FIRST DRIVE: 671bhp Aston Martin DB12 Volante - World’s Most Beautiful New Car?
Aston Martin made great claims about the DB12 Coupe being ‘the world’s first Super Tourer’ - but what happens when you lop off the roof?
Well, you get the new drop-top DB12 Volante, which better exposes you to the sounds of the 671bhp V8… along with an extensive list of open-top driving cliches. ‘Sensory thrills’ anyone?
But where does it land as a driving experience, when it inevitably won’t be as sharp as the D12 Coupe? And does that even matter when the DB12 Volante looks this good?
Top Gear Magazine’s Deputy Editor, Ollie Kew, experienced it in the best of British weather to find out…
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Chapters:
00:00 Intro
03:25 Stats
05:17 Roof Down
09:08 Negatives
09:55 Conclusion
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Would you choose the Aston Martin DB12 Volante over its rivals?
Yes
This will bring various rivals made by AI from the future, definitely. 😂😁😁
Very few convertible cars look better than a hard top. Then we have the structural integrity problem since there's no roof. I simply don't see the point, so much sacrifice for an open top "experience", as a true petrol head, I'll always prefer the benefits of a hard top.
No, McLaren 720s is perfect
Hell no! Don't have the money for any expensive car, but would not indulge in this car, why? Because it's a mish mash of botched DB11 design and a UTurn to the DBS and DB9 era. Plus not sure if its an original AM or an AMG version of the AM.
I made up my mind and I would take the Roma Spider over this as it is lighter and more sexy, the only problem is I can't afford both anyways so I would definitely go for a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Cedia.
Haha a good final choice!!
Well beauty is in the eye of the beholder….but a Ferrari Roma over this…🙈🙈🙈
More sexy? No way.
Dacia Sandero is clear. It's not even a contest.
GOOD NEWS!
I still think the lc500 looks less fussy and more classy
I think the DB11 was the sweet spot in design in recent Aston grand tourers, but the interior on the DB12 is on a different planet compared to those other ones. If I could have a less aggressive grille on the DB12, I’d have my perfect Aston GT.
The sensor array in the front makes it look like it has a gap in its teeth
Thanks, I hate it
Can't unsee it now lmao
now its a proper british car
Looks like a Hitler stache to me 😂
Thats the beauty of it, the gap in the teeth. Perfection.
Aston-ishingly beautiful.
Oooh very acute
I do wish they had not ditched the V12. But what a beautiful piece of automotive design.
Wait for the dbs
The DB11 Volante was V8 only also
@@robertmorgan6262 True but they should never have gotten rid of the V12 IMHO...
Aston Martin V12 GT flagship is coming this summer, New Vanquish is around the corner!
My fav is the LC500
Brits are more honest in their reviews, which is why I enjoy watching their shows because I know I'll actually get the actual truth
They just describe literally how the car makes them feel
The white inside is so astonishing
Finally a decent modern interior
i love how you opened up asking such a well constructed question . i was like yeaaaaah ! thats the question
DB 12 Volante Austin Martin the gentleman driver with cool attitude
such a fun presentation well done!
It's nice, I'll give it that. An evolution. The Jaguar F-Type introduction trod new ground, at least for the marque. I'm somewhat biased though, I recently bought a '16 F-Type coupe.
Imagine a DB9 with that interior 🤤
Who are they fooling with those "back seats" LOL
Good for kids , I used the DB11 and it was fine, even matt from carwow can fit in
Insurance companies in Europe
This is so incredibly good looking! This is one of my favorite segments of cars and if I had the money to buy one of these I would really struggle to choose between the Bentley Continental GT, the Ferrari Roma and this DB12 Also, as a Mazda lover, I loved the little bit of appreciation for Mazda's design at the start ❤️
Great review
Ollie, what a brilliant review! Telling it as it is! And yes what a car! And of course [if funds allowed] you would take the Coupe DB12 every time. However, the Aston beats anything the Italians and even the Germans can offer.... give or take a certain 911 Cabrio! Stunning in every sense. Once again Ollie, love your reviews. Thank you.
I exchanged my DB11 Volante for a DB12 Volante. The new car is brilliant. I drove it down to Lyon in France and it proved itself as a long distance tourer. No car is perfect and I agree that the text on the infotainment screen is too small. Also, the exhaust note in Sport X mode is really subdued compared with the previous model but I accept that this is due to regulations. I don't really get the criticism of boot space and rear leg room. If that is important to you, buy a Volvo. This car will happily take two people and their luggage away for a two week cruise around Europe and they will be welcomed enthusiastically by many people who would not turn an eye for a Porscche, Bentley or even a Ferrari. Such is the rarity value of Aston Martin.
Stunning looking car
My Vantage was the MOST beautiful car I've ever owned. I love, love an Aston.
