Aston Martin DBS Volante

[KoenigseggBG]

Geneva Preview: Aston Martin DBS Volante the ultimate in alfresco 12-cylinder motoring

 

 

Thanks to the embargo-breaking crew at World Car Fans, we can finally give up the details on the 2009 Aston Martin DBS Volante. The drop-top version of Bond's uber-Aston features a fabric roof that can be retracted in 14 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph and supposedly looks just as good with the top up as the top down. Motivation is provided by the same 6.0-liter V12 found in the standard DBS, putting out 510 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque to a rear-mounted six-speed manual or "Touchtronic" sequential gearbox. The run to 62 mph is dispatched in a scant 4.3 seconds on its way to a top speed of 191 mph. Aston says it was able to keep the weight down (the DBS Volante tips the scales at 3,990 pounds) through the use of a lightweight roof mechanism, along with a carbon fiber hood, front splitter and trunk lid. The standard carbon ceramic brakes – pulled directly from the fixed-roof DBS – reduce unsprung weight at all four corners and provide the neck-punishing stopping power you'd expect. We'll get our first look of the DBS Volante at the Geneva Motor Show next week, but in the meantime, get all the details in the press release below the fold.

 

Press Release

 

Body

 

• Two-door convertible body style with 2+2 seating
  
• Bonded aluminium VH structure
  
• Aluminium, magnesium alloy and carbon-fibre composite body
  
• Extruded aluminium door side-impact beams
  
• High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps (main beam)
  
• LED rear lamps and side repeaters
  

Engine

 

• All-alloy, quad overhead camshaft, 48-valve, 5935 cc V12
  
• Compression ratio 10.9:1
  
• Front-mid mounted engine, rear-wheel drive
  
• Fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust system with active bypass valves
  
• Max power: 380 kW (510 bhp / 517 PS) at 6500 rpm
  
• Max torque: 570 Nm (420 lb.ft) at 5750 rpm
  
• Acceleration: 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 4.3 seconds
  
• Max speed: 307 km/h (191 mph)
  

Transmission

 

• Rear-mid mounted, six-speed manual gearbox. Rear-mid mounted 'Touchtronic 2' six-speed gearbox with electronic shift-by-wire control system
  
• Alloy torque tube with carbon fibre propeller shaft
  
• Limited-slip differential
  
• Final-drive ratio 3.71:1 (manual) 3.46:1 (Touchtronic)
  

Wheels and Tyres

 

• Front: 8.5'' x 20'' Pirelli P Zero 245/35
  
• Rear: 11'' x 20'' Pirelli P Zero 295/30
  

 

Steering

 

• Rack and pinion, Servotronic speed-sensitive power-assisted steering, 3.0 turns lock-to-lock
  
• Column tilt and reach adjustment
  

Suspension

 

• Front: Independent double wishbone incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers
  
• Rear: Independent double wishbones with anti-squat and anti-lift geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers
  
• Adaptive Damping System (ADS) with Track mode
  

Brakes

 

• Front: Ventilated carbon ceramic discs, 398 mm diameter with six-piston callipers
  
• Rear: Ventilated carbon ceramic discs, 360 mm diameter with four-piston callipers
  
• Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Track mode
  
• Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
  
• Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
  
• Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
  
• Traction control
  

Dimensions

 

Length:

 

4721 mm (185.9'')

 

Wheelbase:

 

2740 mm (107.9'')

 

Width:

 

1905 mm (75'') (exc. Mirrors)

2060 mm (81.1'') (inc. Mirrors)

 

Fuel tank capacity:

 

78 litres (17.2 Imp.galls, 20.5 US galls)

 

Height:

 

1280 mm (50.4'')

 

Weight:

 

1810 kg

Interior

 

 

• Full grain leather interior
  
• Matrix alloy facia trim and Iridium Silver centre console surround
  
• Carbon fibre door trims and door pulls
  
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror & garage door opener (USA & Canada only)
  
• Sports seats with electric adjustment
  
• Memory seats & exterior mirrors (three positions)
  
• Dual-stage driver/passenger front airbags
  
• Side airbags
  
• Heated seats
  
• Heated rear screen
  
• Automatic temperature control
  
• Organic Electroluminescent (OEL) displays
  
• Trip computer
  
• LED map lights
  
• Cruise control
  
• Hard Disk Drive (HDD) satellite navigation system1,2
  
• Bluetooth telephone preparation1
  
• Powerfold exterior mirrors
  
• Front and rear parking sensors
  
• Tyre-pressure monitoring1
  
• Alarm and immobiliser
  
• Remote-control central door locking and boot release
  
• Wind deflector
  
• Battery disconnect switch
  
• Battery conditioner1
  
• Tracking device3 (UK only)
  
• Boot-mounted umbrella
  
• Lamy pen and pen holder (Touchtronic only)
  

In-Car Entertainment

 

• Bang & Olufsen BeoSound DBS sound system
  
• Integrated Apple iPod® connector
  
• USB connector with Waveform Audio Format (WAF), Windows Media Player (WMA) and MPEG (MP3) audio file compatibility
  
• 3.5 mm auxiliary input socket
  

Options

 

• 20'' 20-spoke alloy wheels with graphite finish
  
• 20" 10-spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels
  
• 20" 10-spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels with graphite finish
  
• Satellite radio system (USA only)
  
• Piano Black facia trim and centre console surround
  
• Personalised sill plaques
  
• Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror1
  
• Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror with garage door opener (Europe only)
  
• Alarm upgrade (volumetric and tilt sensor)
  
• Tracking device1,3
  
• First-aid kit
  
• Ashtray and cigar lighter
  

 

*1 Not available in all markets

*2 Includes Traffic Messaging Channel (TMC) in Continental Europe

*3 Complies with UK Thatcham Category 5 requirements. Excludes subscription. Standard in UK.

 

Source

Gallery

[CarMadMike]

This is no match to my one-77 volante! haha :cheeky:

 

This is one sexy car, I like it!

[gingervette]

Why not. Aston Martin are one of the car companies that are laughing in the faces of other car companies that are actually having money troubles. They can do just about anything. Now it's time for thie SUV ;)

[Jacob]

Yeah They Didnt *Censor* This 1 up .It actually looks Amazing!

[TDU 505]

I noticed that Aston Martin has enough class to say

 

Cigar lighter :p

[Immelmann]

I quite like it. The One-77 on the other hand...

[TIMELESS]

:p Cruelty :)

[Cakeflour]

It looks great! I bet it costs a fortune though.

 

 

Now it's time for thie SUV ;)

 

NNNOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11one1

 

:D

[Gunned_Down666]

it looks alright but no deal its a convertable

[Car Freak]

Looks every bit as good as the Coupe. I actually prefer these rims to the Coupe's ones...

[Guest RB26DETT]

:eek:

 

*removes DBS from to buy list*

 

*adds DBS Volante to list*

 

:D

[KoenigseggBG]

I just love it. Aston are making a great progress recently and I agree with Redvette. But not on the SUV point. :cheeky:

[gingervette]

What can I say? I'm an SUV kind of guy lol

[Pherelas]

Pen holder on Touchtronic only, what on earth? And Boot-mounted umbrella, the door idea is loads better idea, bit late by the time you have got round the back, opened boot and got it out. Anyway who uses an umbrella?

 

Rather nice car though.

[Immelmann]

I agree, umbrellas are only for umbrella users.