Price (as tested) 💲: $339,500
Powertrain ⚙️: Twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8
Output 💪: 671 hp/590 lb-ft of torque
Transmission 🕹: 8-Speed Automatic
0-60 MPH 🚦: 3.5 seconds
Top Speed 💥: 201 mph
MPG (as tested) ⛽️: 14 city/22 hwy/17 combined
Curb weight ⚖️: 4,350 lbs
Though highly aspirational, an Aston Martin isn’t a default pick for newly affluent buyers. Lamborghinis, McLarens, and Ferraris attract wow-factor purchasers much more frequently. Yet for the discerning, less glamorized shoppers, a car like the Aston Martin DB12 Volante evoques the just-right blend of performance and pizazz.
Body panels stretch tight across a long hood, clean headlights, pronounced fender flares, and a tidy rear end. Dazzling 21-inch wheels over tasteful bronze brake calipers complement the Caribbean Pearl Paint. Despite the “gentleman’s GT” reputation, this DB12 has tremendous curb appeal. An 8-layer fabric roof in contrasting navy blue isn’t my favorite pairing, but it can quietly fold out of eyesight in just 16 seconds.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, you’re greeted by a plush, tailored cabin that mingles open pore woods, soft leathers, and bright metalwork. Long overdue, the DB12 benefits from a new in-house infotainment system that is responsive and reasonably easy to operate. The layout can be a challenge to navigate, but wireless CarPlay and Android Auto keep the frustrations to a minimum.
With the top in place, visibility is compromised out of the thin slit of rear glass, and around the high cowl, but blind spot monitoring alleviates some concerns. Lowering the top invites just the right amount of breeze to tickle the skin, while a removable windscreen prohibits bothersome turbulent buffeting. The view over the DB12 Volante’s curvaceous hood promotes a feeling of authority and prestige.
And all that is before you hit the start button.
Ignition of the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 ripples the air and flutters the heart. Dipping into the available 671 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque presses you against the comfortable bucket seats (which lack massage functions at the as-tested $339,500). From a standstill, the DB12 Volante rips to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds on the way to a top speed of 201 mph. Precise steering and controlled body motions inspire as much confidence as the powerful carbon ceramic brakes.
At a more leisurely pace, the DB12 Volante is refined on smooth pavement, but channels more imperfections into the cabin on broken road surfaces. The plus-size wheels and low profile tires are likely a culprit. Whatever the destination, the Volante elevates any drive into a sense of occasion. Lustful stares from pedestrians, Camry drivers, and yes, even Ferrari drivers, buoy your confidence and dampen the ride where the suspension cannot.
Those that are called to Aston Martin ownership are primary benefactors of the cars’ performance, but the DB12 Volante’s beauty is also a gift to the greater community. Thank you for your service.