2018 DB11 Volante

The 2018 DB11 Volante Is Aston Martin’s New Drop-Top V8 Cruiser

It was previewed in prototype form last year, but now it’s here for real. Aston Martin today unveiled the new DB11 Volante, and unlike its predecessor, it’s V8 only. The DB11 Volante is also both 57 lbs lighter and five percent stiffer than the DB9 it replaces, and it’s headed to the US early next year.

2018 DB11 Volante

But let’s address the engine. An Aston Martin spokesperson confirmed that the company doesn’t currently have any plans to offer the DB11 Volante with the 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12 available in the coupe. The V8 is a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 built by Mercedes-AMG that makes 503 hp and 513 lb-ft of torque in the DB11. We really dig this engine in cars like the Mercedes-AMG C63 and GT S, plus it’s a lot lighter than Aston Martin’s V12.

V8-equipped DB11 coupes are 253 lbs lighter than their V12 counterparts, so choosing to go V8 only for the heavier Volante makes sense. In fact, the Volante is close in weight to the V12 coupe. And its performance is great too—Aston quotes a 4.1-second 0-62 mph time, and it’ll hit 187 mph flat out. That makes the Volante only a tenth slower to 60 than the coupe, and their top speeds are identical.

The DB11 Volante’s roof is a totally new design with eight-layer fabric that promises excellent noise and weather isolation when it’s in place. It takes just 14 seconds to lower, and you can operate it at speeds of up to 31 mph. The DB11 Volante also offers 20 percent more trunk space than its DB9 predecessor thanks to its new design.

Inside, you get all the fine trappings of the DB11 coupe, plus interestingly, optional wood backing on the seats. You can also fit a child seat in the rear too, so you can take the whole family.

Pricing for the 2018 DB11 Volante starts at $216,495 in the US, and it should arrive at dealers next Spring. That means the DB11 Volante and the DB11 V12 coupe have exactly the same price, $17,500 more than the base V8 coupe. Which would you have?

Anthony Bunch Author

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