Latest news with #VanquishVolante
Miami Herald
07-04-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
This is the 823-horsepower 2026 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante
It's been a while since the Aston Martin Vanquish has shown its grille in the world of high-end luxury cars, but now, the performance-driven model has made its triumphant return. Aston Martin showed off the coupe version of the Vanquish in the second half of 2024, and nearly four months into 2025, the British automaker has unveiled the 2026 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante. While other automakers are shifting away from high-powered engines in favor of more fuel-efficient options, Aston Martin is sticking to satisfying consumer expectations. The Vanquish Volante arrives with a 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine under the hood that powerhouse generates 823 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque, pushing the luxury car to 60 mph in under 3.4 seconds. Aston Martin claims the convertible arrives with a top speed of 214 mph. If that claim is true, then the Vanquish Volante is the fastest series production convertible that the British automaker has ever made. The twin-turbo V12's power is channeled via an eight-speed rear-mounted torque-converter transaxle with an electronically controlled rear differential that improves driver control at high speeds. Inside, the Volante mirrors its coupe twin with a two-tone design and physical controls for important vehicle functions, like stability control and selecting drive modes. Two 10.3-inch displays make up the gauge cluster and infotainment displays. The convertible top, which Aston Martin has dubbed the K-fold, can open in as little as 14 seconds and close in 16 seconds. It can also be operated at speeds up to 31 mph or from the key fob. "The drive to ensure Vanquish Volante delivered the same class leading performance as the Vanquish Coupe meant that, from inception, the engineering team worked on both Coupe and Volante simultaneously, allowing us to retain the dynamic capabilities and character of Vanquish Coupe with no compromise upon removing the roof," said Simon Newton, Aston Martin Director of Vehicle Performance and Attributes. While the Vanquish Volante shares the same chassis as the coupe, it's been modified to account for the convertible's extra weight. New Bilstein DTX dampers also provide better wheel control within each drive mode. The Aston Martin Vanquish is a hot model in both its coupe and convertible forms, but you might have trouble getting behind the wheel of one. The British manufacturer is producing a limited, currently unspecified, number of Vanquish Volante models. Between the coupe and Volante models, Aston Martin plans to keep production below 1,000 cars per year. Deliveries are expected to begin in Q3 2025. There's no word on pricing for the Vanquish Volante just yet, either, but orders are now open. The 2025 Vanquish Coupe isn't cheap by any means, starting at around $425,000, and the Volante probably won't be any cheaper. In fact, the convertible model is likely to start around $475,000, but a half-million dollar price tag isn't out of the question. Those numbers aren't surprising considering that the Vanquish is the legendary brand's flagship model, and this is its first year back after a six-year hiatus, after all. The Aston Martin Vanquish has finally arrived in coupe and convertible forms. The return of the flagship model is a major step for the British manufacturer, and, judging from the spec sheet and design philosophy, it's clear Aston Martin is putting their best tire forward. The twin-turbocharged V12 engine is leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessor, and the interior physical buttons are also a nice feature in a world of touchscreens. While we're still awaiting a price, there's no doubt that the Vanquish Volante is a solid flagship model. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
This is the 823-horsepower 2026 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante
It's been a while since the Aston Martin Vanquish has shown its grille in the world of high-end luxury cars, but now, the performance-driven model has made its triumphant return. Aston Martin showed off the coupe version of the Vanquish in the second half of 2024, and nearly four months into 2025, the British automaker has unveiled the 2026 Aston Martin Vanquish Volante. While other automakers are shifting away from high-powered engines in favor of more fuel-efficient options, Aston Martin is sticking to satisfying consumer expectations. The Vanquish Volante arrives with a 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine under the hood that powerhouse generates 823 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque, pushing the luxury car to 60 mph in under 3.4 seconds. Aston Martin claims the convertible arrives with a top speed of 214 mph. If that claim is true, then the Vanquish Volante is the fastest series production convertible that the British automaker has ever made. The twin-turbo V12's power is channeled via an eight-speed rear-mounted torque-converter transaxle with an electronically controlled rear differential that improves driver control at high speeds. Inside, the Volante mirrors its coupe twin with a two-tone design and physical controls for important vehicle functions, like stability control and selecting drive modes. Two 10.3-inch displays make up the gauge cluster and infotainment displays. The convertible top, which Aston Martin has dubbed the K-fold, can open in as little as 14 seconds and close in 16 seconds. It can also be operated at speeds up to 31 mph or from the key fob. 