Video: Aston Martin Vanquish Volante and its howling V12 debuts at FOS

12th July 2025

Adam Wilkins

Say hello to the world’s fastest open-top front-engined car. The new Aston Martin Vanquish Volante also has the distinction of being the company’s most powerful open-top series production car, thanks to its 835PS (614kW) twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12, which translates to 214mph and a 0-60mph time of 3.4 seconds.

Volante is Aston Martin speak for convertible, and this year marks 60 years since the nameplate was first used on the little-known Short Chassis Volante, of which only 37 were made. Six decades of progress since then now culminate in a car that combines the sensory advantages of an open-top car with fewer of the compromises traditionally associated with lopping the roof off a coupé.

In fact, the development team worked on the Vanquish coupé and Volante simultaneously to ensure that they share dynamic qualities. The V12’s power is delivered to the rear wheels via an 8-speed ZF gearbox that’s situated in the rear axle for weight distribution, while the e-differential is shared between the car and can switch from being fully open to fully locked in 135 milliseconds.

As you would expect, there is a choice of driving modes to emphasise either the sportier or more touring aspects of the Volante’s character, while the Bilstein DTX dampers have been configured specifically for the open-top car and its weight distribution that differs from the coupé.

Enjoy the V12 howl as the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante makes its debut on the Hill at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard.