Following its launch in coupé-guise, the Aston Martin Vanquish is now available as a soft-top convertible. Taking just 14 seconds to open, and 16 to close at speeds of up to 31mph, the multi-layer fabric roof sits in a dedicated storage area behind the cabin, leaving no visual clues to its presence.

Although the Volante incurs a 95kg weight penalty over its fixed-roof counterpart, Aston Martin claims that both variants have the same dynamic capabilities, as both variants were developed simultaneously. The aluminium chassis has been strengthened, and offers 75% greater lateral stiffness than the DBS Volante that came before it.

The soundtrack comes courtesy of a 5.2-litre twin turbocharged V12 engine generating 824bhp at 6,500rpm, and 737lb-ft (1,000Nm) of torque from 2,500-5,000rpm. All the performance is sent exclusively to the rear wheels via a carbon fibre prop shaft, 8-speed ZF automatic transmission, and an electronic differential.

0-62mph takes just 3.4 seconds, and the car will reach a top speed of 214mph. The 1,880kg grand tourer has a power-to-weight ratio of 410bhp per tonne, but it must be noted that Aston Martin are quoting dry weights, and we expect the Vanquish to nudge two tonnes with fluids aboard.

Suspension and Chassis

The Vanquish benefits from a bespoke suspension tune to suit its unique weight distribution, and features active Bilstein DTX dampers at each corner. Carbon ceramic brakes are standard, saving 27kg over iron equivalents. Torque vectoring sees the brake balance being shifted rearward, improving agility when cornering swiftly.

Shrouding the 21” alloy wheels are specially designed Pirelli P Zero summer or winter tyres, measuring 275/30, and 325/30 at the front and rear respectively. These contain foam inserts to reduce road noise while grand touring. 

In terms of driving modes, the Volante features the same options as its hardtop brethren: a dedicated GT setting is available, along with Sport, and Sport+. The ESP has four calibrations: On, Track, Wet, and Off, all of which can be selected through a dedicated button on the centre console.

Interior and Pricing

The cabin has a pair of Sport Plus seats as standard, with carbon fibre Performance seats an option. A digital instrument cluster sits ahead of the driver, and the low-set touchscreen infotainment screen takes pride of place on the dashboard; both displays measure 10.25” across. 

Bucking recent interior design trends, the Vanquish gets a comprehensive suite of buttons and knurled dials to control everything from the operation of the roof, to the drive mode select, and the playback volume for the 15-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system. Behind the cabin is the 219-litre boot, but this drops to 187-litres with the roof down. An additional storage area can be found behind the passenger seats.

Its closest rival is the Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider, which is also a two-seat V12-powered convertible. The Ferrari boasts a naturally-aspirated engine, along with a solid roof, but is geared towards flat-out performance as opposed to high-speed cruising.

A grand touring competitor comes in the form of the Bentley Continental GTC, which adds the usability of four seats, but lacks four cylinders compared to the Aston Martin.

While design is usually subjective, the styling of the Vanquish Volante is categorically gorgeous, and any views to the contrary shall be regarded as high treason. The new model is available to configure and order now, with deliveries commencing in the third quarter of 2025.

No starting price is quoted, but we expect a reasonable uplift over the £333,000 of its coupé stablemate - before getting carried away with the “Q” customisation service.