Aston Martin DB12 Volante
It rained the day we picked up our 2024 Aston Martin DB12 Volante test car, a relentless drizzle that made the hills north of New York City into a misty approximation of the English countryside. A shame. “Volante” means “convertible” in Aston Martin’s vocabulary. The folding canvas roof was never uncinched, but that hardly felt like a sacrifice. The DB12 is an elegant, pulse-pounding delight no matter the weather.
The DB12 is all-new, but like a well-tailored suit, its style is timeless: long, pouncing hood, low roof, short trunk—the proportions that made James Bond’s mid-century DB5 an icon. Aston Martin calls the DB12 a “super-tourer,” one-upping the idea of a grand-touring car. In the old days, sports cars were best enjoyed in short spurts of driving bravado; grand-tourers gave up a little performance in favor of all-day, high-speed comfort. The DB12 ignores compromise. Beneath that mile-long hood, a 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V8 designed by Mercedes-AMG pumps out a massive 671 horsepower, enough to rocket from a dead stop to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and keep pushing to a 202-mph top speed. A knob on the dash cycles between five driving modes, adjusting engine and suspension to deliver plush, hushed comfort or unbridled speed on demand. The eight-speed automatic shifts itself with telepathic aplomb, but you can shift for yourself via steering-wheel-mounted paddles. Astounding athleticism is always at hand, whether you’re scything through curves on a mountain road or dispatching highway miles at triple-digit speeds.
Any convertible is fun with the wind in your hair; only a great car can charm you with the roof closed. The DB12’s interior feels like a cozy, secret hideaway for two people who enjoy each other’s company. (Technically, the car seats four, but even small children would find the DB12’s rear quarters claustrophobic.) Sumptuous, top-stitched leather is everywhere, including the sun visors. Gorgeous, open-pore wood lends warmth to the dash and doors. Every knob or lever you can touch has the cool heft of real metal. In traffic, SUV headlights peer through the narrow rear window, like nosy neighbors envying your good taste.
The 2024 Aston Martin DB12 Volante starts at $265,000. It makes every day a joy—even if you never get to put the top down.
