POWERFUL BLAST OF WIND
THE LATEST ASTON DB11 VOLANTE AND MERCEDES S63 CABRIOLET BOTH HAVE AMG-TUNED POWER, BUT THEIR BI-TURBO V8 ENGINES AREN’T THE SAME
IS THIS OPEN-TOP ASTON OFFICIAL YET?
Yes, it is, after having been teased by the British exotic-car marque for nearly a year. The much-awaited Volante becomes the second model in Aston Martin’s DB11 range featuring an open-top body.
The DB11 Volante gets an eight-layer fabric soft-top available in three colours, including red, black or grey. It can open in 14sec and close in 16sec, and the process can be done at speeds of up to 50kph.
Aston Martin claims that the DB11 Volante has a lighter yet stiffer structure than the outgoing DB9 Volante. As well, boot space is 20% more than in its predecessor.
IT ONLY GETS THE V8?
For the moment, Aston Martin has announced only one engine option for the DB11 Volante. It’s the AMG-sourced 510hp 4.0litre twin-turbo V8 that has just appeared in the Coupe model, launched in Thailand this month.
Since the DB11 Volante is some 100kg heavier, at 1,870kg, than its coupe sibling, its 0-100kph time is 0.1sec slower, at 4.1sec.
The 608hp 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 that can be additionally found in the coupe isn’t available for the DB11 Volante yet.
AND WHAT’S NEW IN THE MERC?
Together with its S63 Coupe sibling, the S63 Cabriolet gets subtle design tweaks, improved interior features and more driver-assist tech.
The front end receives newly designed bumpers with bigger air vents, plus the Panamericana grille from the GT sports car. At the rear are new lights with Oled (organic light-emitting diodes) tech that can glare in different ways.
Inside, the S63 Cabriolet gets the saloon’s new widescreen, integrating two 12.3-inch digital displays together in one screen. The three-spoke steering wheel is also new.
AND WHY DOESN’T IT GET THE SAME V8 AS IN THE ASTON?
The S63 Cabriolet is, along with the Saloon and Coupe derivatives, making good use of the older 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8, producing 612hp yet capable of cracking the 0-100kph time in a faster 3.5sec.
Although AMG’s latest 4.0-litre V8 is already available in the GT sports car and C- and E-class model ranges, this new downsized unit has yet to make it into the S-class.
Some other new stuff in the Merc include an improved active suspension that can now scan road surfaces ahead at speeds of up to 180kph and adjust accordingly, and active cruise control that can automatically slow down the vehicle ahead of bends and junctions.
WHEN ARE THEY COMING TO THAILAND?
Most likely early next year, although the Thai Aston Martin office would be keener about its latest open-top than the suits at Mercedes-Benz. That’s because Thai punters with some 20 million baht or so for such a car would find an Aston badge more befitting at such a price level.
Their availability in 2018 is timely because the Bentley Continental GT, which has just been revamped in new-generation form, is set to come next year with an open-top version called GTC. And due before the turn of the decade is BMW’s 8-series Convertible.