Aston Martin unveils soft-top variant to Vanquish

The design of Vanquish Volante represents the latest take on Aston Martin's iconic visual language. Styling cues such as the elegant waist, elongated side strakes and LED rear light blades are derived from the One-77 supercar while the folding fabric roof sits. The new triple-skin lightweight fabric roof takes 14 seconds to fold away beneath a tonneau and decklid that have been aerodynamically tuned for optimum performance and doesn't hinder the 279 litres boot space.

The Vanquish Volante is the first fully carbon fibre skinned convertible in the brand's 100-year history, while also being the stiffest convertible body structure yet created by the engineering team at Aston Martin's global HQ in Gaydon, England.

The windscreen runs the full height - which means that the glass runs up to meet the fabric roof, thereby achieving a particularly clean transition. The 2+2 cabin is elegantly attired in authentic and luxurious materials - full grain Luxmil leather with optional quilting, metal controls and satin chrome trim underscore the car's well appointed nature.

Under its curvaceous carbon fibre bonnet, the Vanquish Volante houses the latest AM11 naturally aspirated 6.0-litre V12 engine which drives the rear wheels via a Touchtronic 2 six-speed automatic gearbox. The V12 peaks at 565bhp with 620Nm of torque. These numbers translate into performance that match the Vanquish coupe's and ensure the new car supports its Super GT billing.

Announcing the arrival of the Vanquish Volante, Aston Martin CEO Dr Ulrich Bez commented, "This car is what luxury super GT driving is all about. Great performance, fantastic style and exhilarating Volante motoring in one superb package. Aston Martin is celebrating 100 years of excellence in 2013, and the arrival of this new sports car - our ultimate Volante - underlines that our mission to make the next 100 years even more successful is starting perfectly."

Priced from £199,995 (S$392,101) in the U.K., with first deliveries expected to begin in the U.K. and Continental Europe late in 2013.