Aston Martin had confirmed that a Volante would join the DBS 770 Ultimate coupe back when the model was announced in January. By and large, we knew what to expect. Before even seeing it, we’d been told the Volante was sold out. But as the end of the line special for one of Aston’s more memorable creations of the past few years, it’d be remiss not to bring the finished car to your attention. Because, well, look - it’s sensational.
In any form, the DBS has always been a truly wonderful Aston Martin, perhaps especially as a Volante with unfettered access to the V12. Of course there was always going to be an Ultimate Volante. Remember, too, that this will be the rarer of the pair, with just 199 made against 300 Coupes. All of them have buyers, unsurprisingly, because how many more opportunities will there be to get new Aston Martins like this?
The Volante carries over many of the upgrades that marked out the 770, with a 25 per cent increase in lateral stiffness up front (said to benefit steering feel), recalibrated dampers, a quicker shifting automatic and the new front end look. Plus, well, 770hp as well, said to make the Volante capable of more than 200mph. 211mph, to be exact. Or, in one of the more florid lines ever used to hint at a car’s top speed: ‘Prowling the precipice of the possible before pouncing on speeds north of 200mph’. Right.
Course the Ultimate is going to sound epic, but Aston can do way better than just epic. ‘DBS 770 Ultimate Volante puts you in the eye of a storm of sound. Note after note. Wave after wave of unadulterated V12. Nothing to muffle or dampen. Not even a roof. A sky-bound symphony surrounding the driver with the deep and seething sounds of twelve cylinders. An open-air orchestra searing up your spine, thundering all five senses on full volume. Putting you equally out in the open and at the heart of one of the most visceral experiences in the automotive world.’ So, yeah, new V12 Aston Martin is going to sound superb. Make the most of them while you can, folks.
Aston’s Chief Technical Officer was a little more reserved in his assessment than the marketing people, if still enthusiastic: “DBS 770 Ultimate Volante is the most powerful DBS in our history, and includes a comprehensive suite of enhancements to the transmission, steering, suspension, and underbody structure. It produces a spectacular level of performance and delivers one of the greatest sensory experiences when driving an open-top Super GT.”
Sounds like 199 very lucky people are going to receive a fantastic Volante. Perhaps some are getting both coupe and cabrio. Those of us who didn’t make the list can be consoled by having the Ultimate on the Aston configurator - good job trying to make it look better than this - and, of course, checking out the PH classifieds for Volantes that cost less than the £337,000 Ultimate. Purple suits this one down to the ground…
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