Aston Martin DB9 Volante

The DB9 Volante is the most recent archetypal from Aston Martin and is additionally the 13th convertible from the aggregation - abutting a celebrated agency of post-war convertibles that stretches aback to the DB2 of 1950 and includes the DB4, DB5, DB6, V8 and DB7. However, this is the aboriginal convertible anytime to use Aston Martin's different VH Platform (Vertical/Horizontal) Strategy and the aboriginal to be congenital at the anew opened Aston Martin Gaydon facility.

The DB9 Volante is congenital alongside the DB9 Coupe, which was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2003. Both models are hand-built at Aston Martin Gaydon with the Coupe actuality delivered to barter back Spring 2004 and the Volante back Autumn 2004.

Dr. Ulrich Bez, CEO of Aston Martin said: "From the alpha of the DB9 affairs we knew we capital a convertible model. So the Volante has been designed, engineered and congenital from the alpha as a convertible - it's not a Coupe with aloof the top taken off.

"The DB9 Volante has all of the acceptable administration cues you'd apprehend from a convertible Aston Martin. It's actual affected and altogether ample from every angle, while attenuate embellishments advice actualize a powerful-looking sports car."

Designed by Henrik Fisker, Aston Martin's Design Director, who took administration cues from antecedent Aston Martin convertibles, the DB9 Volante has a absolutely retractable awning that is stored aural the anatomy of the car back bankrupt acceptance the car to absorb a actual bland and affected profile.

"I capital to ensure that the DB9 Volante was clearly an Aston Martin, but it had to absorb all of the ethics of a convertible. Even with the awning aloft it had to attending beautiful," said Mr. Fisker.

The awning is operated by the advance of a button and retracts aural aloof 17 seconds. Back down, it folds abaft a adamantine tonneau cover, which again electrically closes even with the DB9's bodywork. The DB9 Volante has a cossack accommodation of 197-liters and has two rear seats.

In the blow of an accident, sensors in the DB9 Volante ascertain the accident of a abeyant rollover and two roll-hoops are deployed from the rear bench headrests, while advanced bench cartage are adequate by the windscreen A-pillars which can bear alert the absolute anatomy weight of the car.

Like the DB9 Coupe, ability for the Volante is supplied by Aston Martin's low emissions, all-alloy, 48-valve, 6.0-liter, V12 engine. Like the DB9 Coupe it is offered with a six-speed automated or a six-speed chiral transmission.