These are the first photos of the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante, which has been snapped during development trials at a test track
The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante has been spied for the first time.
It is thought the drop-top Vanquish will launch in the first half of 2013, little more than a year after the coupé version went on sale.
Changes to the coupé’s lines have been minimal, save for an extended rear spoiler necessary to achieve the same levels of high speed stability as the coupé. That model features advanced aerodynamics, which reduce the need for a bold rear wing.
The Vanquish Volante also appears slightly taller than the coupé. A folding soft-top has been used to reduce weight and lessen the impact of a bulkier rear.
Power will come from the same 5.9-litre naturally aspirated V12 as the coupé. Together with a mild increase in weight, the Volante is expected to provide a 0-62mph time of around 4.5sec and an 180mph top speed. A near-£200,000 price tag is likely.
The Vanquish is based around the fourth-generation VH platform. It makes extensive use of carbonfibre and is said to offer huge torsional rigidity, reducing the need for additional bracing.
The second variant of the new Vanquish underlines the importance of the model to Aston Martin in the face of surging sales from rival Ferrari.