The Aston Martin DB11 Volante Uncovered

After introducing the Aston Martin DB11 coupe last year, the English brand has just unveiled the convertible version of the grand touring sports car, which should hit dealerships in the spring of 2018.

Compared to the Aston Martin DB9 Volante it replaces, the DB11 is lighter by 57 pounds, but its structure is stiffer. The company also flaunts a more dynamic character, a greater level of refinement and greater interior comfort as well. The DB11 Volante’s trunk is 20% bigger than the DB9 convertible’s.

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The power-folding soft top, created with eight layers of material, should provide good sound insulation and weatherproofing. It will be available with a choice of three colours, including bordeaux red, black silver and grey silver. The top can be lowered in 14 seconds and raised in 16, even while the car is travelling at speeds of up to 50 km/h.

In order to test the top’s durability, Aston Martin submitted it to more than 100,000 opening and closing cycles within a month, simulating its use over a 10-year period. The automaker also tested its resistance to extreme climates in Death Valley in the Arctic Circle.

For now, only one powertrain will be available in the Aston Martin DB11 Volante. Its twin-turbo, 4.0-litre V8 develops 503 horsepower and 498 pound-feet of torque, and is connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, we estimate the new convertible’s starting price at around $250,000.