Aston Martin has announced the highly anticipated arrival of the new Vanquish Volante. Quite simply the fastest, most potent open-top series production Aston Martin to date and, alongside its coupe stablemate, the quickest, most powerful front engine production car on sale today.
No other vehicle combines such extraordinary performance with such a svelte yet purposeful form. Its position in the market at the very pinnacle of ultra-luxury high performance is unique, and there are few better ways to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the iconic Volante name with the announcement of its latest example.
Powered by Aston Martin’s new 5.2-litre V12 engine, which delivers 835PS and 1000Nm of torque and has a top speed of 345 km/h, the Vanquish Volante offers all the raw thrill of the coupe with an unmatched visceral open-air driving experience.
The New Vanquish Volante has been designed to offer all the style and sensorial stimulation for which convertibles are known and loved without the limitations or compromises traditionally associated with their design. As beautiful as its Coupe companion, with minimal weight increase and stunning design, the Vanquish Volante is more than worthy of the name reserved only for the flagship.
The new Vanquish Volante is the crown jewel in a model lineage extending back 60 years. The first Aston Martin to receive the name was the little-known Short Chassis Volante of 1965, comprising design elements of both the convertible DB5 that preceded it and the DB6 Volante that succeeded it.
Utterly beautiful, it set the tone for all ‘Volante’ Aston Martin models to come. It is also one of the rarest production examples, with only 37 built over a one-year period.
Aston Martin’s new twin-turbocharged, 5.2-litre V12 engine provides the Vanquish Volante with its knockout punch. The first V12 to wear the famous Aston Martin wings was fitted to the DB7 Vantage, launched in both Coupe and Volante for the 2000 model year. In the 25 years since, the power of the marque’s iconic V12 has almost doubled, from 426PS to 835PS, with maximum torque seeing similar gains, from 543Nm to 1000Nm.
The latest V12 engine fitted to the Vanquish develops maximum torque at just 2500 rpm – precisely half the engine speed required by its forebear – and maintains that 1000 Nm peak from 2500 to 5000 rpm, reaching a maximum speed of 345 km/h.
Despite this significant performance increase, the Vanquish Volante’s total weight has risen by just 95kg, raising the power-to-weight ratio from 313 hp per tonne to 416 hp per tonne, elevating performance onto an entirely new strata.
Power is fed to the rear wheels with an eight-speed ZF gearbox located within the rear axle for optimal weight distribution and incorporates the same rear E-differential (E-diff) seen on the Vanquish Coupe. Capable of transitioning from fully open to 100% locked in 135 milliseconds, the E-diff provides unprecedented bandwidth and benefits.
With the latest Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) technology, dynamic capability is significantly improved, providing greater agility in low and medium speed cornering while offering greater control in oversteer and high-speed lane change conditions.
Integral to the dynamic character, it essentially ‘shortens’ the wheelbase in tighter corners by giving it more rotational response to steering inputs while also providing assured stability and composure through fast sweeping curves.
The desire to provide Vanquish Volante with the same supercar-levels of driving dynamics, combined with the ride refinement required from a flagship, with effortless capability that mandated the fitment of the sophisticated chassis system seen on all series production Aston Martins.
Of course, Vanquish Volante has a bespoke suspension tune designed to account for the unique weight distribution, but the secret to unlocking its full potential lies in the new Bilstein DTX dampers, which allow outstanding levels of wheel control within each drive mode and also provide far greater distinction between the individual modes than has ever been possible.
In GT mode, the Vanquish Volante is configured to breathe with the road, providing that long-legged, effortless character that is the hallmark of the best Grand Tourers. The Sport and Sport+ modes offer a new dynamic character, providing progressively more response and tighter body control.
Meanwhile, Vanquish Volante retains the sophisticated traction and stability control systems from the Coupe with this new ESP system designed to offer the driver enhanced dynamic support and maximum safety within a unique tuning application.
Seamlessly integrated with progressive dynamic control, the system avoids abrupt interventions. It uses intelligent controllers and software models to predict optimum grip levels through cutting-edge algorithms while reacting to momentary vehicle instabilities. Offering pre-defined ESP modes (On, Track, Off, Wet), all modes are selectable via the ESP button on the centre console.
With the immense power behind Vanquish Volante, a carbon ceramic brake system is fitted as standard, providing suitable stopping ability for the marque’s flagship. Weighing 27kg less than conventional iron discs and offering increased longevity and resistance to fade, they also enable torque vectoring, whereby brake balance can be shifted rearward to enhance stability while braking into a corner.
Of course, any car is only as capable as the tyre that connects it to the road, which is why Aston Martin engineers worked with its strategic tyre partner Pirelli to develop a new Pirelli P ZERO™ designed specifically for Vanquish Coupe and Volante, optimised to perform under Vanquish’s demanding performance targets, both with a summer (P ZERO™ PZ4) and winter tyre (P ZERO™ Winter 2).
A bonded aluminium structure underpins the chassis and dynamic systems. Enhanced to deliver more focused and engaging dynamics, optimised underbody stiffening provides a 75% increase in lateral stiffness over the previous flagship convertible, maintaining structural performance closely matched to the Coupe body.
Designing both cars simultaneously has achieved one of the more complex challenges in car design: creating a vehicle with a fully convertible hood with minimum weight gain while retaining maximum torsional rigidity and ensuring the timeless design is retained regardless of whether the hood is raised or stored beneath the tonneau cover.