'The drive to ensure Vanquish Volante delivered the same class leading performance as the Vanquish Coupe meant that, from inception, the engineering team worked on both Coupe and Volante simultaneously, allowing us to retain the dynamic capabilities and character of Vanquish Coupe with no compromise upon removing the roof,' said Simon Newton, Aston Martin Director of Vehicle Performance and Attributes. While the Vanquish Volante shares the same chassis as the coupe, it's been modified to account for the convertible's extra weight. New Bilstein DTX dampers also provide better wheel control within each drive mode. The Aston Martin Vanquish is a hot model in both its coupe and convertible forms, but you might have trouble getting behind the wheel of one. The British manufacturer is producing a limited, currently unspecified, number of Vanquish Volante models. Between the coupe and Volante models, Aston Martin plans to keep production below 1,000 cars per year. Deliveries are expected to begin in Q3 2025. There's no word on pricing for the Vanquish Volante just yet, either, but orders are now open. The 2025 Vanquish Coupe isn't cheap by any means, starting at around $425,000, and the Volante probably won't be any cheaper. In fact, the convertible model is likely to start around $475,000, but a half-million dollar price tag isn't out of the question. Those numbers aren't surprising considering that the Vanquish is the legendary brand's flagship model, and this is its first year back after a six-year hiatus, after all. The Aston Martin Vanquish has finally arrived in coupe and convertible forms. The return of the flagship model is a major step for the British manufacturer, and, judging from the spec sheet and design philosophy, it's clear Aston Martin is putting their best tire forward. The twin-turbocharged V12 engine is leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessor, and the interior physical buttons are also a nice feature in a world of touchscreens. While we're still awaiting a price, there's no doubt that the Vanquish Volante is a solid flagship model.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
This One-Off Roadster Was Featured on ‘Jay Leno's Garage' and Is Now up for Grabs
As unlikely as it seems, the contemporary peanut-butter jar, the first clothes dryer with a window, and this striking 1962 Excalibur RS Roadster have the same creative common denominator. They all owe their existence to visionary industrial designer Brooks Stevens, who passed away at the age of 83 in 1995. But it's this open-top one-off that we choose to remember him by. Though Stevens was responsible for conceiving approximately 3,000 products during the course of his career, this piece of automotive exotica, based on a concept he penned several decades ago, was commissioned to be built by his friend, Bob Shaw, as a tribute. Finished in 2006 and now offered to the public for the first time, the rolling remembrance will cross the auction block through Mecum as part of its Indy 2025 event at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on May 16. More from Robb Report Ferrari Will Raise the U.S. Prices of Some Models by 10% to Offset Tariffs Aston Martin's New Vanquish Volante Is the World's Fastest Front-Engine Convertible Driving the Most Powerful Porsche Boxster Ever Is Like Being Strapped to a Firework As diversified as his portfolio was, Stevens was drawn to the automobile and founded a boutique operation to make his Excalibur cars, born from a defunct project he had worked on for Studebaker in the early 1960s. In an episode of Jay Leno's Garage, Bob Shaw—who has since passed away—confirmed that the car on offer was the last automobile Stevens envisioned, though it never came to fruition until Shaw was given the design and had its construction completed approximately 19 years ago. 'Bob Shaw's relationship was very tight with the Excalibur organization,' says Tom Snellback, president and CEO of the Last Detail, a classic-car restoration house in Chicago. Snellback is the vehicle's current caretaker before it heads to auction. He tells Robb Report that Shaw 'used to take [Excalibur's] vintage race cars up to Elkhart Lake [in Wisconsin] and race them in the vintage events.' According to Snellback, Shaw recruited Dave Draper, owner of the Michigan-based Time Machines shop, to help complete the car. The one-of-a-kind Excalibur RS Roadster comprises a steel-tube space-frame chassis built by Chuck Rahn, dressed in hand-formed aluminum bodywork. At its heart lies a 5.7-liter GM V-8 crate engine with Edelbrock throttle-body fuel injection. As Jay Leno notes in the episode, the power plant delivers 'about 500 hp,' and is mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. Other features include a polycarbonate windshield, power scissor doors—which, according to Mecum, come from a Lamborghini Murciélago—and a power-operated hood and decklid. 'The styling is so unique . . . the hood has got the [Ford] GT40 scoops in front . . . the color combination is stunning, and the quality is to-the-moon spectacular,' says Snellback. 'It's just, really, a well-sorted-out piece of jewelry.' And it's one that took nearly a decade to finish. After Shaw's passing, his widow contacted Snellback to give it any needed care and oversee its upcoming transfer of ownership. 