2018 Aston Martin DB11 Volante unveiled
The 2018 Aston Martin DB11 Volante has been revealed this week, dropping the top off the British GT .
Unlike the DB11 coupe, which is offered with a choice of V8 or V12 engines, the Volante will only be available with the AMG-derived twin-turbo V8 under the bonnet in an attempt to keep weight down.
The 4.0-litre engine in the Volante makes the same 375kW of power and 675Nm of torque you get in the coupe, put to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
The 0-100km/h sprint takes just 4.1 seconds – a measly 0.1 seconds slower than the coupe – and you’ll be doing 301 km/h at full noise. That’s 21km/h less than the hardtop’s top speed, but still comfortably fast enough to ruin an expensive haircut.
Built around the same bonded-aluminium structure as the hardtop, the Volante tips the scales at 1875 kg. Although that’s lighter than the DB9 Volante it replaces, the folding top and relevant convertible hardware make the car 115kg heavier than the V8-engined DB11 coupe.
The roof itself is an eight-layer fabric unit which takes 14 seconds to open and 16 seconds to close. Aston Martin says it can be operated at speeds up to 50km/h, while fighting a 50km/h headwind. The new design opens up 20 per cent more space in the boot compared to the DB9 Volante, too.
Being an Aston Martin, the way the roof looks is just as important as the way it operates. Some convertibles look awkward compared to their hardtop brethren, but the DB11 Volante is predictably stunning with the roof up or down.
Most of the distinctive design elements from the coupe have made the jump to the Volante, but there are unique alloy wheels and three different colour options for the soft top to help distinguish the car. The seat backs can be finished in carbon fiber or wood veneer, too, for a unique look with the roof down.
“The challenge of creating a convertible car is retaining structural and dynamic integrity. To protect the former you need strength and rigidity, but to preserve the latter you need to keep weight to a minimum,” said Max Szwaj, Aston Martin’s chief technical officer.
“With the DB11 Volante we have maximised the advantages of the DB11’s all-new bonded structure to underpin our new Volante with a structure that’s 26kg lighter and 5 per cent stiffer than its predecessor. The result is a truly magnificent car. One that combines greater performance and agility with increased comfort, refinement and interior space for occupants and their luggage.”
Australia
Deliveries of the DB11 Volante will start in the second quarter of 2018, with pricing to be announced closer to launch.
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