DBS Superleggera Volante

[AWV12]

IanV12VSRs said:

Agree, I think the DB11 Volante is stunning and prefer it to the Coupe. You cannot say that about many cars. Can’t wait to see the DBS Volante when it comes out. That may cause a bit of a dilemma

This time very good pics:
https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-aston/aston-db...

Lovin' it! Can not wait to 2019!

[IanV12VSRs]

Well looks like the dilemma has arrived looks fantastic

[bananarob]

That is stunning!

[AWV12]

More pics:
https://www.topspeed.com/cars/aston-martin/2019-as...
and: https://www.motor1.com/news/273251/aston-martin-db...

No new video from this car yet, only this one from the "old" prototype: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XBSjuj6EUY

Let's hope at the time of introduction, also facelift of the interior and (more important) a different transmission will be introduced (either DSG and/or manual)!

Note: with the introduction of the previous DBS Volante, 18 months after the DBS Coupe, early 2009, the TT transmission was introduced for both the Coupe and the Volante, besides the manual gearbox (that was the only option up to then). Let's hope this time it is the other way around! Still "sticking" to my DBS Volante Manual till then

[bogie]

Oh yes, thats my new aspirational Aston ....what a fantastic looking Volante

[V8V Pete]

AWV12 said:

Let's hope at the time of introduction, also facelift of the interior and (more important) a different transmission will be introduced (either DSG and/or manual)!

I'm willing to bet a significant chunk of my remaining mortgage that neither of these things will happen. IMHO the only new Aston that has any chance of getting a manual transmission is the Vantage.

[RobDown]

“Too much torque” I was told for a manual when I was at Gaydon earlier this year

Which is a shame. But having said that I’m sure the car will be exciting enough even with the paddles

[IanV12VSRs]

V8V Pete said:

AWV12 said:

Let's hope at the time of introduction, also facelift of the interior and (more important) a different transmission will be introduced (either DSG and/or manual)!

I'm willing to bet a significant chunk of my remaining mortgage that neither of these things will happen. IMHO the only new Aston that has any chance of getting a manual transmission is the Vantage.

Think you are spot on there Pete. Not sure that the manual would suit it anyway and the current box, driven on paddles, suits it just fine.

[AWV12]

We will see. DSG transmission would fit the power/torque.

Here moving pics/video of the latest car: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=89&amp...

Edited by AWV12 on Friday 2nd November 07:51

[AWV12]

Test drove the DBSS (Coupe) today.....what an impressive car!

Much more different from a DB11 than you would expect (a bigger difference than between a DB9 and the previous DBS). It is not only the extra horse power and torque (that is immense!) but also the handling, steering, suspension and (exhaust) noise........all much more involving. In GT mode you can drive it through town easily, and in Sport (or Sport+) things get really wild, especially if you drive it in manual mode (using the flippers). Braking is also very confident (a step forward from the previous DBS, that also has CCBs).

The only downside is the "lazy" ZF transmission, especially when downshifting, you really notice the delay. Strangely the downshift sound is right on (with perfect blips, burps and murmles from the exhaust) but the downshift itself takes more time than these sound bites (also in S+). A DSG transmission would make this a perfect car imho! (or a manual 7-speed gearbox, but we probably can forget about that.....). Maybe a software upgrade can make this shifting faser / more suitable to this extreme good car?

Looks are of course superb: outside the showroom you see how beautiful it is. One of the most beautiful cars out there currenty imho.

It is really a GT Sports car that could be used every day, but also for some serious driving around mountain roads or a track. For real track driving fans, you are probably better of with a Vantage, but for GT lovers like me, it is (almost) the ultimate car out there now.

Waiting for the Volante to hear the sound of the V12 in open air!

[AWV12]

Had the opportunity to drive a few hours with the new DBSS Volante, and what a great car! Especially the beautiful exterior looks, both top open or closed! A way up in driving and tech from the previous DBS and Vanquis models. Power and Torque are enormous, and the suspension is comfortable AND sporty enough for a GT car. Can easily be a daily driver, if needed.

