2010 Aston Martin DBS Volante Review
Where Speed Meets Style
In
short: A race-DNA-infused street-legal convertible. |
As secret agent 007, Sean Connery drove the Aston Martin DB5 in the 1965 action flick "Goldfinger," but today we presume he'd drive the 2010 Aston Martin DBS Volante. We had a chance to impersonate him with our lightning-fast silver bullet with an all-chancellor red interior. We were somewhat disappointed not to find the switches for the machine gun, bullet-proof screen, or oil spreaders installed by Q, but due to its awesomeness and power, this ride is sure to outrun most of its would-be attackers...and that's also where our disappointment stopped.
Aston Martins have always been fantasy cars, but thanks to the manufacturer's recent activities—including a Toyota-engineered concept called the Cygnet—soon anyone will be able to drive an Aston Martin-badged automobile: a micro-car in this case! However, the DBS Volante has evolved the true Aston Martin DNA for a new century. Acceleration and top speed are perfect for James Bond-style pursuits and outrunning most on the on-ramp, but bad for points on your driver's license, so take it easy or you'll get frustrated in most large cities' 21st-century traffic. Of course, you can expect the ride to be sporty, and therefore a bit harsh; but you could almost make a case for this car to be a daily driver, scraping the front end regularly in the process. Crank the specially-tuned BeoSound Bang & Olufsen 13-speaker in-car entertainment system and go. As you might guess, there is not much room to be had for extra people or luggage, but enough for a model-quality female spy and her purse. Whether she is wearing a scarf or not, you have up until 30 MPH to decide if you want the roof up or down—although there is still no ejection seat button. The car is well made and stiff enough for all of your activities; however, should you desire more performance in an open-top automobile, you had better put a bid on Lewis Hamilton's F1 car from last year.
Read
a review of the 2009 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster
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Warranty/Service:
3-year unlimited mileage warranty; 24 hour roadside assistance.
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SHEET |
Base Price: $283,900 / As tested: $294,590 |
Technical
Specifications |
Vehicle type: front engine,rear-wheel drive, 4-passenger, 2-door convertible
Engine:5.9-liter, V12 engine
Horsepower: 510 bhp @ 6,500 rpm
Torque: 420 lb-ft @ 1,750-5,700 rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Curb weight:3,982 lbs
Wheelbase:107.9 in
Length/Width/Height:185.9/75/50.4 in
Turning circle: n/a
Brakes: 4-wheel ventilated carbon ceramic discs; ABS
Suspension: independent in front and rear with coil springs; anti-roll bars; monotube adaptive dampers |
Traction: dynamic stability control, traction control, electronic brakeforce distribution and emergency brake assist
0-60 mph: 4.3 seconds
Top Speed:191 mph
EPA City: 12 mpg
EPA Highway: 18 mpg
Safety: dual-stage driver and passenger front airbags; side airbags
Likes: style, power, sound, etc, etc...
Dislikes: no need to discuss price and fuel efficiency |
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Super Specimen
Only four of these sexy Aston Martin DB2/4 Superleggera convertibles were made in 1956 and we ran into this rather fine example at the Franschhoek Motor Museum, located on the Ruperts' L'Ormarins property in Franschhoek, South Africa. This unique auto museum is filled with amazing specimens, from an antique 1903 Ford Model A to a dreamy 2002 Ferrari Enzo.
For more information, visit www.fmm.co.za |
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Photography: AlphaMedia
PNW021710 |
(Updated
09/17/13 NW) |
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