DB7 i6 Volante
DB7 i6 Volante

DB7 i6 Volante

(1996 - 1999)

1997MY, 1998MY, 1999MY

The DB7 Volante was unveiled a little while after the coupe at both the Los Angeles and Detroit motor shows in early 1996. This was no accident as the main market for this car was to be in the States. Performance was predictably slightly down on the coupe due to both increased weight and aerodynamic drag. Sixty miles per hour came up in six seconds and top speed was 155 mph for the manual transmission, as claimed by Aston Martin.

DB7 i6 Volante

Designed by Ian Callum at the same time as he designed the coupe, the Volante looks elegant both hood up or down, much like the earlier Aston Martin drop head cars. Underneath the sleek and perfectly proportioned thoroughbred, lies additional strengthening to offset the lack of the roof, especially around the windscreen, to provide a degree of rollover protection. Another invisible change to the Volante was softer suspension settings, more suited to to the touring image but also to compensate for the reduction in rigidity over the coupe. Less well known was that the series 2 coupe also adopted the softer Volante suspension. Thus, to some driving enthusiasts, the later non-air bagged coupes are thought to be the most desirable of the six cylinder DB7’s.

As one might expect, the roof is fully tailored and electrically operated but sadly it sits rather proud of the boot. The typically English ambience is achieved by sumptuous Connolly hide, restrained amounts of burr walnut veneer (oak, elm and maple were also available) and deep pile Wilton carpets. This interior shot below illustrates the airbag equipped steering wheel fitted to all 1996MY and after Coupes and Volantes. Total DB7 i6 Volante production only reached 879 before the model was replaced by the DB7 V12 Vantage Volante.

  • Body/Coachwork:
    • Two door convertible with 2+2 seating
    • Steel under-frame with steel body panels. Composite front wings, sills, boot lid and front & rear bumper/apron
    • Side-impact protection in doors
    • Fully lined mohair electrically operated hood with heated glass rear screen
    • Mohair hood cover, leather optional. Optional wind deflector
  • Interior:
    • Full Connolly leather with burr walnut veneers
    • Alcantara headlining, Firth carpets. Wilton carpets optional (as used on the ‘V’ cars)
    • Electrically operated front seats
    • CFC free automatic climate control
    • Driver and front passenger airbags
    • Alpine radio cassette with CD auto-changer from 1997MY
    • Megamos alarm system and PATs engine immobiliser from 1997MY.
  • Engine:
    • All-alloy, twin overhead camshaft, 24 valve, 3,239 cc straight six cylinder
    • Single Eaton M90 ‘Roots’ supercharger   Maximum boost 14 p.s.i. (1 bar)
    • Water cooled intercooler for the compressed air with bypass valve
    • Fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust system
    • Compression ratio 8.3:1
    • Max power 335 bhp @ 6000rpm
    • Max torque 361 lb/ft @ 3000rpm
    • EECV engine management system with multi-point sequential fuel injection and electronic distributorless ignition system
  • Transmission:
    • Getrag 290.711, five speed manual gearbox
    • Optional switchable GM 4L80E four speed automatic
    • Final Drive, GKN Powerlock limited slip differential. Ratio 3.54 : 1, giving  28.6 mph per 1,000rpm
  • Steering:
    • Rack and pinion , power assisted 2.76 turns, lock-to-lock
    • Column reach and rake adjustment
  • Wheels and tyres:
    • Lightweight 8J x 18 alloy wheels
    • Bridgestone Expedia 245/40 ZR18 tyres
  • Suspension:
    • Front: Independent double wishbone, coil springs, mono-tube dampers with anti-roll bar, anti-dive geometry
    • Rear: Independent double wishbone with longitudinal control arms, coil springs, mono-tube dampers. No anti-roll bar
  • Brakes:
    • Front: 285 mm ventilated steel discs with four piston calipers
    • Rear: 295 mm vented steel discs with sliding aluminium calipers
    • Teves Mk IVI anti-lock braking system
  • Dimensions:
    • Length: 4646 mm
    • Length for North American market, 1997MY onwards – 4722 mm due to deeper rear bumper
    • Width: 1830 mm excluding wing mirrors
    • Height: 1250 mm
    • Wheelbase: 2591 mm
    • Front Track: 1516 mm
    • Rear Track: 1531 mm
    • Kerb Weight: manual 1850 kg, auto 1900 kg
    • Fuel Tank Capacity: 82litres
  • Performance:
    • Top Speed: 155 mph (manual), 155 mph (auto)
    • Acceleration: 0-62 mph, 6.0 seconds (manual), 6.6 seconds (auto)
  • Price at launch:
    • October 1996, (1997MY) £89,950 ($140,000 US)
    • 1998, (1999MY) £92,500