London - The British sports car maker Aston Martin is completing the DBS line-up withthe ultimate open-top Volante with a fabric hood and a design closely following that of the coupe version. Retractable within 14 seconds and at up to speeds of 48 km/h the hood is neatly stowed under the tonneau, maintaining the flowing, sporty form. The bonnet and boot lid are made from aerospace-proven carbon fibre, helping to reduce weight.
Interior features include full-grain leather sports seats, a matrix alloy fascia trim and an Iridium Silver centre console. In-car entertainment is provided with a Bang & Olufsen BeoSound DBS sound system.
Performance figures are true to the name - Volante means "moving with light rapidity." The 6.0-litre V12 engine is handbuilt with an output of 380 kW/517 hp and 570 Nm of torque with a top speed of 307 km/h. Acceleration from zero to 100 km/h is listed at 4.3 seconds. Fuel consumption is at 16.4 litres per 100 kilometres with a CO2 emission figure of 388 grammes per kilometre.
In standard specification, the DBS has a rear-mounted six-speed manual gearbox, while an automatic six-speed 'Touchtronic' option is also available for an extra 4,600 euros (6,575 dollars). As with the coupe, the Volante is offered with carbon ceramic brakes as standard. Prices start at 253,850 euros (362,802 dollars).
