Aston Martin Pops the Top on Its Road-Devouring Vanquish

A new Aston Martin is never a bad thing

Does the world really need another two-seat convertible that goes like stink and costs upwards of half a million dollars? Of course not.

And that’s why it’s a counterintuitive and delectable delight to announce the arrival of the newest thoroughbred in Aston Martin’s historic stable, the Vanquish Volante.

“For 60 years, Aston Martin Volantes have defined the art of elegant, sporting, open-top motoring,” Aston CEO Adrian Hallmark said in a statement. “With its stunning looks and outstanding V12 engine producing more power than any other front-engine production car on sale, Vanquish Volante has taken this philosophy to an entirely new level.”

A quick Italian lesson. “Volante” means flying, as in the act of taking flight, which seems an appropriate and storied moniker for all Aston Martin models whose tops drop. There is no question that the sensation of soaring is heightened when you take any sports car to its mechanical limit, and never more so than with this gem. First, some background before we get to the details of this new monster.

Aston Martin has been through a lot as a company

It’s worth noting that the Aston nameplate itself is enjoying some loft of late, after a mixed bag of ownership marriages that included some 20 years under the decidedly un-Aston-like Ford umbrella. No offense to the venerable and mighty F-150 and Mustang, but we’re talking James Bond territory here, gents. In 2020, Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll decided to have his own go at things, and if you’ve been watching Netflix’s “Drive to Survive,” you can see he’s not a man to be trifled with.

Under his stewardship, Aston Martin has polished up its image considerably, with mid-pack race performances (thanks in part to former champ Fernando Alonso at the wheel, along with Stroll’s son Lance) coupled with a few fifth-place constructions points finishes. All that to say now is among the finest times in recent decades to scoot about in an Aston Martin. For the well-heeled who aren’t shopping at auto malls, these cars present themselves as truly unique and worthy counterpoints to the other usual suspects such as Ferrari, Bentley, Porsche, and McLaren.

Why get an Aston? One would imagine that history alone might sway some, considering the company’s origins date back to the early 1900s and include notable race wins in the 1920s, a resurrection of sorts in the 1950s (under David Brown, whose initials graced fabled models including 007’s DB5), some impressive runs at Le Mans, and then a bit of a walk in the automotive desert at the end of the last century. Those were different times. These days, the sports cars coming out of its Gaydon, Warwickshire factory are truly items of envy, with their rakish bodywork, sumptuous interiors, and powerful engines. This takes us back to the Vanquish Volante.

The Vanquish is the latest best reason to get an Aston Martin

Last year, Aston fans got the gift of the third and latest iteration of the Vanquish, a range-topping coupe whose current incarnation dates back to the V12 Vanquish that made its head-turning debut at the 2001 Geneva Auto Show, back when those glam events were the place to showcase your latest baby.

The year 2012 saw the arrival of a noticeably upgraded Vanquish, which continued through 2018. Then, there was a bit of a pause until 2024, when this new iteration snorted into view. And what a beast it is. Of course, it features another 12-cylinder engine, this time boosted by twin turbos, a move that even normally aspirated devotees like Ferrari have had to adopt for reasons ranging from noise abatement to improved efficiency.

The convertible top is the real piece de resistance for the Vanquish

That same power plant moves the newest Vanquish, whose star feature really is its disappearing top. The K-fold fabric roof can be opened in 14 seconds and closed in 16 seconds, according to Aston, and operates at speeds up to 31 mph. That’s about standard for folding hardtops of this ilk, though not all can be set in motion with the press of a key fob button, as can this Volante (although you have to be standing no farther than six feet away). The top also promises to provide a level of thermal and acoustic insulation “comparable to the coupe,” says Aston, and when stacked and folded back into the boot, in Brit speak, it tucks away neatly without requiring any disruption to the coupe’s dramatic rear haunch lines.

Convertibles, of course, often give up structural rigidity to their coupe counterparts, but this Volante refuses to play that game. By using a bonded aluminum superstructure that optimizes underbody rigidity, this drop-top Aston reportedly provides 75% more lateral stiffness over the previous flagship vert. Further helping keep the car planted are new Bilstein DTX dampers that helps sort out the different driving modes, from comfort to track.

As is the norm these days with many supercar builders, engineers had the advantage of designing the convertible while sketching out the coupe. That pays off handsomely when it comes to open-air motoring in a way that was never the case decades back. Powering the Vanquish Volante is its sibling’s 5.2-liter V12 mill that puts out a whopping 824 horsepower and more than 700 lb-ft of torque. Perhaps more shocking is the car’s top speed: 214 mph, while zero to 62 mph comes in 3.4 seconds. All that muscle is fed to the wheels by an 8-speed ZF gearbox.

Outside, the Vanquish Volante essentially mimics the coupe, all swooping lines and F1-inspired scoops. It’s a commanding piece of automotive sculpture that leaves no doubt what is coming down the road. Inside, the Vanquish aims to mix modern lines and tech with that classic bespoke British vibe that’s heavy on leather and polished surfaces. But this is no Bentley Continental GT, which is a posh drawing room compared to the Aston’s fighter pilot perch. To each his or her own.

Final thoughts

If you’re a Vanquish Volante kind of driver, check your coffers and couch cushions now. Orders are being taken, and Aston promises to cap production of both the Vanquish coupe and convertible at fewer than 1,000 units. I suppose that when you make a car like the Vanquish, you wouldn't want everyone with deep pockets to have one.

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