Aston Martin proudly unveils the Vanquish Volante, a groundbreaking convertible that redefines the pinnacle of open-top motoring. This new flagship model is not just the fastest and most powerful open-top series production Aston Martin ever created, but also stands as the most potent front-engine production car available today, alongside its coupe counterpart. The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante seamlessly blends breathtaking performance with a stunning aesthetic, establishing itself in a unique position at the zenith of ultra-luxury, high-performance vehicles. Celebrating six decades of the iconic ‘Volante’ lineage, this latest masterpiece perfectly embodies Aston Martin’s heritage while pushing the boundaries of automotive engineering and design.
Powered by Aston Martin’s revolutionary twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 engine, the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante unleashes an astonishing 835PS and 1000Nm of torque. This immense power translates to a class-leading top speed of 214mph and a blistering 0-62mph acceleration in just 3.4 seconds. The Vanquish Volante delivers the raw exhilaration of the coupe model with an unparalleled, visceral open-air driving experience that will captivate enthusiasts and redefine expectations.
The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante is meticulously engineered to offer the quintessential convertible allure – style and sensory engagement – without compromising on performance or structural integrity. Mirroring the breathtaking beauty of the Vanquish Coupe, with a minimal increase in weight and a design that is nothing short of spectacular, the Vanquish Volante rightfully earns its place as the flagship convertible, carrying a name reserved only for Aston Martin’s most exceptional creations.
The lineage of the Volante name stretches back 60 years, with the inaugural model being the seldom-seen Short Chassis Volante of 1965. This pioneering vehicle, bridging the design of the DB5 convertible and the DB6 Volante, established the benchmark for all subsequent ‘Volante’ Aston Martins. Remarkably rare, only 37 units of the Short Chassis Volante were produced within a single year, adding to its legendary status within Aston Martin history.
Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer, Adrian Hallmark, emphasizes the significance of this new model: “For six decades, Aston Martin Volantes have epitomized the elegance and sporting spirit of open-top motoring. The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante, with its striking design and unparalleled V12 engine – the most powerful in any front-engine production car today – elevates this philosophy to unprecedented heights. At Aston Martin, we are immensely proud to honor our heritage while, as evidenced by the groundbreaking performance of the Vanquish Volante, maintaining a steadfast focus on the future.”
Unleashing Unprecedented Power: The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante Engine
At the heart of the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante lies Aston Martin’s state-of-the-art twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 engine. The legacy of Aston Martin’s V12 engines began 25 years ago with the DB7 Vantage, offered in both Coupe and Volante versions for the 2000 model year. Over the past quarter-century, the power of these iconic V12 engines has nearly doubled, surging from 426PS to a staggering 835PS. Torque figures have seen a similar dramatic increase, escalating from 543Nm to an immense 1000Nm.
Image alt text: A detailed view of the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante’s powerful V12 engine bay, showcasing the twin-turbo setup and Aston Martin craftsmanship.
The latest iteration of the V12 engine in the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante achieves peak torque at a mere 2500rpm – half the engine speed required by its predecessor. This formidable 1000Nm peak is sustained across a broad rev range, from 2500 to 5000rpm, propelling the car to its remarkable top speed of 214mph. Despite this significant performance boost, the Vanquish Volante’s total weight has only increased by a mere 95kg. This minimal weight gain elevates the power-to-weight ratio from 313hp per tonne to an astonishing 416hp per tonne, catapulting performance into a new stratosphere.
Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a sophisticated eight-speed ZF gearbox, strategically positioned within the rear axle for optimal weight distribution. The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante also incorporates the same advanced rear E-differential (E-diff) found in the Vanquish Coupe. This E-diff can transition from fully open to completely locked in just 135 milliseconds, offering unprecedented responsiveness and control. Combined with the latest Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) technology, the dynamic capabilities of the Vanquish Volante are significantly enhanced. This advanced system provides superior agility during low and medium-speed cornering, while also ensuring enhanced control in oversteer situations and high-speed lane changes. The E-diff effectively ‘shortens’ the wheelbase in tighter corners, providing quicker rotational response to steering inputs, while maintaining assured stability through sweeping curves.
Engineered for Thrills: Driving Dynamics and Technology of the Vanquish Volante
The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante is engineered to deliver supercar-level driving dynamics, seamlessly integrated with the refined ride quality expected of a flagship Grand Tourer. This balance of performance and comfort is achieved through a sophisticated chassis system, a hallmark of all series production Aston Martins.
Simon Newton, Director of Vehicle Performance and Attributes, explains the engineering philosophy: “To ensure the Vanquish Volante matched the class-leading performance of the Vanquish Coupe, our engineering team worked on both models concurrently from the outset. This simultaneous development allowed us to preserve the dynamic capabilities and character of the Vanquish Coupe without compromise when removing the roof. Body structure optimizations, coupled with bespoke chassis tuning, guarantee that the Vanquish Volante earns the same accolades as the Coupe for its exceptional performance and capability, now enhanced by the exhilaration of open-top driving.”
