Aston takes the top off its DBS
25 Feb 2009|3,272 views
Completing the DBS line-up, the new Volante will afford customers the combination of the DBS's already-established benchmark sports car characteristics with all the thrills of open-air motoring.
Aston Martin's Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez said: "The DBS Volante delivers the utmost relaxed driving experience with the hood up or down. It combines engineering excellence with design perfection.
"The DBS Volante offers a subtle mix of power and performance. Adding to this, the fine craftsmanship - it is an unparalleled ownership and driving experience."
Conceived as a Volante from the outset, Aston Martin engineers opted for a fabric hood to closely follow the silhouette of the DBS coupe and due to its lightweight properties, minimise overall weight gain. Fully retractable in only 14 seconds and at up to speeds of 48 km/h, the roof will automatically stow under the newly sculpted tonneau, maintaining the DBS Volante's perfect form - hood up or down.
Power is provided by Aston Martin's hand-built all alloy 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 510 bhp and 570 Nm of torque with a top speed of 307 km/h and 0-100 km/h time of 4.3 seconds.
Aston Martin's 16th convertible in 95 years, the DBS Volante draws on the marque's extensive experience in designing iconic 'Volantes' and is a 2+2 featuring two occasional rear seats, ideal for young people or extra luggage.
In standard specification, the DBS has a rear-mounted six-speed manual gearbox, while an automatic six-speed 'Touchtronic' option is also available. As with the coupe, the Volante is offered with carbon ceramic brakes as standard. Benefitting from materials derived from the motorsport and aerospace industries, the bonnet, front wings and boot lid are made from carbon-fibre, all helping to reduce weight.
The DBS Volante also comes with Bang & Olufsen's renowned 'BeoSound DBS' in-car entertainment system, featuring 13 speakers as standard equipment. The BeoSound DBS has been expertly tuned by Bang & Olufsen's Tonmeisters and Aston Martin's acoustic engineers specifically for the Volante resulting in a system that senses when the roof has been retracted and adjusts the sound stage to compensate for extra wind noise, providing an unrivalled automotive audio experience.
The DBS Volante will be built at Aston Martin's global headquarters at Gaydon, Warwickshire with first customer deliveries expected to commence during quarter three 2009 and prices will be confirmed at the Geneva Auto Salon.
Design
 |
The newly choreographed hood has resulted in an opening time of only 14 seconds due to a new five-piston hydraulic pump. The roof effortlessly stows below the newly-sculpted tonneau cover which has been redesigned to enhance the muscular attributes of the DBS Volante. Housing the Roll-Over-Protection-System (ROPS) which deploys two roll bars in the event of the car rolling over, the rear humps lead your eye to the new carbon fibre deck lid which has been re-styled for the DBS Volante. Particular to the DBS, a line flows from the leading edge of the bonnet past the elegantly sloped windscreen flowing into the carbon fibre deck lid and to the rear boot 'flip'.
As the bonnet, front wings and boot lid are formed from carbon fibre, Aston Martin employs a patented 'surface veil' technology applying a 200 micron thick layer of epoxy glue to the carbon fibre, before the application of seven layers of paint, so as to prevent the carbon fibre weave from protruding.
Inside, lightweight materials are used throughout to save weight; door pulls are made from carbon fibre, for example, and the carpet has been woven with lighter fibres to save valuable kilograms. The beautifully leather trimmed rear seats are ideal for younger persons or extra luggage, making the DBS Volante a practical everyday sports car.
As with the coupe, the Volante affords customers the prospect of specifying the optional 10-spoke 20'' forged aluminium lightweight wheel with diamond-turned surface. With an overall unsprung mass reduction of 8 kg, the option aids enhanced handling, improved acceleration, and braking performance.
 |
The need for high-performance stability, handling ability and low kerb weight defined the DBS's form and construction. The DBS Volante is powered by the same 6.0-litre V12 engine at the heart of the DBS which was launched in 2007. Producing 510 bhp, peak power is delivered at 6,500 rpm and the 570 Nm of torque is delivered at 5,750 rpm. Tractable at any time, the DBS possesses a 'flat' torque curve providing 85% of the torque from 1,500 rpm.
The 3.71:1 (manual) and 3.46:1 (Touchtronic) final drive ratio assures that all the DBS Volante's power is useable, while also enhancing in-gear acceleration.
