Driving Aston Martin’s new flagship droptop, the DBS Volante, it’s hard not to conjure up some excessively cliché Bond images. Yet unlike Her Majesty’s secret agent, with his unlimited bar tab, we desired a taste of fancy champagne on a decidedly Miller High Life budget.

So impressive was the mount that the car valets at the ritzy Palm Beach Grille were tripping over each other to be “the one” to open our doors. At a restaurant that, on any given night, may see everything from a Ferrari 599 to a Bentley Continental Speed GT and a murdered-out Rolls-Royce Phantom, each treated with equal doses of nonchalance, the excitement bestowed on this one got the blood rolling through their veins again.

Our menu choices and the tip left might not have quite reflected the expectations, of course.

What is it?
The pinnacle of the line, the DBS Volante is the all-new open-top version of ol’ Jimmy’s latest ride, the DBS hardtop. Based heavily on the range-topping DBS, the Volante shares its wet weather sibling’s extensive use of carbon fiber for the body panels, as well as its leather-ensconced interior. Oh, and there’s that majestically burbly V12 lurking under the hood.

What’s it up against?
In the non-hardtop realm, put it up against the Bentley Continental Supersports and the upcoming Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Take off your top, and the competition will include the just discontinued Ferrari F430, the Continental GTC Speed and the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder.

Any breakthroughs?
The DBS Volante offers an optional Touchtronic six-speed automatic transmission that when operated by the paddle shifters, becomes, to our touch, one of the fastest shifting paddle arrangements in the business. Good for a 0-60 mph romp in 4.3 seconds, the ZF-built unit, is a newer version of the one found in the DB9.

How does it look?
As the late, ‘hardest working man in show business,” the great James Brown would sing, this DBS is a “Sex Machine.” So we get up (Get on up), stay on the scene, like a sex machine (cue the horns!). This ride is a cabriolet that looks good with its power convertible top up, or conversely in the folded position. Mechanically operated, it hides away on its own, in under 15 seconds, at speeds up to 30 mph.

Looking like a shark in profile, all the traditional Aston Martin cues are here: The silver-grilled egg crate in front with carbon fiber splitter below leading to the muscular front fenders and sensuous rear flares. Contrasting vents on the hood help the carbon-fiber bonnet to diffuse the heat building up from the V12 engine underneath. So too, the “gills” on the side flanks, and one of the most sensuous side curves this side of Megan Fox. The lines all culminate with a pixie-ish, but purposeful upturn on the rear deck, which leads downward to a carbon fiber diffuser below. Penned by Aston chief designer Marek Reichman, it is following footprints planted by former designer (and Jaguar design guru) Ian Callum.

And get this: With its convertible roof in the up and locked position, it actually possesses a well-matched look, a rarity even among the world’s finest droptops.

And on the inside?
Open the doors, which rise slightly, and the first things you’ll notice are the sculpted front seats with infinite adjustments located on the transmission tunnel. Between the driver’s door and seat is a throwback-style e-brake lever that ties this current model to DBs from the past. Single-needle stitching accents the charcoal grey leather interior. It’s understated, to be certain, but such details help to keep the design fresh as opposed to the latest two-tone du jour, which would tend to date the car to a particular time or era.

A beefy leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shift levers grabs the driver’s attention, and leads the eyes to the four-gauge binnacle directly ahead. A piano-black center stack houses the drivetrain controller buttons: P, D, R, and N buttons sit on either side of the DBS’s ignition button, where a Lucite-tipped key fob is inserted and then pushed to start the engine. It is also the location of the bespoke Bang & Olufsen BeoSound DBS audio system, whose tweeters rise up from the corners of the dashboard. The sound is sublime. A navigation system is also included. Its execution is less successful, looking as though somebody at the factory in Gaydon took a razor saw to the black dash and rigged a five-inch Garmin inside.

Our test vehicle was included with optional “occasional” rear seats in place of the standard cargo shelf, that could A) could store the littlest of little people, or B) knickknacks from an afternoon of antiquing. Anything else, like third-wheel friends for example, will have to contort themselves like German pretzels in order to make hay of the rear seat.

But does it go?
This is a serious go-fast car with great handling and power to boot. Not likely to be seen at your local track-day event, it could keep up, if pushed. With a Cologne, Germany-built 6.0-liter V12 engine and its 510 horsepower and 410 lb-ft. of torque capabilities, it’s easy to see the DBS top out at over 190 mph. But that’s only part of what goes on with this drivetrain.

Power squeezes forth effortlessly from a gentle stomp on the go pedal. The balance is mid engine, with a rear-mid-mounted Touchtronic 2 six-speed automatic transmission and fly by wire arrangement to shift electronically. Pull back on the right paddle shift lever, and you find rapid shifts with incredible pickup. Deciding to let the tranny shift itself, push the D button on the dash to revert to totally auto mode. Pushing the “Sport” mode button on the center console results in a re-map of the shift points and rev-matching during downshifts. Power is transferred from the big V12 to the limited-slip differential by way of a carbon-fiber propshaft. During our jaunts around town, engine volume was very civilized thanks to bypass valves in the exhaust system. Bring the revs up to 4,000 rpm, though, and the valves open….as do the V12’s lungs, for a totally aural driving experience.

When some coupes are made to go topless, they are sent to outside vendors who cut and then fashion new closing mechanisms, tops, back panels and other kit to make the roof operational. Something usually suffers, in most cases torsional rigidity. According to Aston Martin, the DBS was designed in-house as both a Coupe and Volante. As a result, the DBS Volante does not suffer at all in the chassis stiffness department.

Active damping tunes the Volante’s suspension to five different settings. Or you can opt to just push the “track” setting which firms up springs and shocks for optimum stiffness on the track. Independent double wishbones with coils and adaptive dampers in front and rear independent double wishbones in the rear are tuned to minimize front-end dive, and rear end squat. We found the DBS a relatively flat corner runner, and after a romp down a stretch of straight highway saw virtually no brake fade. Credit the huge carbon-ceramic platters at all four corners for the rapid stops.

At 3,990 pounds, the DBS Volante is no lightweight, even when you consider it is a topless model.

With a top speed of over 190-miles per hour, and fuel ratings of 12 mpg city and 18 mpg highway, this GT supercar is at the top of its game, mileage be damned.

Why you would buy it:
It’s unquestionably one of the finest open top machines on the road today, and while it’s not quite as ostentatious as a Lamborghini, it will get you all the attention you desire.

Why you wouldn’t:
It’s a touch pricey, and you live in a town where Astons are nearly a dime a dozen.

Leftlane’s bottom line:
The Aston Martin DBS Volante is an ultra-refined grand touring supercar that handles beautifully, sounds like thunder when pressed, and has beautiful lines to boot. Yes, it gets less-than-stellar gas mileage, and it is definitely not for the faint of heart-or wallet. But then, if you can afford it, chances are that gas mileage is not an issue for you in the first place.

In many ways, the DBS Volante is an ideal balance for those who are shopping at the upper end of the spectrum. Comfortable enough to be used as a daily driver, it still possesses all of the appeal that has long been bestowed on Aston Martin’s finest.

2010 Aston Martin DBS Volante base price, $286,500. As tested, $295,435.
Optional equipment, $7,585; Gas guzzler tax, $2,600; Destination, $1,350.

Words and photos by Mark Elias.

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