While the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante features a bespoke suspension tune to account for its unique weight distribution, the key to its dynamic prowess lies in the new Bilstein DTX dampers. These advanced dampers provide exceptional wheel control across all drive modes and create a more pronounced distinction between individual modes compared to previous systems.
Image alt text: The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante demonstrating its agile handling while cornering on a track, highlighting its dynamic capabilities.
In GT mode, the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante is finely tuned to respond smoothly to road surfaces, delivering the effortless and comfortable character synonymous with the finest Grand Tourers. Sport and Sport+ modes progressively enhance responsiveness and body control, offering a more dynamic and engaging driving experience.
The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante retains the sophisticated traction and stability control systems from the Coupe, featuring a new ESP system designed to provide both enhanced dynamic support and maximum safety. This system seamlessly integrates with progressive dynamic control, preventing abrupt interventions through intelligent controllers and software models that predict optimal grip levels using cutting-edge algorithms. It also reacts instantaneously to any vehicle instabilities. Pre-defined ESP modes (On, Track, Off, Wet) are easily selectable via the ESP button on the center console.
Given the immense power of the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante, a carbon ceramic brake system is fitted as standard. This system provides exceptional stopping power befitting Aston Martin’s flagship, while also weighing 27kg less than conventional iron discs. Carbon ceramic brakes offer increased longevity, fade resistance, and enable torque vectoring, allowing for rearward brake balance adjustments to enhance stability during corner entry.
Tires are crucial for any high-performance vehicle, and Aston Martin collaborated with Pirelli to develop bespoke Pirelli P ZERO™ tires specifically for the Vanquish Coupe and Volante. These tires, optimized for Vanquish’s demanding performance targets, are available in both summer (P ZERO™ PZ4) and winter (P ZERO™ Winter 2) specifications.
Underpinning the chassis and dynamic systems is a bonded aluminum structure, enhanced to deliver more focused and engaging dynamics. Optimized underbody stiffening increases lateral stiffness by 75% compared to the previous flagship convertible, ensuring structural performance closely mirroring the Coupe body. The simultaneous design of both Coupe and Volante models addressed the complex challenge of creating a convertible with minimal weight gain while maintaining maximum torsional rigidity and preserving the timeless design whether the roof is raised or stowed.
Exquisite Design: The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante Exterior
The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante inherits the contemporary elegance of the Coupe, characterized by a toned, muscular presence, a broad stance, and fluid curves. Signature design elements, such as the F1®-inspired thermo louvres on the dramatically sloping bonnet, remain, aiding engine cooling. The 80mm wheelbase extension further accentuates the car’s iconic front-engine, cab-rearward aesthetic. At the rear, the kicked-up Kamm tail sits above the instantly recognizable ‘Shield’ design, which appears to float at the car’s rear.
The lightweight K-fold roof of the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante can be opened in just 14 seconds and closed in 16 seconds, operable at speeds up to 31mph (50km/h) via an elegant metal switch on the center console. Furthermore, the roof can be remotely operated from the key fob within a two-meter radius of the car. Remarkably, the fabric roof provides thermal insulation comparable to the Vanquish Coupe. With a class-leading stack height of only 260mm when retracted, the acoustically enhanced roof stows neatly under the tonneau cover behind the seats, seamlessly preserving the flowing lines of the body.
Image alt text: A detailed shot of the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante’s innovative K-fold roof mechanism in action, showcasing its compact and elegant folding design.
Mirroring its Coupe counterpart, the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante features a redesigned front bumper, fender, and grille, projecting a more assertive design character and enhanced road presence. The traditional vaned grille offers a 13% increase in surface area to improve cooling for the powerful 835PS engine. New outer bumper vents channel airflow around the nose, directing cool air into the front wheel arches to assist with brake cooling.
Matrix LED headlights incorporate a new light signature with integrated Daytime Running Lights (DRLs). Intricate details, such as the Aston Martin wordmark etched within the headlamp internals, and the red ‘V12’ motif adorning the distinctive side strake, showcase the meticulous craftsmanship. Smaller and sleeker frameless door mirrors enhance the aerodynamic profile, while electronically deployable flush-fit door handles maintain the smooth lines of the Vanquish Volante’s side profile.
Marek Reichman, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer, summarizes the design philosophy: “The opportunity to create a true flagship Volante is rare. The challenge is always to uphold Aston Martin’s core brand DNA, and it was crucial to develop the Volante alongside the Coupe to ensure excellence in proportion and drama. The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante epitomizes this; it is not only one of the most breathtakingly beautiful cars to bear the nameplate, but it also surpasses expectations, capturing the immense performance and intended purpose of a flagship model. With an outstanding visceral design that truly embodies noble beauty and road presence, the Volante achieves this without any compromise in the elegant packaging of the roof system. Through the collaborative efforts of Aston Martin’s design and engineering teams, the Vanquish Volante truly delivers the crown jewel in our core model portfolio.”
