The new Aston Martin DB12 Volante aims to be the world’s first open-top “super tourer” by offering the most powerful V8 among cabrio GT models currently available for sale.

Aston Martin had the same expectations for the Volante as they did for the DB12 coupe: to provide uncompromised handling and performance. Since removing the roof reduces torsional rigidity, the Volante’s chassis required reinforcement.

To accomplish this, the suspension mounts were made stiffer, especially the front end, which saw a 140% increase in stiffness. Additionally, a crossbrace was added across the engine bay.

These enhancements result in the DB12 Volante having 3.7% more torsional rigidity than its predecessor, the DB11. The “K-fold” soft top from the DB11 is carried over to the DB12 Volante and can open in 14 seconds and close in 16 seconds, even while the vehicle is moving at speeds up to 31 mph.

The additional roof and chassis bracing add an additional weight of 111 kg to the Volante. However, the rest of the vehicle remains unchanged compared to the DB12 coupe. It is powered by the same 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 sourced from Mercedes AMG, producing up to 671 bhp and 590 lb-ft of torque. The power is sent to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

Despite the added weight, the Volante’s straight-line performance is only slightly slower than the coupe, with a claimed 0-62 mph acceleration time of 3.7 seconds – just 0.1 seconds slower than the coupe.