Adding to the sonorous V12 enhances the aural soundtrack. Special by-pass valves in the exhaust allow a quieter exhaust note at low speeds; at 4,000 rpm these open to reduce the pressure in the exhaust system, raising the power output as well as generating a rousing aural accompaniment.
The DBS Volante is available as standard with a rear-mounted six-speed manual gearbox with gear ratios optimised to extract the very best from the 6.0-litre engine. Providing customers with even greater personalisation capabilities, a 'Touchtronic' 6- speed automatic featuring a torque converter is also available as an option.
Derived from the same ZF transaxle unit that was developed for the DB9, the system has been substantially re-engineered to accommodate the power and performance characteristics of the DBS.
The system also includes a 'Sport' mode - activated by a button on the centre console - which engages a more aggressive gear shift strategy as gear changes feel sharper and more forceful, engine speed matching on downshifts is more aggressive and in full automatic mode, upshifts occur at higher speeds. The Sport setting also incorporates a more responsive throttle map to match the high-performance characteristics of the DBS Volante.
Control
 |
Augmenting the DBS Volante's supreme handling characteristics is the near perfect weight distribution - achieved by mounting the six-speed gearbox at the rear placing 85% of the weight between the front and rear axle.
To take full advantage of its extremely precise and rigid platform, the DBS employs a sophisticated Adaptive Damping System (ADS) which is specifically tuned for the DBS Volante maximising ride comfort. It uses two separate valves to set the dampers to five different positions, allowing instant adjustment of the car's ride and handling characteristics.
The ADS automatically alters the suspension settings to ensure the driver has high levels of control at all times, with the ability to respond instantly to different driving conditions. The dampers can be 'softer', with a corresponding improvement in ride quality, or 'firm', providing improved body control for more spirited driving.
The damper settings are determined by an electronic control unit which takes sensor readings from the car's systems, including throttle position, brake position, steering wheel rotation and vehicle speed. This data establishes the prevailing driving conditions and the demands the driver is making on the car.
A designated 'Track' mode automatically sets all dampers to their firmest positions, making it ideal for circuit driving. The DBS Volante is fitted with Pirelli P-Zero tyres that have been developed especially for the car. The DBS Volante also has a revised Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system specifically tuned to the Volante to help maintain maximum traction in challenging driving conditions.
Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) brakes are featured as standard. Providing shorter stopping distances with excellent resistance to fade in even the most demanding driving conditions, the CCM brakes are some 12.5 kg lighter than a conventional system. This results in reducing the overall weight of the car and, in particular, the unsprung weight and rotational masses, further enhancing the DBS Volante's dynamics.
Aston Martin DBS Volante Technical Specifications Body
- Two-door convertible body style with 2+2 seating
- Bonded aluminium VH structure
- Aluminium, magnesium alloy and carbon-fibre composite body
- Extruded aluminium door side-impact beams
- High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps (main beam)
- LED rear lamps and side repeaters
Engine
- All-alloy, quad overhead camshaft, 48-valve, 5,935 cc V12
- Compression ratio 10.9:1
- Front-mid mounted engine, rear-wheel drive
- Fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust system with active bypass valves
- Max power: 510 bhp at 6,500 rpm
- Max torque: 570 Nm at 5,750 rpm
- Acceleration: 0-100 km/h in 4.3 seconds
- Max speed: 307 km/h
Transmission
- Rear-mid mounted, six-speed manual gearbox. Rear-mid mounted 'Touchtronic 2' six-speed gearbox with electronic shift-by-wire control system
- Alloy torque tube with carbon-fibre propeller shaft
- Limited-slip differential
- Final-drive ratio 3.71:1 (manual) 3.46:1 (Touchtronic)
Wheels and Tyres
- Front: 8.5'' x 20'' Pirelli P Zero 245/35
- Rear: 11'' x 20'' Pirelli P Zero 295/30
Steering
- Rack and pinion, Servotronic speed-sensitive power-assisted steering, 3.0 turns lock-to-lock
- Column tilt and reach adjustment
Suspension
- Front: Independent double wishbone incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers
- Rear: Independent double wishbones with anti-squat and anti-lift geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers
- Adaptive Damping System (ADS) with Track mode
Brakes
- Front: Ventilated carbon ceramic discs, 398 mm diameter with six-piston callipers
- Rear: Ventilated carbon ceramic discs, 360 mm diameter with four-piston callipers
- Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Track mode
- Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
- Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
- Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
- Traction control
Dimensions
Length: | 4,721 mm | Wheelbase: | 2,740 mm |
Width: | 1,905 mm (exc. Mirrors) | Fuel tank capacity: | 78 litres |
Height: | 1,280 mm | Weight: | 1,810 kg |
Interior
- Full grain leather interior
- Matrix alloy facia trim and Iridium Silver centre console surround
- Carbon fibre door trims and door pulls
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror & garage door opener (USA & Canada only)
- Sports seats with electric adjustment
- Memory seats & exterior mirrors (three positions)
- Dual-stage driver/passenger front airbags
- Side airbags
- Heated seats
- Heated rear screen
- Automatic temperature control
- Organic Electroluminescent (OEL) displays
- Trip computer
- LED map lights
- Cruise control
- Hard Disk Drive (HDD) satellite navigation system1,2
- Bluetooth telephone preparation1
- Powerfold exterior mirrors
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Tyre-pressure monitoring1
- Alarm and immobiliser
- Remote-control central door locking and boot release
- Wind deflector
- Battery disconnect switch
- Battery conditioner1
- Tracking device3 (UK only)
- Boot-mounted umbrella
- Lamy pen and pen holder (Touchtronic only)
In-Car Entertainment
- Bang & Olufsen BeoSound DBS sound system
- Integrated Apple iPod® connector
- USB connector with Waveform Audio Format (WAF), Windows Media Player (WMA) and MPEG (MP3) audio file compatibility
- 3.5 mm auxiliary input socket
Options
- 20'' 20-spoke alloy wheels with graphite finish
- 20" 10-spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels
- 20" 10-spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels with graphite finish
- Satellite radio system (USA only)
- Piano Black facia trim and centre console surround
- Personalised sill plaques
- Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror1
- Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror with garage door opener (Europe only)
- Alarm upgrade (volumetric and tilt sensor)
- Tracking device1,3
- First-aid kit
- Ashtray and cigar lighter
*1 Not available in all markets
*2 Includes Traffic Messaging Channel (TMC) in Continental Europe
*3 Complies with UK Thatcham Category 5 requirements. Excludes subscription. Standard in UK.
Completing the DBS line-up, the new Volante will afford customers the combination of the DBS's already-established benchmark sports car characteristics with all the thrills of open-air motoring.
Aston Martin's Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez said: "The DBS Volante delivers the utmost relaxed driving experience with the hood up or down. It combines engineering excellence with design perfection.
"The DBS Volante offers a subtle mix of power and performance. Adding to this, the fine craftsmanship - it is an unparalleled ownership and driving experience."
Conceived as a Volante from the outset, Aston Martin engineers opted for a fabric hood to closely follow the silhouette of the DBS coupe and due to its lightweight properties, minimise overall weight gain. Fully retractable in only 14 seconds and at up to speeds of 48 km/h, the roof will automatically stow under the newly sculpted tonneau, maintaining the DBS Volante's perfect form - hood up or down.
Power is provided by Aston Martin's hand-built all alloy 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 510 bhp and 570 Nm of torque with a top speed of 307 km/h and 0-100 km/h time of 4.3 seconds.
Aston Martin's 16th convertible in 95 years, the DBS Volante draws on the marque's extensive experience in designing iconic 'Volantes' and is a 2+2 featuring two occasional rear seats, ideal for young people or extra luggage.
In standard specification, the DBS has a rear-mounted six-speed manual gearbox, while an automatic six-speed 'Touchtronic' option is also available. As with the coupe, the Volante is offered with carbon ceramic brakes as standard. Benefitting from materials derived from the motorsport and aerospace industries, the bonnet, front wings and boot lid are made from carbon-fibre, all helping to reduce weight.
The DBS Volante also comes with Bang & Olufsen's renowned 'BeoSound DBS' in-car entertainment system, featuring 13 speakers as standard equipment. The BeoSound DBS has been expertly tuned by Bang & Olufsen's Tonmeisters and Aston Martin's acoustic engineers specifically for the Volante resulting in a system that senses when the roof has been retracted and adjusts the sound stage to compensate for extra wind noise, providing an unrivalled automotive audio experience.
The DBS Volante will be built at Aston Martin's global headquarters at Gaydon, Warwickshire with first customer deliveries expected to commence during quarter three 2009 and prices will be confirmed at the Geneva Auto Salon.
