stopping ability’.
Smaller and sleeker frameless door mirrors aid the aerodynamic profile of Vanquish Volante and electronically deployable flush-fit door handles retain the smooth lines of its side profile.
The car has a newly developed stainless steel exhaust system with quad tailpipes
Embracing the V12 howl
The car has a newly developed stainless steel exhaust system with quad tailpipes that guarantee to bring plenty of audible drama to every drive.
‘With the roof retracted, occupants are exposed further to the enhanced range of frequencies and resonant V12 howl, synonymous with the Vanquish bloodline,’ bosses said.
Vanquish Volante is also available with an optional titanium exhaust system which uses a smaller muffler ‘to give a clearer, louder and even more engaging V12 sound character’ as well as a 10.5kg weight reduction.
The Vanquish Volante’s cockpit features a digital 10.25-inch driver display and the integrated 10.25-inch touchscreen system with single and multi-finger gesture control
Superior interior
Inside the car, Aston Martin says its next generation infotainment system showcases the digital 10.25-inch driver display and the integrated 10.25-inch touchscreen system with single and multi-finger gesture control.
It has a Bowers & Wilkins 15-speaker surround sound system.
A machine-knurled rotary dial surrounds the illuminated Stop/Start button, allowing drivers to select a desired drive mode.
There are push button switches for Chassis, ESP, Exhaust and Park Distance Control ‘ensuring the most used controls can be operated without the need for the driver to take their eyes off the road’.
Sports Plus seats are fitted as standard, with a carbon fibre Performance seat as an option.
The car has purpose made storage areas reserved for exquisite saddle leather luggage sets available as an accessory.
Buyers can also choose from a welter of exterior and interior design extras – from wheel rims and brake calipers to carpets and interior trim – as well as more bespoke and personalised options from ‘Q by Aston Martin’, from a name or initial sewn by hand into a headrest to a full-scale ‘one-off’ engineering project.
Aston Martin chief executive Adrian Hallmark said: ‘For 60 years, Aston Martin Volantes have defined the art of elegant, sporting, open-top motoring.
‘With its stunning looks and outstanding V12 engine producing more power than any other front-engine production car on sale, Vanquish Volante has taken this philosophy to an entirely new level.
‘We are proud to be doing such justice to our heritage while, as the unprecedented performance of the Vanquish Volante shows, keeping our eyes firmly focused on the future.’
Marek Reichman, executive vice president and chief creative officer, adds that the Vanquish Volante is ‘one of the most breathtakingly beautiful cars ever to wear the nameplate’ adding: ‘The opportunity to create a true flagship Volante is rare.
‘The challenge is always to maintain Aston Martin’s core brand DNA and it was vitally important to create the Volante alongside the Coupe in order to deliver excellence in proportion and drama.’