The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante also features a newly developed stainless steel exhaust system with unique geometry and a striking quad tailpipe layout. With the roof down, occupants are further immersed in the enhanced range of frequencies and resonant V12 roar, synonymous with the Vanquish lineage. For the ultimate auditory experience, an optional Titanium exhaust system is available, featuring a smaller muffler for a clearer, louder, and even more engaging V12 sound, along with a 10.5kg weight reduction.
Luxurious Interior: Craftsmanship and Technology Inside the Vanquish Volante
Designed as a focused 2-seat configuration, the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante showcases precision craftsmanship throughout its interior, offering an unmatched sensory experience for both driver and passenger, especially with the retractable roof.
The Vanquish Volante adopts the bespoke interior layout first introduced in the Vanquish Coupe, carrying forward the new interior architecture present in all next-generation Aston Martin models. The lowered center console enhances the feeling of cabin spaciousness, while the retracted roof amplifies the sense of openness, creating an ultra-luxurious open-air driving environment.
A seamless blend of modern touchscreen technology and tactile physical switchgear defines the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante’s interior. This combination maintains the feeling of ultra-luxury while ensuring intuitive interaction with the vehicle’s controls. Aston Martin’s next-generation infotainment system features a digital 10.25” TFT driver display, designed for maximum clarity and customizable configurations, alongside an integrated 10.25” Pure Black touchscreen system with full online connectivity and capacitive single and multi-finger gesture control.
The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante is equipped as standard with a premium audio system from Bowers & Wilkins. This seamlessly integrated and expertly tuned 15-speaker, double amplified surround sound system delivers an enthralling listening experience, perfectly complementing the driving dynamics.
A machine-knurled rotary dial surrounds the illuminated Stop/Start button, providing drive mode selection, alongside physical push-button switches for Chassis, ESP, Exhaust, and Park Distance Control. These strategically placed controls ensure frequently used functions can be operated without diverting the driver’s attention from the road. The Vanquish Volante also incorporates a dedicated roof operation switch and a new shortcut button for direct access to ADAS controls.
Prioritizing driver and passenger comfort, the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante is fitted with Sports Plus Seats as standard, with optional carbon fibre Performance Seats available. The seating position is adjustable to accommodate a wide range of driver heights, creating a sporting feel and ideal position for dynamic driving. The low center console and scalloped door panels optimize upper body space, ensuring unhindered arm movement during spirited driving or maneuvering.
The rear cabin of the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante is designed with equal attention to luxury, with every interior element lavished with detail and an indulgent finish. The sculpted rear cross brace makes a bold statement, separating purpose-made storage areas designed for exquisite saddle leather luggage sets, available as accessories. As expected from a flagship model, the customization options for exterior and interior design are extensive, ranging from wheel rims and brake calipers to carpets and interior trim. For customers seeking even greater personalization, Q by Aston Martin, the brand’s bespoke customization service, offers direct collaboration with skilled designers to tailor the Vanquish Volante to truly unique requirements. From subtle personalized touches like hand-stitched initials on headrests to full-scale engineering and production of bespoke components, Q by Aston Martin ensures that even within the exclusive realm of Aston Martin’s flagship model, customers can create something genuinely special and one-of-a-kind.
The sensational new Aston Martin Vanquish Volante is available to order now in limited numbers, with first deliveries scheduled for Q3 2025. Prepare to be Vanquished.
Celebrating 60 Years of Volante Heritage: A Legacy of Open-Top Aston Martins
The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante represents the pinnacle of a model lineage spanning 60 years, more than half of Aston Martin’s existence. The first Volante, the 1965 Short Chassis Volante, blended design cues from the DB5 convertible and the DB6 Volante, establishing the aesthetic blueprint for all subsequent Volante models. Exceedingly rare, only 37 examples were produced in its single year of production.
The Volante name has remained in near-continuous use since, with notable models including the DB6 MkII Vantage Volante, famously owned by HM King Charles III, and later used by Prince William for his wedding. King Charles has also owned a 1986 V8 Vantage Volante and a unique 1994 Virage Volante with an uprated 6.3-litre V8 engine.
Image alt text: A classic Aston Martin DB6 Volante, showcasing the timeless elegance and heritage of the Volante lineage celebrated by the new Vanquish Volante.
A gadget-laden V8 Volante also featured in the 1987 James Bond film ‘The Living Daylights’, coincidentally being the personal vehicle of Aston Martin chairman Victor Gauntlett at the time. Queen drummer Roger Taylor, famously associated with the song ‘I’m in love with my car’, also owned a 1979 Series I Volante.
Today, the Volante designation is used for both the DB12 and Aston Martin Vanquish Volante. It’s important to note that Gaydon-built open-top V8 and V12 Vantages are correctly termed Roadsters, distinguishing them from the Volante lineage. The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante stands as the ultimate embodiment of 60 years of open-top Aston Martin excellence, blending heritage with cutting-edge performance and design.
