DB7 V12 Vantage Volante
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DB7 V12 Vantage Volante

DB7 V12 Vantage Volante

(1999 - 2003)

2000MY, 2001MY, 2002MY, 2003MY

When introduced, the DB7 Vantage Volante was one of the fastest open top Aston Martin ever made. Launched simultaneously with the coupe version at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show, the Volante shares the body, chassis and engine modifications of the closed version. Maximum speed with both the 6 speed manual or 5 speed auto transmissions is limited to 165 mph; the sprint from 60 mph takes just 5.1 seconds.

DB7 V12 Vantage Volante

I guess the speed was restricted so that an over-enthusiastic driver doesn’t loose the roof when exploring the the extremes of the performance envelope. The Vantage Volante shares all the exterior features of it’s closed brother. The V12 engine (in stage 1 tune) needed more cooling air than the 6 cylinder and so the trademark Aston grille was enlarged. This meant the creation of new indicators and driving lights which were moved to a new position. These units are reminiscent of features on both the Project cars (DP212, DP214 and DP215) and the DBR1 race car.

Total production of the DB7 Vantage Volante reached 2059 examples, only a fraction behind the number of coupes built.

Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Volante

DB7 Vantage Volante in Dunhill Silver

  • 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
    • Wire mesh grille optional
  • Interior:
    • Full Connolly leather (Bridge of Weir from late 2002MY) with burr walnut veneers as standard. Optional veneers burr oak, elm, maple and yew. Also carbon fibre, brushed aluminium (like the i6 Dunhill) and from 2002MY, metallic veneer
    • Alcantara headlining, Firth carpets. Wilton carpets optional (as used on the ‘V’ cars)
    • Electrically operated front seats incorporating seat heaters. Optional Sports seats with extended shoulder contours, plain leather on outer panels, perforated on inner panels (coupe only)
    • CFC free automatic climate control
    • Driver and front passenger airbags
    • Six speaker Kenwood stereo radio cassette system with boot mounted 6 CD autochanger. Alpine unit  premium audio with additional speakers optional. AM branded Becker audio unit from 2002MY, Becker Trafic Pro GPS system optional from 2002MY
    • Megamos alarm system and PATs engine immobiliser
  • Engine:
    • V12 60° all aluminium alloy. Four overhead camshafts with four valves per cylinder, codename AM702. Engine number prefix AM2/
    • Bore 89 mm. Stroke 79.5 mm.  Capacity 5935cc. Compression ratio 10.3:1
    • Compression ratio 10.3:1
    • Max power 420 bhp @ 6000rpm
    • Max torque 400 lb/ft @ 5000rpm
    • Twin EECV engine management system with multi-point sequential fuel injection and ‘Coil on Plug’ ignition system
    • Fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust system with 4 Oxygen sensors / three-way catalytic convertors, exhaust gas recirculation, Evaporative loss purge
  • Transmission:
    • Tremec T56, six speed manual gearbox
    • Optional ZF 5HP-30 five speed automatic with electronic controller and lock-up torque converter. Switchable sport mode
    • Optional ‘Touchtronic’ transmission with manual gearshift control using ‘+’ and ‘-‘ sports steering wheel mounted gear shift buttons at £4,000 additional cost
    • Final Drive, GKN Powerlock limited slip differential. Ratio 3.77:1 manual, 3.06:1 automatic, giving  31.1 mph per 1,000rpm with manual in 6th gear, 30.6 mph per 1,000rpm with auto in 5th
    • Single plate clutch 293mm diameter
  • Steering:
    • Rack and pinion , power assisted 2.76 turns, lock-to-lock
    • Column tilt and reach adjustments
  • Wheels and tyres:
    • Unique Aston Martin 10 spoke aluminium alloy wheels, 8J x 18  front and 9J  x 18 rear
    • Bridgestone SO2 FZ 245/40 18 tyres front, S02 CZ 265/35 18 rear
    • Winter option, 8J x 18 standard wheels all round with Pirelli 235/40 winter 210 tyres
    • Optional 19 inch  9 spoke wheel from 2002MY, with Yokohama AVS Sport AML 245/35 x 19 front and 265/30 x 19 rear tyres
    • Optional GT wheels from 2003MY, 5 spoke aluminium alloy wheels, 8J x 18  front and 9J  x 18 rear with Bridgestone 245/35 18 tyres front, 265/30 18 rear
  • Suspension:
    • Front:    Independent double wishbone, coil springs, mono-tube dampers with anti-roll bar.
    • Rear: Independent double wishbone with longitudinal control arms, coil springs, mono-tube dampers. No anti-roll bar
  • Brakes:
    • Front:    Brembo, 355mm ventilated cross-drilled steel discs with four piston calipers
    • Rear: Brembo, 330mm ventilated cross drilled steel discs with four piston calipers and integral drum hand brake
    • Teves Mk 20 anti-lock braking system with traction control
    • Coloured brake calipers, red, gold, graphite grey, optional from 2002MY
    • GT uprated brakes – (grooved discs/silver calipers) optional from 2003MY
  • Dimensions:
    • Length: 4692 mm
    • Width: 1830 mm excluding wing mirrors
    • Height: 1270 mm
    • Wheelbase: 2591 mm
    • Front Track: 1516 mm
    • Rear Track: 1531 mm
    • Kerb Weight: manual 1868 kg, auto 1920 kg
    • Fuel Tank Capacity: 82 litres
  • Performance:
    • Top Speed: 165 mph (auto & manual, electronically limited)
    • Acceleration: 0-62 mph, 5.1 seconds (manual), 5.2 seconds (auto)
    • CO2 Emissions, 469 g/kg (manual), 472 g/km (auto)
  • Price at launch:
    • 1999  £99,950 ($150,000 US)
    • 2000 (2001MY) £101,950
    • 2001 (2002MY) £104,350 ($155,500 US)