The most beautiful I've seen in recent times would surely be the GMA T33.....hands down
Wow legit read my mind exactly when giving examples of the other most beautiful cars and even my gripes about them!
It's interior is just like what a car guy loves !!
Snow white?😅😅 Nope.
Go to York Minster in winter, you'll notice it's not heated 😆
I think the dbs is also quite beautiful and the Porsche st is also stunning
1:33 Most people in Wales still point at aircraft.
Precision performance crafted
Dude I think the exact way as the host in all of his opinions oh my god. Only thing I'd add is that Aston NEEDS to bring back the clamshell hood on the DB!!
Just wait for the V12.
Nice review. It looks like a quintessential Aston, and the new interior is a definitive improvement. That said, since Aston borrows the engines from Mercedes AMG, they might as well take the air scarf, too.
No chopped coupe can claim to be the most beautiful, let alone one with such brash detailing. Such a shame that the AM brand has taken such a battering since the DB9...
Look at the convertible Roma, it looks so much better
The Jag f type is king as far as im concerned. It effortlessly beautiful
@Gaudine I prefer this
When you started talking about the stats I really did zone out
What about the Lexus LC500?
If you are looking for beauty and drama that will stand the test of time, In something other than a soft top or sports car, look no further than a Mercedes CLS Shooting Brake or a Maserati... Both are next level for aesthetic appeal and will always garner admiring glances... Having also owned a Carrera GT, I see beauty from another perspective... But I will say the Aston is stunning from all angles...
I think a place where you can drive an open-top car, cabriolet, or rooftop car is proof of elegance and fun.
Goofy ahh
Everyone complains about the tech and the older looks, then they release this and y’all are still complaining lol
Looks like a classic beautiful Aston with a tasteless aftermarket body kit
I can’t bear to see a convertible like the DB12 being driven top down in the rain!!!😢
The side skirts are a bit XR3i cabriolet 🫤
The front bumper radar was clearly an afterthought. It's hard to overlook that unsightly rectangle.
It's just gorgeous 😍😍
The UK journalists always talk up Aston and other UK brands like they're the most amazing cars.
Looks good, just wish they integrated the front radar better, instead of looking like a stuck on piece, which breaks the line of the grill.
First of all I want the elegant v12 in that thing even if I don't have the money!😅
The massive grill spoils the look. Sorry.
Bros never seen an Aston before
@@broughy23 not with a grill that big
As a 2013 vanquish owner I want to like the DB12 but from the videos Im not in love with them yet. Colour on this one doesnt do it for me either. Interior is lovely though. Time to try one out.... after I win the lotto!
As a previous AM owner, you’d have better insight than most. I wouldn’t get this St Tropez type blue either. If it was a silver or gray or bronze, would you still not be happy with it compared to the Vanquish exterior?
@etaesu83 yet to see one in the flesh so I'm open particularly as you say, if its in silver. Green looks interesting as well. It's very similar to the DB11 which I wasn't fond of so perhaps that's why the 12 isn't hitting the mark yet. What are your thoughts?
@@phildavies7666 I’ve seen a DB11 but not a DB12. Exterior looks fantastic but so have past ones. People are complaining and forgetting the 911 stays the same and people flipped out when they did something like the amoeba lights (I didn’t mind). The 992.2 interior is much nicer now than in previous generations. The DB12 interior is aslo a huge improvement in photos and that in itself would warrant it over the DB11. My friend has a gray DB9 and while the exterior is gorgeous, the inside is pretty hideous. Silver would probably be my choice BUT it’s kind of common like a red Ferrari. The satin aluminite looks nice. The red looks nice with the black roof on the coupe and I’ve never seen a red AM on the road. Certain shades of green and gray would look nice with bronze wheels but maybe too flashy.
@@phildavies7666 also, the trend of machined wheels must die
Sorry. But you're no Chris Harris. And it rained more for his DB11 review and it was still a work of art.
On beauty alone I think it's too fussy. The side vents behind the front wheels don't do it for me, especially on lighter colours. The front grille with the sensor gap below the number plate and that front splitter thing feel like a body kitted modded car to me. The wheels aren't pretty at all but can be changed. I prefer the DB12 in dark colours because the details are less noticeable. IMHO the new Vantage is far more beautiful. Hats off for the interior though, it's about time too.
The sound of that AMG. To be honest I have never found them pleasant. The W204's character fit the sound note but, BMWs much rather sound glorious all-round; I6's to the S63 TT V8
i can't help but feel that these types of vehicles should have hard-tops and not cheap looking fabric.
🥰🥰😍😍Between This & The SL 🔥🔥🔥
How much for the car without the turbos?
Km per breakdown would be a good number to give us along with service cost per km. Cost of ownership per km. Shame BBC is still trying to flog Top gear back to life.
