2007 Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Aston Martin DB9 Volante is the 13th convertible from the company - joining a prestigious line-up of post-war convertibles that stretches back to the DB2 of 1950 and includes the DB4, DB5, DB6, V8 and DB7. However, this will be the first convertible ever to use Aston Martin's unique VH Platform (Vertical/Horizontal) Strategy and the first to be built at the newly opened Aston Martin Gaydon facility.

The Aston Martin DB9 Volante is built alongside the Aston Martin 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 being delivered to customers in Spring 2004 and the Volante in Autumn 2004. It is expected that more than 2000 DB9 models will be sold in 2005 of which around 50% will be the Volante model.

The hood is operated by the push of a button and retracts within just 17 seconds. When down, it folds behind a hard tonneau cover, which then electrically closes flush with the DB9's bodywork. The Aston Martin DB9 Volante has a boot capacity of 197-litres (170-litres in the DB7) and has two rear seats.

In the event of an accident, sensors in the Aston Martin DB9 Volante detect the risk of a potential rollover and two roll-hoops are deployed from the rear seat headrests, while front seat passengers are protected by the windscreen A-pillars which can withstand twice the total body weight of the car.

Like the DB9 Coupe, power for the Aston Martin DB9 Volante is supplied by Aston Martin's low emissions, all-alloy, 48-valve, 6.0-litre, V12 engine. The Aston Martin DB9 Volante is able to achieve a 0-62mph (100kph) time of under 5 seconds and a top speed of more than 180mph (300kph). Like the DB9 Coupe it is offered with a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission.