Aston martin DB12 volante: Blending elegance and performance

Awe can take many forms—from verbal expressions to gestures and facial reactions. When I first saw the Aston Martin DB12 Volante in person, my awe was a combination of all possible forms. Creating something beautiful and majestic is one thing; completing it with elements that elevate its presence to the highest peaks is another.

Where else does a car of this class fit better than on a sun-drenched coast? The blue paint almost immediately transports the observer's imagination to azure waters. So, it might not surprise you that although the weather was far from summer-like when I picked up the car, I couldn’t deny myself the pleasure of retracting the roof. This roof, consisting of as many as eight layers and like a cashmere shawl for a lady, disappears behind the symbolic second row of seats in 14 seconds. That’s all it takes to complete the luxury masterpiece.

Some may criticize the new DB12 for overly resembling its predecessor. This could suggest a specific dependency—if this bothers you, you are not the clientele for this car. Unofficially, Lawrence Stroll, the major shareholder of the brand, asked his friends, potential future DB12 owners, for their opinion. They suggested only an evolution of the design initiated by Marek Reichman.

Looking at the new model, which pays homage to David Brown with its name, one can sense a close kinship with the previous British grand tourer. However, this is confirmed only in certain technical aspects. While the wheelbase has not changed, all body elements are new.

Aston Martin didn’t stop at presenting only the coupe. In certain circles, convertibles are a gold mine, and the British know this. Interested parties had to wait an additional three months for the official unveiling of the roofless version. Once they did, the echo of awe seemed to resonate endlessly.

Just look at those proportions. The British have mastered emanating elegance in a discreet yet emphatic manner. You won’t find flashy forms, significant spoilers, or oversized exhaust tips here. Every line and every indentation seem well-thought-out over a cup of tea.

The long hood, an attribute of Aston Martins, dominates the rest of the car. Observing this part, one gets the impression that someone laid a large scarf on a pliable material during the design process and pulled it back. The suggestive shapes were the starting point for further work.

The characteristic grill, which has increased in size compared to its predecessor due to greater cooling air demands, emphasizes the car's sharper appearance. The entire design balances with a subtle rear, featuring characteristic cut-ins, boomerang-shaped lights, and wide hips richly filling the side mirror while driving.

Someone might say that the DB12 Volante lost its charm by giving up the spectacular C-pillars in the coupe. In my opinion, the stylists handled the situation well. Notice the optical trick of a lower-positioned cabin relative to the rising line starting just behind the doors. You could gaze at this car for hours, searching for sophisticated interpretations, like a sculpture in an art gallery. Only then would you miss an essential part.

The DB12 is the first Aston Martin model where the interior concept has been changed. In my opinion, previous designs did not entirely correlate with the gravitas of this car. Borrowing certain elements from Mercedes seemed unavoidable. As you can see, it’s not the only way, and the result is more than perfect.

Classically for Aston Martin, slightly upward-opening doors reveal the British designers’ excellent work and invite you into a genuinely luxurious world—large swathes of porous wood mixed with cool-to-the-touch metal and beige-navy thick leather. I would likely point to this colour combination if someone asked me for the ideal configuration.

The interior craftsmanship here combines in the best possible way with ergonomics. The central panel is now horizontally, aligning better with the dynamic body line. Touch surfaces were abandoned in favour of physical buttons and switches, all within reach. Aston Martin also indulged a bit, allocating a separate button to open the exhaust flaps.

The borrowing from the Stuttgart partner is limited to the turn signal stalk, light dial, and steering wheel, which unfortunately did not escape the somewhat uncomfortable touch-sensitive fields. I specifically highlight these elements here as these are the only borrowed elements because one of the most anticipated changes is the new multimedia system, which replaced the now-archaic Comand system from Mercedes.

It’s an in-house creation by British engineers, leaving no room for stereotypical jibes—the system is clear and efficient. My only critique would be the size of some elements and the screen’s incline. It’s almost in line with the central panel, making it occasionally hard to see the content on sunny days.

However, this minor detail doesn’t detract from savouring every detail and bit of material. One yearns to absorb the stately character and noble finish. The sense of luxury has been elevated, which we also appreciated during our contest. In the Luxury Car of the Year 2024 category by "Wirtualna Polska", we awarded the DB12 Volante the main prize.

Aston Martin has created an excellent and holy space where you want to be. It’s a refined environment for long journeys. Setting aside the sporty attributes, these cars in the DB line have always served this purpose. With the DB12, Aston Martin has taken a step further.

From the British perspective, the model is no longer a grand tourer but the first representative of a super tourer, which raises the bar for dynamic capabilities, handling, and a sense of comfort and luxury. Press the hard-to-miss engine start button in the cockpit's centre to realize this.

That’s when the 4-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 borrowed from Mercedes comes to life. Although the model’s name screams for a majestic V12 under the hood, that chapter has been closed in the DB line. But Gaydon hasn’t bid farewell to the 12-cylinder orchestra yet—we’ll see it in upcoming selected limited-edition models.

Contrary to appearances, the news of abandoning the V12 was not unacceptable to customers. They are consoled by the significant increase in power and torque in the smaller V8. Compared to its predecessor, the engine gained 145 hp and 125 Nm, boasting 680 hp and 800 Nm of torque. These parameters even surpass the DB11 in the AMR version.

