Aston Martin Makes a Big Splash in Geneva

In addition to a drop top version of the DBS the company introduces the V12 Vantage the One 77 and the Lagonda concept.

2010 Aston Martin DBS Volante

“Volante” is Aston Martin’s term for convertible. As such, the DBS Volante indicates that the latest convertible from Gaydon, Warwickshire is based on the DBS Coupe and it is. In its latest iteration, the coupe’s fixed roof is replaced by a power soft top that retracts beneath a hard tonneau in, according to the company, only 14 seconds and at speeds of up to 30 mph.

Under the hood is the familiar 6.0-liter V-12 that produces 517 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque. The hand-built, all-aluminum engine gives the DBS Volante a top speed of 191 mph and a 0-62 time of 4.3 seconds.

2010 V12 Vantage

From time immemorial, the easiest way to give a vehicle better performance is to shoehorn a large engine into a small model. Chevy tried it with the Cosworth Vega, Pontiac had a huge success with the LeMans GTO.

Based on the V8 Vantage, the V12 features the same engine as the larger DBS coupe. A top speed of 190 mph and 0-62 mph time of 4.2 seconds make this the fastest Vantage, ever.  The V12 comes equipped with vented carbon ceramic brakes and special 19” forged aluminum wheels. To differentiate the V12 from its more plebian siblings, a vented hood as well as front and rear carbon fiber splitters has been added to the body along with re-worked side skirts.

2009 One-77

For Aston Martin’s Chief Executive, Dr Ulrich Bez, revealing the One-77’s secrets is a proud moment: “Right from the very beginning of the project the vision for One-77 was very simple: It had to combine high-technology with hand-built craftsmanship, and demonstrate the unique capabilities and passion of our designers, engineers and technical partners.

With an anticipated price somewhere in the neighborhood of $2 million, the One-77 represents the extreme evolution of the 6.0-liter V12. As such, the 7.3-liter V12 produces in excess of 700 horsepower. Top speed is predicted to be over 200 mph with a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds. Carbon Ceramic Matrix brake technology will be used to bring this monster to a halt through Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires (255/35 ZR20 front and 335/30 ZR20 rear). Production of the One-77 will be limited to 77 examples.

Lagonda Concept “something else”

It looks as if the company has finally found a niche for its Lagonda brand – playing the GMC role to Aston Martin’s Cadillac (all right, it’s the best we could come up with). If Aston Martin carries through with its plans, the next Lagonda-badged vehicle will be a 4-passenger crossover.

“An Aston Martin is an authentic, pure sports car,” says Dr Ulrich Bez, “but Lagonda is something else, a new brand that will reach into new markets. Lagonda will create a new kind of customer relationship, instilling the spirit of travel, adventure and style into a single, formidable package.”

Tags: aston martin, dbs volante, geneva, lagonda concept, one 77, v12 vantage