{"id":787,"date":"2025-07-22T23:01:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T23:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lamortindave.com\/?p=787"},"modified":"2025-07-23T14:16:04","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T14:16:04","slug":"the-aston-martin-vanquish-volante-defies-logic-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lamortindave.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/22\/the-aston-martin-vanquish-volante-defies-logic-review\/","title":{"rendered":"The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante Defies Logic: Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

It might be a mistake to look at the new Aston Martin Vanquish Volante too rationally. With a starting price of $489,700, it\u2019s crazy expensive both at face value and relative to Aston Martin\u2019s other cars\u2014the excellent DB12 Volante is over $200,000 less.<\/p>\n

But why look at the Vanquish Volante<\/a> rationally when you could just, well, look at it<\/em>. Is there a better-looking convertible on sale today? Is there anything with quite such panache and presence? Is there anything with such an evocative name, with the performance and soundtrack to back it up? For my money, probably not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Quick Specs<\/td>\n2026 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Engine<\/td>\nTwin-Turbo 5.2-Liter V-12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Output<\/td>\n824 Horsepower \/ 738 Pound-Feet<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
0-60 MPH<\/td>\n3.3 Seconds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Base Price \/ As-Tested<\/td>\n$489,700 \/ $595,300<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

That\u2019s how Aston Martin<\/a> hopes people will see the Vanquish Volante. We can\u2019t call it Aston Martin\u2019s flagship, as the company will soon launch the 1,000-plus-horsepower Valhalla hypercar. But the Vanquish is the pinnacle of the traditional Aston\u2014a gorgeous, imposing grand tourer with a monster V-12 up front.<\/p>\n

This carbon-bodied car will be rare, too. Aston Martin will only make 1,000 examples per year, 400 of which will be open-top Volantes. It recasts the V-12 as something a lot more exclusive than it was before, something for those who want it badly enough to pay the enormous premium.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s nothing like a V-12. That high-pitched starter-motor sound that gives way to a flare of revs settling down into a smooth idle never fails to make you feel like a million bucks. Aston essentially redesigned its twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter V-12 for the Vanquish, and the result is 824 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. Which is a lot.<\/p>\n

\"2026
\nPhoto by: Chris Perkins \/ Motor1<\/p>\n

\"2026
\nPhoto by: Chris Perkins \/ Motor1<\/p>\n

\"2026
\nPhoto by: Chris Perkins \/ Motor1<\/p>\n

Pros: Outrageous Speed, V-12 Soundtrack & Smoothness, Stunning Looks<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Aston Martin threw all of its technical know-how, a very advanced traction and stability control system, wide tires, and an electronic limited-slip differential at the problem, but 824 hp and 738 pound-feet of torque is a lot for two rear Pirellis. The first time you try to get the power down hard out of a slow corner, you realize just how much this V-12 has. Like the new Vantage, too, the Vanquish is pretty stiff at the rear, so it can feel skittish at times.<\/p>\n

Be measured with your throttle inputs, though, and the rewards are massive. This car is effortlessly fast. Shift around 4,000 rpm and you won\u2019t think you\u2019re doing much until you look down at the speedometer. Rev the V-12 out and then things get really exciting, with all sorts of pace and a hard-edged (if ever-so-slightly turbo-muted) soundtrack.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As with the DB12 and Vantage, the Vanquish uses an eight-speed automatic transaxle at the back, and it shifts quickly and smoothly, though not as crisply as dual-clutch on downshifts. Simon Newton, Aston\u2019s head of vehicle dynamics, said that with its other new models, the company reduced the final-drive ratio to provide more in-gear punch.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With the V-12, the Vanquish didn\u2019t need that tweaking. It\u2019s got plenty of punch, and that taller final drive gives it the classic striding GT car feel. At 2,000 rpm in 8th, you\u2019ll be doing 97 mph; at 3,000, you\u2019ll be doing 145 mph. To use a technical term, the Vanquish Volante has legs.<\/p>\n

\"2026
\nPhoto by: Chris Perkins \/ Motor1<\/p>\n

Cons: Firm Low-Speed Ride, Too-Familiar Interior, So Expensive<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It\u2019s not power without finesse either. Aston developed a new feature called \u201cBoost Reserve\u201d that juggles the throttle opening and wastegates to keep the turbos spooled up when you lift the accelerator. You can actually hear the turbos whistling away on the overrun with the top down, and the feature works amazingly well. There\u2019s no perceptible lag from behind the wheel.<\/p>\n

The Vanquish Volante isn\u2019t just an engine with some car attached, either. The chassis is a wonderful thing on its own. This is a big, heavy car, but it doesn\u2019t drive like it. And not in an artificial way, with rear-wheel steering or active anti-roll bars trying to compensate for the size\u2014just very good spring and damper tuning.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"2026
\nPhoto by: Chris Perkins \/ Motor1<\/p>\n

Being a convertible, there\u2019s a bit of cowl shake over rough surfaces, and in general, the low-speed ride can be firm, but the dampers do a wonderful job of rounding off any hard edges. And as you build up speed, the car seems to free up a bit, flowing with the road beautifully. There are three damper settings, but frankly, I see no need to switch them from their softest \u201cGT\u201d mode, which provides the right amount of control and compliance.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Aston Martin has also done a great job with the steering, too. It\u2019s heavy, yet in a natural way, with weight building in concert with load increasing on the front tires. And while the Vanquish has a super-sharp front end, with a rear that follows very quickly, the steering is never nervous. Unlike in a Ferrari, where you really have to be measured with your inputs, the Vanquish feels intuitive.<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re not engaging in a bit of grand touring, the Vanquish Volante is perfectly usable as an everyday car. Roof up, it\u2019s admirably quiet, and while you\u2019re always conscious of the size, it\u2019s not unwieldy. There\u2019s also no low splitter to scrape, and the visibility is quite good for a car like this.<\/p>\n

\"2026
\nPhoto by: Chris Perkins \/ Motor1<\/p>\n

\"2026
\nPhoto by: Chris Perkins \/ Motor1<\/p>\n

\"2026
\nPhoto by: Chris Perkins \/ Motor1<\/p>\n

The interior is lovely, trimmed with rich-smelling leather everywhere you look. Although it doesn\u2019t look or feel that different from the cabin of a DB12 or Vantage. Those cars have lovely interiors, too, but for the extra $200,000-plus, there isn\u2019t much that sets the Vanquish apart.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Still, Aston has smartly integrated a lot of physical knobs and buttons that feel wonderful and increase ease-of-use, and Apple CarPlay Ultra integration makes all infotainment functions a cinch. Though note that it\u2019s only as good as your phone\u2014you\u2019ll need a relatively new iPhone for it to work at its best, and if your phone overheats in the wireless charger, you\u2019re out of luck.<\/p>\n

It would be an extravagant car to daily drive, of course, but with that V-12 constantly humming along, it would be a hell of a lot of fun too. Just don\u2019t expect to fit much in the trunk, especially with the top down.<\/p>\n

\"2026
\nPhoto by: Chris Perkins \/ Motor1<\/p>\n

Really, the choice between coupe and Volante is a matter of personal preference. I don\u2019t think the drop-top looks quite as good as the coupe, but it\u2019s still one of the most beautiful, striking cars on sale today. And while there are some dynamic compromises from losing the roof, they\u2019re hardly great enough to spoil the car.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Park the Vanquish Volante next to a DB12, and it doesn\u2019t make a ton of sense. But just look at it. Listen to it. Drive it. Say the words \u201cAston Martin Vanquish Volante.\u201d<\/p>\n

Suddenly, it makes all the sense in the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2026 Aston Martin Vantage S Revealed: More Power, But Softer Suspension<\/a>
We Tested Apple CarPlay Ultra. It’s Great\u2014But There’s a Catch<\/a><\/p>\n

Competitor<\/h2>\n

Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
2026 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Engine<\/td>\nTwin-Turbocharged 5.2-Liter V-12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Output<\/td>\n824 Horsepower \/ 738 Pound-Feet<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Transmission<\/td>\nEight-Speed Automatic Rear Transaxle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Drive Type<\/td>\nRear-Wheel Drive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Speed 0-60 MPH<\/td>\n3.3 Seconds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maximum speed<\/td>\n214 Miles Per Hour<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n4,421 Pounds<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Seating Capacity<\/td>\n2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cargo Volume<\/td>\n9.15 Cubic Feet<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Base Price<\/td>\n$489,700<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
As-Tested Price<\/td>\n$595,300<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
On Sale<\/td>\nNow<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It might be a mistake to look at the new Aston Martin Vanquish Volante too rationally. With a starting price of $489,700, it\u2019s crazy expensive both at face value and<\/p>\n

Continue reading <\/use> <\/svg>The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante Defies Logic: Review<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":790,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-787","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-event-coverage"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lamortindave.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/787","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lamortindave.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lamortindave.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lamortindave.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lamortindave.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=787"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/lamortindave.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/787\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":842,"href":"https:\/\/lamortindave.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/787\/revisions\/842"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lamortindave.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/790"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lamortindave.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=787"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lamortindave.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=787"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lamortindave.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=787"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}