Embarrassing residuals and an acute cost of living crisis....I'll pass. No more than a slight evolution at best, especially visually......a scinic would say too many of the Aston GTs look so similar...and for such a premium price, that's surely an issue. Cracking review
Rivals with highest performance may be yes
If only we could combine the beautiful body and charismatic and much better sounding V12 of the DBS Superleggera with the underpinnings and much more modern interior of the DB12.
Slight flopping is better than no flopping.
4:38 vehicle is gorgeous. Period end of story. Absolutely minor and insignificant things to nitpick. Well thought out vehicle inside and out. Aston got it 100% right and that’s that
This thing looks impressive I love everything about it Well done 007 Ok but the boot is sickening
Does anyone know on which Welsh roads this is filmed? Asking for a friend (I kid you not). PS Lovely car
I like the lines of a 911 or an AMG GTS more.
Most beautiful NEW car? Yes, possibly... But the most beautiful car in my eyes is still the 2020 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante in this fantastic sparkling glittering orange metallic... 😎
Why did they not put the v12 in the ...DBS12!
British racing green and bronzish wheels with brown leather interior and call it a day 👌🔥
A bit expensive given that you can get a nice DB11 volante with less than 10k miles, 80k cheaper…these new models from 2018 and later are gorgeous, but I cannot let go the DB9 that I bought in 2005.
the DB12 Volante could do some better looking magnesium wheels . . . the Huracan is one good looking car after the Countach ofcourse . . .
Why 671 HP, why not 670 HP or 675? When testing an engine on the dynamometer variables such as ambient temperature and barometric pressure have an influence on power output, no two of these engines tested will deliver the same amount.
The Maserati looks even better
Looks like most cars manufactured today. A Honda Accord looks very similar
Well yes 671 horsepower on a Aston Martin makes it a very beautiful car 😂, great vid.
Thought my last Mazda 3 looked amazing...what ever Matt Watson said 😀
33 is a miss??!!
9:14 The rear seats are still a joke. May as well remove them altogether and make them a 2+0 with useful shelf, like what Ferrari did with the 599 GTB Fiorano.
Where's Jeremy?
Woaw this is cool
I reckon a Matt Watson could easily fit in that boot space...
This looks like a bigger vantage
Fix your cameras man, the exposure levels are soo horrible at 2:15
The Aston Martin DB12 Volante: for when you want your hair blown back almost as fast as the 671bhp V8 moves you!
Mercedes SL 2023 911 GT3 Touring 718 Spyder Hell even a BMW Supra looks cooler than that.
Beautiful & fast Aston finally with a modern exclusive interior but don't like the ugly headlights!
Don't get me wrong, I like its looks, but I'm not sure I would say it's beautiful (my opinion)
Interesting exact same car the CARWOW tested.
I would say Cadillac is one of them
I can't think of a company or model that needs to have a shooting brake in it's lineup more than Aston and the DB.
They do. The Zagato, but it's £400k!
Next year dropped by 50% in value!
Newe Ford Mustang is nice too.
The latest full size Range Rover, The Bentley Flying Spur and The Lamborghini Revuelto is properly beautiful in white I think 🤷♂️
Beautiful in the eye of the " Drug dealer", "Pimp" " intellectually challenged footballer" or wannabe " Hip Hop artist" Just saying...
@@MrLg55555 That's impressively self righteous and pretentious of you... what do you drive?
@@justthevoicebackup280, hardly pretentious and only my opinion, but I would hazard a guess that a hell of alot of other folks would concur... What do I drive?... I have at present a Mercedes E350 Coupe... Past cars have included 2 Mercedes CLS Shooting Brakes, one an AMG 63 tother a 350D, E350 Estate, various BMWS, Infiniti Q50S Hybrid,Porsche Cayman S and a Carrera GT plus a smattering of other brands...
@@MrLg55555 Let me guess... you think the people who drive those cars are all distinguished gentlemen with unmatched taste?
@@justthevoicebackup280, I'm hardly distinguished myself, as for others I really don't care... I just happen to have owned and driven many a nice car during my life and have never felt the urge to invest in a larger than life SUV or ostentatious over board sports cars... Carrera GT i hear you say, that's over the top... Far from it... It was and still is a thing of beauty and purpose... Admired by so many and not blighted like a 911 for being a " glorified Beetle"...
Ford fusion looking like a wider version of it ...
just seen this same car on carwow
Need to know. Is it better than the Bentley gtc. I’m about to pull the trigger. 🤔🤔
What Aston Martin is supposed to be is everything DB12 is
Don't forget the Mercedes Benz AMG 63. It's gorgeous.
Me not the car
New Lotus is 1/3 of the price.
But it's chines