Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Aston Martin DB9 Volante

 Yahoo! Autos; An overview of the 2012 Aston Martin DB9 Volante trim. Includes estimated market price, annual payments, MPG and more.

Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Aston Martin DB9 Volante

The Aston Martin DB9 Volante is a four-seat convertible that places an emphasis on styling and sumptuous luxury over all-out performance. As with the mechanically identical DB9 coupe, the DB9 Volante recently received a slight makeover inside and out to stay fresh in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
Power for the DB9 Volante is supplied by Aston Martin's low emissions, all-alloy, 48-valve, 6.0-liter, V12 engine. The motor recently received a 20 horsepower bump and a similar hike in torque production, for totals of 470 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 443 lb-ft at 5,000 rpm, respectively. Like the DB9 Coupe it is offered with a six-speed manual or a six-speed automated manual transmission
The six-speed automatic been reprogrammed to allow it to shift faster. These changes combine to make the cars three-tenths of a second quicker in the 0 to 60 mph sprint, while the six-speed manual cars are a tenth quicker thanks only to the power hike.
In addition to the straight-line performance, handling is improved thanks to Bilstein shocks, new suspension arms and bushings. The DB9 Volante features a softer suspension compared to the coupe in accordance with its boulevardier mission. The drop-top also benefits from a 10 percent stiffer structure on account of a revised front shear panel.
The DB9 Volante features 19-inch wheels, modernized door mirrors and an anodized aluminum grille. The interior features an elegant center console, finished almost entirely in die-cast zinc with an iridium finish. What isn't finished in iridium is finished in a mix of high quality leather or one of five different hand-finished wood trims, ranging from Walnut to Piano Black.
Dr. Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin said: "From the outset of the DB9 program we knew we wanted a convertible model. So the Volante has been designed, engineered and built from the outset as a convertible - it's not a Coupe with just the top taken off."
"The DB9 Volante has all of the traditional styling cues you'd expect from a convertible Aston Martin. It's very elegant and perfectly proportioned from every angle, while subtle embellishments help create a powerful-looking sports car."
"I wanted to ensure that the DB9 Volante was unmistakably an Aston Martin, but it had to retain all of the values of a convertible. Even with the hood raised it had to look beautiful," said designer Henrik Fisker.
Key Competitor
Those looking for an eye-catching exotic convertible with a coddling interior and docile around-town driving dynamics should consider alternatives to the DB9 Volante like the Bentley Continental GTC, Maserati GranTurismo Convertible and the Audi R8 V10 Spyder.