The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante

Aston Martin has officially introduced the new Vanquish Volante, a convertible grand tourer that marks the 60th anniversary of the Volante name. Announced on Tuesday, 25 March 2025, the Vanquish Volante joins its Coupe counterpart as one of the most powerful front-engine production cars currently available. It combines significant performance with a focus on open-top comfort and engineering precision.

Powertrain and Performance

At the heart of the new Vanquish Volante is a 5.2-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine. It delivers 835PS and 1000Nm of torque, reaching its peak torque at just 2500rpm and maintaining it up to 5000rpm. This engine enables the car to reach a top speed of 214mph. Compared to earlier V12 models from Aston Martin, the performance gains are substantial, yet the engine remains suitable for long-distance driving.

The power is directed to the rear wheels via an eight-speed ZF gearbox, located in the rear axle to support balanced weight distribution. This is paired with a rear electronic differential (E-diff) capable of fully locking in 135 milliseconds. It works in conjunction with an updated Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), helping the car remain composed in a variety of driving conditions. Together, these systems improve low-speed agility and provide stability during higher-speed manoeuvres such as overtaking or cornering.

Chassis and Dynamics

Although the Volante is open-top, its weight has only increased by 95kg over the Coupe. With a resulting power-to-weight ratio of 416 hp per tonne, the Vanquish Volante offers performance close to that of fixed-roof models. The chassis includes enhanced underbody stiffening, giving the car 75% more lateral stiffness than previous Aston Martin convertibles. This allows it to maintain composure during spirited driving while also offering the ride comfort expected from a grand tourer.

One of the key features of the Vanquish Volante is its new Bilstein DTX damper system. This enables the car to adjust its suspension based on the selected drive mode. In GT mode, it offers a relaxed, comfortable ride, while Sport and Sport+ settings increase responsiveness and body control. The suspension system has been specifically tuned for the convertible model to reflect its weight distribution and dynamic requirements.

The car is equipped with carbon ceramic brakes as standard. These brakes are 27kg lighter than traditional iron discs and offer improved resistance to brake fade, particularly useful during repeated heavy braking. They also contribute to the car’s torque vectoring system, subtly adjusting braking forces between wheels for better cornering stability.

The Vanquish Volante features specially developed Pirelli P ZERO™ tyres, offered in both summer and winter variants. Developed in partnership with Pirelli, they are designed to handle the performance demands of the car while maintaining consistent grip across different road surfaces and temperatures.

Convertible Roof and Structure

Credit: Aston Martin

The body is built using a bonded aluminium structure, allowing for reduced weight and improved rigidity. This structural approach, along with simultaneous development alongside the Coupe, has allowed Aston Martin to achieve a consistent design and performance standard across both body styles. The convertible roof – a fabric K-fold design – takes 14 seconds to open and 16 seconds to close. It can be operated while driving at speeds of up to 31mph and also remotely via the key fob.

Exterior Design

Design-wise, the Vanquish Volante carries over many elements from the Coupe. It features a low, wide stance, a lengthened wheelbase, and a rear Kamm tail above the ‘floating’ Shield design element. The front grille has been enlarged to improve engine cooling, and subtle changes to the bumper and air vents help guide airflow around the car. Matrix LED headlights and frameless door mirrors improve both visibility and aerodynamic performance.

Interior and Technology

Inside, the Vanquish Volante is a two-seat layout designed for driver and passenger comfort. The dashboard and centre console follow the same architecture as the Coupe, with a combination of physical controls and touchscreen interfaces. A 10.25-inch digital driver display sits alongside a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, offering customisable settings and online connectivity.

Audio comes from a 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins system, fitted as standard and tuned specifically for the Volante. The interior also features a machine-knurled rotary drive mode selector, along with dedicated buttons for chassis, exhaust, ESP settings and roof control. Driver assistance systems can be accessed via a new shortcut button.

Seating includes the standard Sports Plus Seat or an optional carbon fibre Performance Seat, both of which are adjustable for a wide range of driver heights. The cabin design ensures that space is not compromised, even with the roof retracted, and the rear section features designated storage for custom leather luggage sets.

Personalisation and Availability

The Vanquish Volante is also available through Aston Martin’s Q personalisation service. Customers can choose bespoke materials, colours and trims, or even request completely unique elements to tailor the car to their preferences.

Limited in production, the new Aston Martin Vanquish Volante is available to order now, with first deliveries scheduled for the third quarter of 2025.

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