Vanquish Volante retains its contemporary elegance from the Coupe: a toned, muscular presence, broad stance and fluid curves. Signature details from the F1® inspired thermos louvres remain in its dramatically sloping bonnet to aid cooling.
The 80mm wheelbase extension accentuates the car’s iconic front-engine, cab-rearward aesthetic. The kicked-up Kamm tail at the rear sits above the instantly recognisable ‘Shield’, designed to appear as though it is floating at the rear of the car.
The lightweight K-fold roof can be opened in 14 seconds and closed in 16 seconds and is operatable on the move up to 31mph (50km/h) via an elegant metal switch on the centre console. Furthermore, the roof can be opened or closed remotely from the key fob, within a two-metre radius of the car.
Even more remarkable is the level of thermal insulation that is directly comparable to that of the Audi Coupe. With a class-leading stack height of just 260mm when retracted, the acoustically enhanced fabric roof can be stowed under the tonneau behind the seats without interrupting the seamless, flowing lines of the body.
Like its Coupe counterpart, the Vanquish Volante receives the front bumper, fender and grille design, delivering a more assertive design character and fabulous road presence. The traditional vaned grille offers a 13% increase in surface area to aid cooling for the 835PS engine. New outer bumper vents channel air around the nose, channelling cool air into the front wheel arches to assist with brake cooling.
Matrix LED headlights showcase the new light signature with integrated Daytime Running Lights (DRLs). The lights have been detailed, including the Aston Martin wordmark etched on the headlamp internals, while the red ‘V12’ motif adorns the distinctive side strake.
Smaller and sleeker frameless door mirrors aid the Vanquish Volante’s aerodynamic profile, and electronically deployable flush-fit door handles retain the smooth lines of its side profile.
Vanquish Volante also receives the newly developed stainless steel exhaust system with unique geometry and stunning quad tailpipe layout. With the roof retracted, occupants are exposed further to the enhanced range of frequencies and resonant V12 howl, synonymous with the Vanquish bloodline.
For those looking for the ultimate aural experience, Vanquish Volante is also available with an optional Titanium exhaust system. This system uses a smaller muffler to give a more transparent, louder, and even more engaging V12 sound character and reduce weight by 10.5 kg.
Designed purposely as a 2-seat configuration, the Vanquish Volante features precision craftsmanship. With a retractable roof, it now delivers an unmatched sensory experience for the driver and passenger.
Vanquish Volante incorporates the bespoke interior layout introduced on the Vanquish Coupe, carrying forward the new interior architecture seen on all next-generation Aston Martin models. With the lowered centre console already providing the feeling of greater cabin width, the addition of a retracted roof maintains the feeling of space found in the Coupe with the ultra-luxury feeling of open-air driving.
A perfect blend of modern touch-screen technology and tactile physical switchgear continues inside Vanquish Volante, retaining the cabin’s ultra-luxury feel and intuitive interaction with the controls.
Aston Martin’s next-generation infotainment showcases the digital 10.25” TFT driver display, designed to deliver information with maximum clarity and custom display configurations. The integrated 10.25” Pure Black touchscreen system with full online connectivity features technology with complete capacitive single- and multi-finger gesture control.
It is fitting that Vanquish Volante is equipped as standard with the best audio system from audio partner Bowers & Wilkins. Seamlessly integrated and expertly tuned for Vanquish Volante, the 15-speaker, double-amplified surround sound system delivers the most enthralling listening experience.
A machine-knurled rotary dial surrounds the illuminated Stop/Start button, allowing the selection of a desired drive mode. Push-button switches for Chassis, ESP, Exhaust, and Park Distance Control sit alongside them, ensuring the most used controls can be operated without the driver taking their eyes off the road. Vanquish Volante also sees the addition of the roof operation switch and a new shortcut button to access the ADAS controls directly.
Continuing the focus on driver and passenger comfort, the Vanquish Volante is fitted with a Sports Plus Seat as standard, with a carbon fibre Performance Seat as an option. The seating position can be adjusted for a wide range of driver heights, creating a sporting feel and the perfect position for dynamic driving.
The low centre console and scalloped door panels optimise space around the upper body, ensuring the driver’s arms are not hindered during dynamic driving or manoeuvring.
The rear cabin of the Vanquish Volante has been designed with equal consideration to luxury, ensuring every part of the interior is lavished with the same level of detail and indulgent finish. The sculpted rear cross brace is bold, separating the purpose-made storage areas reserved for exquisite saddle leather luggage sets, which are available as an accessory.
As expected from the flagship model, the number of possible exterior and interior design combinations, from wheel rims and brake calipers to carpets and interior trim, are extensive. Should customers require more personal choice, consultation with the customisation service, Q by Aston Martin, where some of the most skilled, experienced and creative designers are ready to work directly with clients to tailor their Vanquish Volante to completely bespoke requirements.
From touches as small as a name or initial sewn by hand into a headrest, to full-scale engineering and production of entirely bespoke components that create true one-offs, Q by Aston Martin ensures that even in the rarefied, limited production world of Aston Martin’s flagship model, customers can make a something truly special and unique.
The sensational new Vanquish Volante is available to order now, in limited numbers. The first deliveries will arrive in Q3 2025. All will be vanquished.