The Aston Martin DB12 Volante has arrived, and it looks predictably lovely

Do you really care that the new Aston Martin DB12 Volante is powered by a Mercedes-AMG V8 and produces 671bhp? That it can do 0-62mph in 3.7s and max out at 202mph? That it boasts dampers that offer 500 per cent more ‘bandwidth of force distribution’ over the DB11 Volante?

One suspects you do not care, aware that an Aston Martin convertible is judged primarily on its ability to immediately transport your emotions to a sunny, long-haul road-trip along the south of France or a sunny Californian coast just by looking at its silhouette. Job done, we’d proffer.

Of course it was designed in tandem with the new DB12 Coupe – “the most accomplished Aston Martin we’ve driven in years” – and sits on the same bonded aluminium structure, while sharing that car’s AMG V8 and eight-speed ZF gearbox.

Where they differ is in the additional strengthening measures applied to the suspension mounting points and engine cross brace. As such, it’s stiffer than the DB11 Volante, but that much is a given. Performance is, too.

The eight-layer fabric roof itself can open in 14 seconds and close in 16 at the touch of a button, at up to 31mph. We’re told it features a ‘K-fold’ mechanism – a two-stage folding process “to achieve a class-leading 260mm stack height”. You will likely not care that it has a class-leading stack height, only that it looks… good when stacked.

There are colours to play with for the roof, and when stowed it shows off the DB12 Volante’s really very sleek ‘beltline’. Naturally there’s been a bit of a redesign of the rear quarter, but it’s all very smooth.

Carrying over the DB12 Coupe’s interior means a cabin that is vastly transformed over the DB11: a good touchscreen, better ergonomics, better materials and an overall better ambience. At least going by the Coupe we tested earlier this year.

“The Volante name holds a special place in Aston Martin’s history,” said Marek Reichman, Aston Martin’s chief creative officer. “Since the first Volante was introduced back in 1965, huge strides have been made in engineering, technology and performance.

“The DB12 Volante’s exterior and interior design reflects these advances with a muscular physique and athletic stance indicative of its immense performance, and a clean and contemporary interior that stands as a bold interpretation of modern luxury”.

No word on how much this modern luxury will cost, but we’ll find out in due course. It’s due to be unveiled for real on a sunny Californian coast very soon.