The main dissatisfiers, however, are still the automatic tranmission and the interior:
- The ZF-8 is a good auto box, but it does not fit a top of line sportcar like the DBSS should be. Upshifting is good and fast, but down shifting too "lazy", too much delay, no sporty feeling whatsoever (also not in Sport+ mode). It seems they can fix this "easily" with a software upgrade, but even better when they can use the AMG MCT-9 or DSG-8 gearbox asap!
- The interior is not ugly, but from the inside it does not feel like a Euro 300-400K (depending on the country and the options) car. The "silver" materials look and feel like plastic. A new Bentley Continental but even a previous DBS looks bettter from the inside imho. By choosing the right colours/colors, you can make it more "acceptable", but it makes it difficult to make the jump. Let's hope they will use a more recent Mercedes COMAND version and upgrade the interior accordingly very soon!

In driving and looks it is by far the most appealing car now on the market imho, but can imagine people decide to go for a new Continental GT(C) instead, exactly for these 2 reasons. Am really anxious to buy one, but also for me, these 2 things really hold me back, so let's hope some changes will be announced soon!

[GG33]

I had use of the coupe for 5 days recently....It doesn't need DSG or manual. :-)

GG33

[cayman-black]

GG33 said:

I had use of the coupe for 5 days recently....It doesn't need DSG or manual. :-)

GG33

That's just it to compete with the best it really does.

[Jon39]

AWV12 said:

..... drive a few hours with the new DBSS Volante, and what a great car!
..... Power and Torque are enormous .....

..... dissatisfiers, however, are still the automatic tranmission .....

What annoys me with my Aston Martin is the full throttle. I can only use it for a few seconds at a time.
That is with only 420 BHP, so would I have more driving enjoyment with a DBS Volante with (is it) 700 bhp ?

With enormous torque, how can the transmission be a problem ?

If you have done the PDC at Millbrook, do you remember accelerating on the 1 mile straight in a V12, from virtually standstill in top gear ?. The terminal speed was not very much below, doing it using every gear to max revs. Demonstrating that you don't really need to change gear for almost maximum performance, with that much power and torque.

Edited by Jon39 on Friday 6th September 16:38

[AWV12]

You can indeed drive in third gear the whole time...........this is even possible in my current (manual!) DBS, so let alone the new DBSS with 725 bhp and 900Nm of Torque

On the same day I also drove more than 10 laps on a track with the new V8 Vantage, and I must say.........I was very much impressed! This car is much more suitable for the race track than the previous V8V and more than the DB11 (that was also present on the track).

Shifting gears in the new V8V was much faster, direct, and more responsive (than in the DB11 V8 or DBSS), so there no "lag" or "slow downshifting" at all. You don't always need more power and torque to have an involving driving experience, it is also about transmission, gearbox, suspension, tires, etc. and I was happily surprised that the new V8V is such a well-balanced package.

Then I drove home in my manual DBS, and enjoyed not only the involving drive (in 3rd gear all the time ) but also the sound of the N/A V12!

Edited by AWV12 on Friday 6th September 17:39

[PMKeates]

RobDown said:

“Too much torque” I was told for a manual when I was at Gaydon earlier this year

Which is a shame. But having said that I’m sure the car will be exciting enough even with the paddles

A Dodge SRT Hellcat has similar power and torque, and is heavier than a DBSS, yet still comes with a manual. The issue is they don't have an off the shelf manual drivetrain ready rather than it has too much torque, and given the low volume a manual would sell in it's quite difficult to justify developing one.

[AWV12]

PMKeates said:

Dodge SRT Hellcat has similar power and torque, and is heavier than a DBSS, yet still comes with a manual. The issue is they don't have an off the shelf manual drivetrain ready rather than it has too much torque, and given the low volume a manual would sell in it's quite difficult to justify developing one.

Agree that a Manual box that can handle the 900 Nm torque would be difficult. But they could use the MCT-9 box of AMG, that out of the box is able to handle the same torque (as it does in my S63). Even the "older" MCT-7 of AMG can handle this.