'I'm the one who brought the relationship to Dana [Mecum],' says Snellback. 'I'll be at the auction representing the car on behalf of the family.' When asked what his expectations are for the car when the bidding begins, Snellback estimates that it could fetch in the neighborhood of $500,000 or so. 'Because of its uniqueness, it's impossible to say,' he says, noting that its cost to build was 'well north of a million.' Yet at a time when the market seems to be in a state of transition between demand for classic automobiles from the middle of last century and growing interest in cars from the 1990s and up, the Excalibur RS Roadster combines elements of both. 'In all fairness to the market and the family selling it, I think the market is going to speak, and I think they [the family] are prepared to let it go at a reasonable number,' says Snellback, though he adds, 'there's definitely a reserve.' Best of Robb Report The 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast The World's Best Superyacht Shipyards The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The 1962 Excalibur RS Roadster in Photos
More from Robb Report Ferrari Will Raise the U.S. Prices of Some Models by 10% to Offset Tariffs Aston Martin's New Vanquish Volante Is the World's Fastest Front-Engine Convertible Driving the Most Powerful Porsche Boxster Ever Is Like Being Strapped to a Firework Best of Robb Report The 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast The World's Best Superyacht Shipyards The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht Click here to read the full article. The one-of-a-kind 1962 Excalibur RS Roadster crosses the auction block through Mecum on May 16. Penned by designer Brooks Stevens around the middle of last century, the car didn't come to fruition until 2006. Under the power-operated hood is a 5.7-liter GM V-8 crate engine. The Excalibur RS Roadster comprises a steel-tube space-frame chassis built by Chuck Rahn, dressed in hand-formed aluminum bodywork. The hood scoops are inspired from those on the Ford GT40 race car. According to the lot description from Mecum Auctions, the car's power scissor doors come from a Lamborghini Murciélago. Other features of the car include a polycarbonate windshield and a power-operated hood and decklid. Though industrial designer Brooks Stevens was responsible for conceiving approximately 3,000 products during the course of his career, this piece of automotive exotica, while based on a concept he penned a few decades previously, was commissioned to be built by his friend, Bob Shaw, as a tribute. At a time when the market seems to be in a state of transition between demand for classic automobiles from the middle of last century and growing interest in cars from the 1990s and up, the Excalibur RS Roadster combines elements of both.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The New Aston Martin Vanquish Volante Is the World's Fastest Front-Engine Convertible
Aston Martin's third-generation Vanquish debuted last year to respectful reviews. The convertible version, called the Vanquish Volante and revealed this week, is on track for perhaps more than that. For starters, the Vanquish Volante, Aston says, is the fastest and most powerful front-engine convertible in the world with a top speed of 214 mph and a V-12 making 823 horsepower. Aston says the Vanquish Volante is also the 'most powerful open-top series production Aston Martin to date,' and that the car is the 'very pinnacle of ultra-luxury high performance.' More from Robb Report This 1993 GMC Muscle SUV Just Sold for the Highest Price on Record Brunello Cucinelli's Daughters Are Making Their Mark on the Family Business Sarah Jessica Parker Used This $30 Million N.Y.C. Townhouse as a Closet. Now It Can Be Yours. The new Vanquish Volante occupies a pretty specific niche, in other words: an ultra-luxury car that aspires to compete with Rolls-Royce and Bentley and a motor that wants to compete with Lamborghini and Ferrari. Performance has always been an emphasis for Aston Martin and, equally, luxury, too. With the new Vanquish Volante, Aston wants to double down on both. The new Vanquish Volante represents exclusivity, too, with fewer than 1,000 Vanquishes planned for production annually, including the Volante convertible versions. Both the coupe and the convertible share that V-12 engine, which can get to 62 mph in 3.3 seconds in the coupe and 3.4 seconds in the convertible Volante, probably because the Volante is 209 pounds heavier than the coupe. The Vanquish Volante can put its roof down in 14 seconds and close it in 16 seconds at speeds of up to 31 mph. This can be done with the key fob as well. Aston also claims that the thermal insulation with the roof closed is similar to that with the Vanquish coupe. On the inside, Aston didn't change much compared to the Vanquish coupe, and, indeed, with the new Vanquish Volante Aston wants to emphasize everything else: the big power, but also its elegant exterior proportions. Aston did not release a price for the new Vanquish Volante, but the coupe version starts at $432,700, so you can expect the Vanquish Volante to be around half a million dollars. Deliveries of the new Vanquish Volante are expected to begin in the third quarter of this of Robb Report The 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast The World's Best Superyacht Shipyards The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht Click here to read the full article.
