Aston Martin DB12 Volante: Majesty meets power on open roads

The fascination begins the moment you grasp the key. It is a prelude to the awaiting thrills, solid yet sleek, with significant weight, glass elements, and embossed letters. Although at first glance not significantly different from its predecessor, the Aston Martin DB12 marks a new beginning for the British brand. The Volante version highlights its character even more.

Awe can take many forms—verbal expressions, gesticulations, and facial expressions. 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 8 layers and being 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 paying 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 are well aware of 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 the way of emanating elegance in an unobtrusive yet emphatic manner. Here, you won’t find flashy forms, large spoilers, or oversized exhaust tips. Every line and 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 during the design process, someone laid a large scarf on pliable material and pulled it back. The suggestive shapes were the starting point for further work.

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

Some might say that the DB12 Volante lost its charm by giving up the spectacular C-pillars present in the coupe. In my opinion, the stylists handled the situation well. Also, 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 extremely important 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 truly luxurious world. Large swathes of porous wood mix with cool-to-the-touch metal, accompanied by beige-navy thick leather. If someone asked me for the ideal configuration, I would most likely point to this color combination.

The interior craftsmanship here combines in the best possible way with ergonomics. The central panel is now oriented horizontally, which aligns better with the dynamic body line. Touch surfaces were abandoned in favor 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 the steering wheel, which unfortunately did not escape the somewhat uncomfortable touch-sensitive fields. I specifically highlight this 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 fields 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 is a minor detail that doesn’t detract from savoring every detail and bit of material. One yearns to absorb the stately character and noble finish.

Aston Martin has created a wonderful and exalted space where you simply want to be. It’s a refined environment for long journeys. Setting aside the sporty attributes, ultimately, 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 the sense of comfort and luxury. Just press the hard-to-miss engine start button in the center of the cockpit to realize this.

That’s when the 4-liter, 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 for 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 92 lb-ft, boasting 680 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. These parameters even surpass the DB11 in the AMR version.

The avalanche of power results from several changes, starting with the use of larger turbochargers, optimizing the compression ratio, modifying the camshaft profiles, and redesigning the cooling system, both the main 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 simply wouldn’t fit the refined style that Aston Martin represents. Here, modesty was needed. Especially when we talk about the default driving mode, which is ironically named GT in reference to the model’s "new" positioning.

It perfectly reflects the car’s main premise. The comfort provided by the Aston Martin allowed me to truly relax. Although the fenders house 21-inch wheels, the chassis adequately isolates from bumps, smoothly damping larger 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 miles, a nature that favors 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 for 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 constantly reminding 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 then removes its jacket, gently drapes it over the chair's back, rolls up its sleeves, and declares its readiness.

680 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque directed exclusively to the rear wheels seem like dangerous tools. Even the extremely wide 12.4-inch-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-liter V8 assertively revs up, and with a more pronounced note, begins its recital, 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 finally through 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, and the car feels more natural in 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 a bit 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 widest 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 0-60 mph sprint time of 3.7 seconds. In this case, it’s the ability to drive at 201 mph with the roof down and the resultant blend of specific components that matter.

The British already learned from the DB11 that a smaller engine means better weight distribution and hence – 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.

Compared to its predecessor, the rigidity of the body has also been improved, increasing by 5 percent. Aston Martin has reached a level where without prior visual verification, it’s difficult to definitively say whether you’re traveling in a convertible or a coupe. This is only suggested by the weight, which is about 220 lbs heavier in the roofless version but still does not exceed the psychological barrier of 4409 lbs.

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.