Design
|
The newly choreographed hood has resulted in an opening time of only 14 seconds due to a new five-piston hydraulic pump. The roof effortlessly stows below the newly-sculpted tonneau cover which has been redesigned to enhance the muscular attributes of the DBS Volante. Housing the Roll-Over-Protection-System (ROPS) which deploys two roll bars in the event of the car rolling over, the rear humps lead your eye to the new carbon fibre deck lid which has been re-styled for the DBS Volante. Particular to the DBS, a line flows from the leading edge of the bonnet past the elegantly sloped windscreen flowing into the carbon fibre deck lid and to the rear boot 'flip'.
As the bonnet, front wings and boot lid are formed from carbon fibre, Aston Martin employs a patented 'surface veil' technology applying a 200 micron thick layer of epoxy glue to the carbon fibre, before the application of seven layers of paint, so as to prevent the carbon fibre weave from protruding.
Inside, lightweight materials are used throughout to save weight; door pulls are made from carbon fibre, for example, and the carpet has been woven with lighter fibres to save valuable kilograms. The beautifully leather trimmed rear seats are ideal for younger persons or extra luggage, making the DBS Volante a practical everyday sports car.
As with the coupe, the Volante affords customers the prospect of specifying the optional 10-spoke 20'' forged aluminium lightweight wheel with diamond-turned surface. With an overall unsprung mass reduction of 8 kg, the option aids enhanced handling, improved acceleration, and braking performance.
|
The need for high-performance stability, handling ability and low kerb weight defined the DBS's form and construction. The DBS Volante is powered by the same 6.0-litre V12 engine at the heart of the DBS which was launched in 2007. Producing 510 bhp, peak power is delivered at 6,500 rpm and the 570 Nm of torque is delivered at 5,750 rpm. Tractable at any time, the DBS possesses a 'flat' torque curve providing 85% of the torque from 1,500 rpm.
The 3.71:1 (manual) and 3.46:1 (Touchtronic) final drive ratio assures that all the DBS Volante's power is useable, while also enhancing in-gear acceleration.
Adding to the sonorous V12 enhances the aural soundtrack. Special by-pass valves in the exhaust allow a quieter exhaust note at low speeds; at 4,000 rpm these open to reduce the pressure in the exhaust system, raising the power output as well as generating a rousing aural accompaniment.
The DBS Volante is available as standard with a rear-mounted six-speed manual gearbox with gear ratios optimised to extract the very best from the 6.0-litre engine. Providing customers with even greater personalisation capabilities, a 'Touchtronic' 6- speed automatic featuring a torque converter is also available as an option.
Derived from the same ZF transaxle unit that was developed for the DB9, the system has been substantially re-engineered to accommodate the power and performance characteristics of the DBS.
The system also includes a 'Sport' mode - activated by a button on the centre console - which engages a more aggressive gear shift strategy as gear changes feel sharper and more forceful, engine speed matching on downshifts is more aggressive and in full automatic mode, upshifts occur at higher speeds. The Sport setting also incorporates a more responsive throttle map to match the high-performance characteristics of the DBS Volante.
Control
|
Augmenting the DBS Volante's supreme handling characteristics is the near perfect weight distribution - achieved by mounting the six-speed gearbox at the rear placing 85% of the weight between the front and rear axle.
To take full advantage of its extremely precise and rigid platform, the DBS employs a sophisticated Adaptive Damping System (ADS) which is specifically tuned for the DBS Volante maximising ride comfort. It uses two separate valves to set the dampers to five different positions, allowing instant adjustment of the car's ride and handling characteristics.
The ADS automatically alters the suspension settings to ensure the driver has high levels of control at all times, with the ability to respond instantly to different driving conditions. The dampers can be 'softer', with a corresponding improvement in ride quality, or 'firm', providing improved body control for more spirited driving.
The damper settings are determined by an electronic control unit which takes sensor readings from the car's systems, including throttle position, brake position, steering wheel rotation and vehicle speed. This data establishes the prevailing driving conditions and the demands the driver is making on the car.
A designated 'Track' mode automatically sets all dampers to their firmest positions, making it ideal for circuit driving. The DBS Volante is fitted with Pirelli P-Zero tyres that have been developed especially for the car. The DBS Volante also has a revised Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) system specifically tuned to the Volante to help maintain maximum traction in challenging driving conditions.
Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) brakes are featured as standard. Providing shorter stopping distances with excellent resistance to fade in even the most demanding driving conditions, the CCM brakes are some 12.5 kg lighter than a conventional system. This results in reducing the overall weight of the car and, in particular, the unsprung weight and rotational masses, further enhancing the DBS Volante's dynamics.
Aston Martin DBS Volante Technical Specifications Body
- Two-door convertible body style with 2+2 seating
- Bonded aluminium VH structure
- Aluminium, magnesium alloy and carbon-fibre composite body
- Extruded aluminium door side-impact beams
- High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps (main beam)
- LED rear lamps and side repeaters
Engine
- All-alloy, quad overhead camshaft, 48-valve, 5,935 cc V12
- Compression ratio 10.9:1
- Front-mid mounted engine, rear-wheel drive
- Fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust system with active bypass valves
- Max power: 510 bhp at 6,500 rpm
- Max torque: 570 Nm at 5,750 rpm
- Acceleration: 0-100 km/h in 4.3 seconds
- Max speed: 307 km/h
Transmission
- Rear-mid mounted, six-speed manual gearbox. Rear-mid mounted 'Touchtronic 2' six-speed gearbox with electronic shift-by-wire control system
- Alloy torque tube with carbon-fibre propeller shaft
- Limited-slip differential
- Final-drive ratio 3.71:1 (manual) 3.46:1 (Touchtronic)
Wheels and Tyres
- Front: 8.5'' x 20'' Pirelli P Zero 245/35
- Rear: 11'' x 20'' Pirelli P Zero 295/30
Steering
- Rack and pinion, Servotronic speed-sensitive power-assisted steering, 3.0 turns lock-to-lock
- Column tilt and reach adjustment
Suspension
- Front: Independent double wishbone incorporating anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers
- Rear: Independent double wishbones with anti-squat and anti-lift geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers
- Adaptive Damping System (ADS) with Track mode
Brakes
- Front: Ventilated carbon ceramic discs, 398 mm diameter with six-piston callipers
- Rear: Ventilated carbon ceramic discs, 360 mm diameter with four-piston callipers
- Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Track mode
- Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
- Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
- Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
- Traction control
Dimensions
Length: | 4,721 mm | Wheelbase: | 2,740 mm |
Width: | 1,905 mm (exc. Mirrors) | Fuel tank capacity: | 78 litres |
Height: | 1,280 mm | Weight: | 1,810 kg |
Interior
- Full grain leather interior
- Matrix alloy facia trim and Iridium Silver centre console surround
- Carbon fibre door trims and door pulls
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror & garage door opener (USA & Canada only)
- Sports seats with electric adjustment
- Memory seats & exterior mirrors (three positions)
- Dual-stage driver/passenger front airbags
- Side airbags
- Heated seats
- Heated rear screen
- Automatic temperature control
- Organic Electroluminescent (OEL) displays
- Trip computer
- LED map lights
- Cruise control
- Hard Disk Drive (HDD) satellite navigation system1,2
- Bluetooth telephone preparation1
- Powerfold exterior mirrors
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Tyre-pressure monitoring1
- Alarm and immobiliser
- Remote-control central door locking and boot release
- Wind deflector
- Battery disconnect switch
- Battery conditioner1
- Tracking device3 (UK only)
- Boot-mounted umbrella
- Lamy pen and pen holder (Touchtronic only)
In-Car Entertainment
- Bang & Olufsen BeoSound DBS sound system
- Integrated Apple iPod® connector
- USB connector with Waveform Audio Format (WAF), Windows Media Player (WMA) and MPEG (MP3) audio file compatibility
- 3.5 mm auxiliary input socket
Options
- 20'' 20-spoke alloy wheels with graphite finish
- 20" 10-spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels
- 20" 10-spoke diamond-turned alloy wheels with graphite finish
- Satellite radio system (USA only)
- Piano Black facia trim and centre console surround
- Personalised sill plaques
- Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror1
- Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror with garage door opener (Europe only)
- Alarm upgrade (volumetric and tilt sensor)
- Tracking device1,3
- First-aid kit
- Ashtray and cigar lighter
*1 Not available in all markets
*2 Includes Traffic Messaging Channel (TMC) in Continental Europe
*3 Complies with UK Thatcham Category 5 requirements. Excludes subscription. Standard in UK.
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