2022 Aston Martin DB11 Volante

How does one improve on the impossible beauty of the Aston Martin DB11? Simple - just drop the top. Enter the DB11 Volante, the convertible version of Aston's DB11, the British marque's replacement for the DB9. Unlike the coupe, the Volante is only available with a V8 engine, not a V12 - it's good for 528 horsepower thanks to twin turbocharging, though, which is enough to see the Volante reach 62 mph in just 4.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 192 mph. Compared with its direct predecessor, the DB9 Volante, the new drop-top is both lighter and stiffer, improving its handling. The DB11 Volante exudes all the glamor expected of an Aston convertible when you lower that soft-top, with a pleasing V8 burble and an opulent, leather-lined cabin combining for a most pleasurable driving experience. At over $200,000, it competes with the likes of the Ferrari Portofino and the Bentley Continental GT Convertible. That's serious company, but the DB11 Volante ends up striking a neat balance between the sporty Ferrari and the more luxurious Bentley.

Not everyone thought that the DB9 Volante looked better than its coupe counterpart, but few would find any fault with the DB11's transition to a convertible. This is a drop-top that looks premium, tasteful, and elegant all at once. The slimmer LED head- and taillights compared with the DB9 are a success, and the familiar Aston grille doesn't overpower the front fascia, as current design trends go. The power-operated fabric roof looks good and can be opened in 14 seconds at speeds of up to 31 mph. 20-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels are fitted, as is a deployable spoiler.

The DB11 Volante measures 187 inches in length, 84 inches in width including the mirrors, and 51.2 inches in height. It shares the 110.4-inch wheelbase with the DB11 coupe. By comparison, the Ferrari Portofino is over six inches shorter than the DB11. The Ferrari is over 400 pounds lighter, though, as the DB11 Volante has a curb weight of 4,134 lbs due to the additional chassis stiffening required over the coupe.

Once you start paying in excess of $200,000, you gain access to a level of customization unknown to most car shoppers. That's precisely why the Aston Martin DB11 is offered with a choice of over 50 colors. Although some vivid shades like Ultra Yellow, Cosmos Orange, and Scorpus Red are available, these seem more suited to AMR-badged Astons. We prefer the classy DB11 in more restrained, stealthy colors. Some of these include Buckinghamshire Green, Ultramarine Black, and even Platinum White. Customizing the Aston's exterior doesn't stop with the primary paint color, of course, because the calipers can be painted in one of several shades. The roof, too, is available in four shades like Blue, Red, and Black.

Although many will insist that a grand tourer of this nature should be powered by a V12, the DB11 Volante's 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 shouldn't be underestimated. It produces 528 horsepower and 513 lb-ft of torque. Sending power to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox, the DB11 Volante can reach 62 mph in just 4.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 192 mph. That's just a tenth or so off the pace of the lighter DB11 Coupe, but not as quick as the Ferrari Portofino and the AWD Bentley Continental GT Convertible, both of which can reach 60 mph in under four seconds. Still, the DB11 Volante is a blisteringly quick convertible and only the most demanding customers will ever feel like more power is necessary.

The Mercedes-AMG V8 under the hood of the DB11 Volante displaces 4.0-liters and features twin turbos to generate 528 hp and 513 lb-ft of torque. It's paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF. The V8 not only sounds good (it elicits a harder-edged growl than the smoother V12 in the range-topping coupe), but it delivers its power in a progressive fashion that's akin to a naturally aspirated unit - turbo lag doesn't factor into the equation and there is no sudden, spikey, and unexpected surge of power. Plant the throttle, and the DB11 Volante responds quickly and seriously hauls, even if some rivals offer more punch. The eight-speeder integrates well with the V8, proving smooth and shifting quickly enough so that one doesn't feel the need for a dual-clutch. Upshifts are fast, and together with the torquey V8, slower traffic can be passed with ease.

Initially launched only as a V12-engined coupe, the DB11 wasn't quite as precise as expected, and the powerful engine often proved too much for the rear wheels to manage. Things have improved, and the lighter V8 engine is part of the reason why. Carrying less weight over the front axle endows the DB11 Volante with crisper responses and, as a whole, the car feels sporty, controllable, and lighter on its adaptive dampers than the earlier V12 coupe. When the fabric roof is raised, there is little to indicate that it isn't a regular hard-top, as chassis shimmy is largely absent. Drop the roof, and besides the increase in wind noise, the car remains rigid and the ride pleasingly compliant. Road noise does intrude more than in a Bentley, though. Despite the Aston's weight, the quick and precise steering makes it feel lighter than it is - only the convertible's width requires extra caution in the city. Leaving the suspension in its softest setting and combining that with the powertrain in Sport Plus mode provides what is probably the best combination of responsiveness and comfort. Overall, the Volante strikes a fine balance between engaging the driver over a twisty stretch but proving comfortable over longer distances.

