2024 Aston Martin DB12 Volante First Drive Review: Possibly the Best Aston, Roofless

During the technical briefing for the 2024 Aston Martin DB12 Volante, a company representative noted that performance has become a bigger focus for the automaker than before. And as a result, it's now targeting the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini rather than Bentley. That’s certainly a commendable ambition for a brand that owes as much of its reputation to motorsport as it does to James Bond, but I must admit that skepticism was my initial, knee-jerk reaction.

Performance has always been an intrinsic element of Aston Martin vehicles. But aside from a few notable exceptions like the how-is-this-street-legal Valkyrie, the company’s road cars have traditionally leaned more toward grand touring rather than outright capability.

For example, the last DB11 I drove—also a V8-powered Volante—had the curb appeal and the ultra-posh presentation that you’d expect from Aston Martin, but when it came time to chase down a Porsche 911 in the canyons, the car ultimately felt out of its element. A more recent stint in a DBX707 produced similar results. While the boosted 4.0-liter delivered legitimately stunning straight-line thrust, its relatively soft chassis tuning simply could not replicate the uncanny composure of a Lamborghini Urus Performante when it came time to attack some corners. And that was fine because the last word in athleticism just wasn't what you expected from an Aston Martin anyway. But this latest declaration changes the rules of engagement. If the company intends to go toe-to-toe with the best in the performance business, it had better come correct.

After spending a few hours in the Malibu Hills with the DB12 Volante, I’m happy to report that this ragtop not only delivers on several crucial fronts in that regard, but it may just be the most wholly realized sports car in Aston Martin’s history.

Peak Volante

Although convertibles are typically seen as the softer, more lifestyle-focused counterpoint to their coupe brethren—and often a bit of a design afterthought—the DB12 Volante manages to avoid these potential pitfalls. Like its DB11 predecessor, the DB12 Volante boasts an uninterrupted beltline with the roof stowed under its tonneau cover, creating a visual effect that emphasizes the car’s strong character lines rather than detracting from them. The fabric roof opens in 14 seconds, closes in 16, and can be operated at speeds of up to 31 mph. The top can even be pressed into action remotely by way of the key fob, preventing the need to stare blindly into the existential abyss as the various roof mechanisms perform their complicated work while you wait to set off.  

With a dry weight of just under 4,000 pounds, the DB12 Volante is certainly not going to be confused for a Boxster in a blind taste test, but there’s a sense of immediacy and precision in the way that it reacts to inputs that mark a noticeable step forward from the DB11 Volante.

Credit goes in part to the DB12’s revamped chassis, a bonded aluminum structure that benefits from torsional stiffness improvements as well as a new, non-isolated steering column, the latter of which was implemented to improve feel both on and off-center. But the real MVP, I suspect, are the new adaptive dampers, which boast significantly more dynamic range than their predecessors. That dynamic range allows the dampers to deliver more compliance in their softest setting and more stiffness at the sporty end of the spectrum. That added flexibility allows the suspension to provide more of whatever the situation demands without resulting in ride quality that feels too wallowy nor overly harsh in its default state. Aston says that minor rear damper programming and spring rate tweaks constitute the core differences in chassis tuning between the DB12 Volante and the coupe.

Docile Beast 12

A stab of the throttle clearly illustrates why the chassis tuning has become significantly more sport-oriented in the DB12. While I wouldn’t blame you for pouring one out in remembrance of the dearly departed twin-turbo 5.2-liter V12 that motivated the top-spec DB11, the AMG-sourced 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 housed under the DB12’s sinewy hood is no mere consolation prize.