The avalanche of power results from several changes, starting with using larger turbochargers, optimizing the compression ratio, modifying the camshaft profiles, and redesigning the cooling system, both the primary circuit and the charge air cooling.

The eight cylinders come to life modestly but with a decisive growl. Aston Martin engineers borrowed the heart from Mercedes but discarded the brutal sound signature that characterizes AMG products. This wouldn’t fit the refined style that Aston Martin represents. Here, modesty was needed, especially when discussing the default driving mode, ironically named GT, and the model’s "new" positioning.

It perfectly reflects the car’s central premise. The comfort provided by the Aston Martin truly allowed me to relax. Although the fenders house 53-centimetre wheels, the chassis adequately isolates from bumps, smoothly damping more significant shocks. This is thanks to the new adaptive suspension, which expands the chassis' range of work.

It’s close to the smooth ride of a luxury sedan. It’s hard not to appreciate the calm with which the DB12 can swallow kilometres, a nature that favours long journeys. After all, no one wants to get out at an exclusive hotel feeling broken, barely straightening their back, trading a beach towel for a physio’s couch.

However, Aston Martin doesn’t allow excessive relaxation. Despite the smooth suspension work, the chassis maintains the expected stiffness of a sports car and doesn’t allow for body roll. Additionally, the steering system keeps the driver constantly engaged. The power assist doesn’t isolate from the information sent by the wheels, enhancing the driving pleasure and continuously reminding the driver of the model’s sporty aspirations.

These come to the fore when switching to Sport or Sport+ mode. I turn the ring surrounding the start button, which clicks smoothly and satisfyingly with each notch, and the car reveals its mischievous side. The DB12 Volante removes its jacket, gently drapes it over the chair's back, rolls its sleeves, and declares its readiness.

680 hp and 800 Nm of torque directed exclusively to the rear wheels seem like dangerous tools. Even the extensive 31.5-centimetre-wide rear tires won’t prevent a loss of grip—it’s a mere formality. The torrent of torque provides flexibility in virtually any gear, catapulting you forward at any chosen moment, even though peak values arrive at 2750 rpm.

The 4-litre V8 assertively revs up and begins its recital with a more pronounced note, best experienced with the roof down. The melody is perfectly balanced—on the one hand, it meets the expectations of solid sound and character, even capable of popping on deceleration, but on the other, the DB12 Volante retains a certain modesty. This isn’t the shouty type that has to breathe fire and drill into eardrums with brutal fury.

When I straighten my right leg, the heart under the hood starts unleashing its potential through the 8-speed automatic from ZF, the carbon driveshaft, and the new, electronically controlled E-Diff differential. The DB12 instantly forgets its previous manners. Smoothing out stimuli is replaced by intensifying sensations, but it’s hard to find surgical precision in this performance. Nonetheless… that’s a good thing.

This leaves a certain margin, making the car more natural when handling. It isn’t a high-performance sports car you’ll see on tracks—that’s what the smaller Vantage is for. The DB12 displays more maturity in its impetuous character, which still captivates, engages, and seduces. This is hard not to appreciate with every corner you take.

It's also pleasing that the systems protecting against mishaps don’t intervene aggressively but help deliver the broadest possible smile in controlled conditions. The engine’s parameters can genuinely thrill, but Aston Martin has never aimed for the title of the fastest car. This is also confirmed by the 0-100 km/h sprint time of 3.7 seconds. In this case, the ability to drive at 323 km/h with the roof down and the resultant blend of specific components matters.

The British already learned from the DB11 that a smaller engine means better weight distribution and greater agility. They decided to use the same attributes in its successor. The engine is practically set back behind the front axle, helping with proper weight distribution. This is felt on a winding road when the car maintains unity and tightly sticks to the corners. The steering system is precise and direct, and one can find passion in it, often lacking in many fantastic lower-tier sports cars.

The rigidity of the body has also improved, increasing by 5 percent compared to its predecessor. Aston Martin has reached a level where, without prior visual verification, it’s difficult to definitively say whether you’re travelling in a convertible or a coupe. This is only suggested by the weight, which in the roofless version is about 100 kg heavier but still does not exceed the psychological barrier of 2000 kg.

I'll also touch on the new differential because when something new is "electronically" controlled, particularly in current times, it can initially provoke uncertainty and a grimace. The British claim that this solution allows better adaptation to road conditions, and… they’re right. The differential can switch from "open" to fully locked in just a few milliseconds. While the DB12 behaves like a comfortable yacht gliding on asphalt in calm conditions, in sharp settings, it transforms into a ready-to-attack predator—agile, surprisingly elegant, and highly obedient.

The Aston Martin DB12 Volante appears to be a car of many talents. On the one hand, it’s majestic and seductive; on the other, it evokes unease. It can be a surprisingly relaxing travel companion, but it forgets about good manners when unleashed. Like a film hero, it will dust itself off after dealing with a gang of villains and head to the Philharmonic without a scratch. The DB12 perfectly fulfills the role of a flagship product, and the Volante version satisfies the senses even more as long as the weather allows.