While hardly a fuel-sipper, the V8 in the Volante returns EPA figures of 18/24/20 mpg on the city/highway/combined cycles, improving on the V12 coupe's 14/22/17 mpg. The 20.5-gallon gas tank should allow for a combined cruising range of around 410 miles.

The DB11 Volante has a 2+2 seating arrangement, but only the front seats are suitable for adults. Like the exterior, the stylish cabin makes a superb first impression with its classy digital dials and the standard full-grain leather upholstery covering the seats and door panels. Upon closer inspection, there are some switches that don't feel as solid as they should, but build quality is robust for the most part. Standard features include power-adjustable front seats with a memory function, power-folding exterior mirrors that are also heated, front and rear parking sensors, and dual-zone automatic climate control. An electronic instrument cluster is fitted, although one does miss Aston's classy older analog dials. Overall, it's a great cabin and it can be customized to meet each buyer's specific tastes.

Like the coupe, the DB11 Volante retains a 2+2 seating arrangement, but there is so little space at the back that these seats should be considered little more than a secondary leather-lined trunk. The driver and front-seat passenger will have little to complain about, though, as the leather chairs offer power-adjustment with memory settings, heating, and enough space. Ingress and egress in front are fuss-free, but getting into the back (if you can even fit) will be more of an issue. The driving position is great, although visibility out of the tiny back window (with the roof up) is only average.

As standard, the Aston Martin DB11 Volante gets a full-grain leather interior with color-keyed door/center console inserts in leather as well. The Alcantara headlining and the eight-layer fabric top also evoke an impression of quality. Delve into Aston Martin's configurator, and you can choose from Create, Accelerate, or Inspire environments that come in monotone or duotone flavors. The Inspire environment also gets a light duotone option. Well over 20 different colors are on offer, including Dark Mocha, Obsidian Black, Spicy Red, Californian Poppy, Indigo Blue, Ivory, and Honey Gold. Quilted upholstery and a choice of colors for the seats and carpets ensure that there is a bewildering variety of interior permutations. The trim inlays are no less lavish, comprising choices like Piano Black, Dyed Tamo Open Pore, and Satin Chopped Carbon.

Measuring 9.5 cubic feet, the Volante's trunk can accommodate around four carry-on cases. This isn't exceptional, but it'll do for most daily needs. When the trunk won't suffice, at least the back seats provide some additional storage space. Aston Martin also provides a four-piece luggage set to make full use of the available space, as an optional extra.

In-cabin storage isn't anything special for a grand tourer, and the slow electric operation of the center console lid can frustrate. There are cupholders as well as front door pockets, but these are slim so larger items will need to be tossed onto the back seat.

The partnership with Daimler doesn't mean that the DB11 Volante is equipped to the same standard as the discontinued Mercedes-Benz S-Class Convertible, but it does get most of the essential comfort features expected of a modern GT. The leather seats are heated and power-adjustable in front, and also have memory functions for quickly calling up your favored seating position. This memory system is also integrated with the power-folding and heated side mirrors. The front center armrest has a power-sliding cover, although its slow operation occasionally annoys. Keyless entry and go provide added convenience, and the digital instrument cluster brings Aston's convertible into the modern era. Front, side, and knee airbags cater to occupant safety. There is also tire pressure monitoring, front/rear parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera system.

Using an older version of Mercedes' COMAND system, the DB11's infotainment offering is fair but lags behind Mercedes' own newer offerings and the likes of BMW's iDrive. Capacitive switches are linked to an eight-inch LCD screen along with an AM/FM radio, satellite radio, navigation, USB playback, and Bluetooth phone/audio streaming. iPod and iPhone integration is included, but both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are missing. The standard six-speaker Aston Martin audio system can be optionally upgraded to either an Aston Martin premium audio system or a 13-channel, seven-speaker Bang & Olufsen BeoSound unit. An optional touch pad can be specified to control infotainment functions.

In 2019, the DB11 Volante was affected by one recall for improperly tightened airbag fasteners, which could affect correct passenger airbag deployment in the event of an accident. A separate recall for 2019 models also related to the airbags, this time for front-seat airbag fasteners that could be loose. At the time of writing, 2020-2022 models remain free of recalls.

Like the coupe, the DB11 Volante is covered by a three-year limited warranty regardless of miles covered. This includes powertrain coverage. However, complimentary scheduled maintenance isn't part of the offering.

Local authorities haven't evaluated either the DB11 Volante or its coupe sibling, so official safety ratings are unavailable. As high-priced sports cars are rarely crash-tested, this scenario is unlikely to change anytime soon.

While short on many of the driver-assist technologies that you could find in a lowly Honda Civic, the DB11 Volante nevertheless has all of the non-negotiable safety features such as eight airbags (including knee airbags) along with a tire pressure monitoring system, dynamic stability control, traction control, and emergency brake assist.

Driver aids include a 360-degree camera system, cruise control with a speed limiter, blind-spot detection, auto parking, and front/rear parking sensors.

A cursory survey of how the average man in the street would describe an Aston Martin would likely conjure up descriptions such as: beautiful, powerful, glamorous, and expensive. And, while much has changed from the DB9 Volante to the DB11 Volante, this is a convertible that stays true to public perception of what an Aston should be. So yes, the turbocharged V8 ensures a rapid turn of speed and does just enough to avoid excessively mourning the V12, it handles more sharply than before, and it's absolutely stunning to look at. But, because we're not playing the role of casual observer, we also have to tell you about the DB11's flaws: the rear seats offer non-existent space, the infotainment system feels outdated, and it's noisier than a GT should be. The Bentley Continental GT Convertible is even more solidly screwed together, too. But then again, Aston Martins have never been without their flaws. And yet, for everything they don't do perfectly, they remain utterly desirable - a classic case of the more things change, the more they stay the same.

The Aston Martin DB11 Volante carries an MSRP of $220,820, excluding a destination charge. This price is also exclusive of tax, licensing, and registration. It's worth noting that pricing can differ markedly based on options specified, dealership specs, and the exchange rate at the time of ordering. By comparison, the V8-powered Bentley Continental GT Convertible starts at around $227,000 and the Ferrari Portofino goes for about $215,000.

The Volante stands alone as the only convertible variant of the DB11 range. Due to the extra weight penalty of the drop-top, Aston elected only to fit this model with the lighter 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine which produces 528 horsepower. Power goes to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Along with 20-inch wheels and LED lighting, the exterior is highlighted by the power-folding eight-layer fabric roof. The 2+2 cabin is finished in full-grain leather, with both front chairs featuring heating and power-adjustability. An eight-inch LCD color screen handles infotainment functions, and the convertible also gets front/rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera system, eight airbags, and available features like a heated steering wheel.

While the majority of options for the DB11 Volante are related to colors, materials, and trims, customers can also add some genuinely useful features. There are some appealing extras like a Bang & Olufsen sound system, carbon-fiber tailpipe finishers, a 4-piece luggage set, and exterior carbon-fiber packages.

With only one trim to choose from, it initially appears that choosing your ideal Volante would be easy. That's far from the case with the massive range of colors and upholsteries to choose from. Premium audio and ventilated front seats are two options that we would definitely consider. We'd also go for the luxurious Inspire interior environment with its semi-aniline leather.

Like the DB11 Volante, the Ferrari Portofino offers 2+2 seating, a twin-turbocharged V8 engine, and the thrill of open-top motoring. However, the Portofino has a retractable hard top in place of the Volante's eight-layer fabric top; despite this, it's the Ferrari that's the significantly lighter of the two, although it isn't quite as lengthy as the Aston. Under the hood of the Portofino lies a 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 with 592 hp and 561 lb-ft of torque, comfortably more than the Aston. As a result, the Ferrari is faster, taking just 3.5 seconds to hit 62 mph (as opposed to the Aston's time of 4.1 seconds). Both cars are positioned as GTs, but they're more on the sporty end of the spectrum, especially the Ferrari with its super quick dual-clutch gearbox and hyper-reactive steering. We'd give the driving enjoyment edge to the Ferrari, but the Aston Martin is more luxurious inside, comes with a few more features than the Italian, and has much more scope for personalization. Choosing between these two gorgeous convertibles will be both the worst and best decision you'll ever have to make.

The DB11 Volante might be prettier, but the Bentley Continental GT Convertible makes as grand an entrance as any other drop-top. At over 190 inches long and weighing in at well over 5,000 lbs, the Bentley casts a considerable shadow. It offers the option of both a 4.0-liter V8 with 542 hp and a 6.0-liter W12 with 650 hp - the latter can accelerate to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds. To drive, the Continental GT is majestic: it has a sublime ride, surprisingly good body control, and is quieter than the DB11. The Aston does excite the enthusiast a bit more, though. In the cabin, the Bentley wins with stunning materials and it also has a much better infotainment system than the Aston. While the Aston Martin's slinky styling will win over many buyers, it's the Continental GT Convertible that comes across as the more polished GT.