While the automotive world increasingly pivots towards luxury SUVs, the quintessential fast convertible GT, is all but a dying breed. However, Ferrari and Aston Martin are keen to preserve this genre with their latest machines. The Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider and the Aston Martin Vanquish Volante are fast but not furious while being layered with a veneer of elegance.
These two are not the most aggressive cars and neither are meant for the track as instead they are mean to be driven top-down while being downed in V12 noise.
Fast Convertible: Aston Martin Vanquish Volante
Let us look at the gorgeous Vanquish Volante first and this beautiful V12 is now given further access to bless our ears minus a roof.
However, for sudden downpours, there is a fabric folding roof which works till 31mph while operating in 14 seconds. The styling sans the roof is even better and matches the voluptuous details of this brutish British GT.
There are some subtle changes but the flows lines and the muscles bulging via the long silhouette is indeed a match made in heaven, there is not a single line you would change.
The interior too is the latest Aston Martin fare and that means the new infotainment system which is vastly better. That said, the 824bhp V12 means you would not be using the premium audio system much. Luggage is not great but enough for those weekend jaunts-if you pack light that is!
Image: Flickr
Image: Aston Martin
Tell Me More About the Speed
Start with a 5.2-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine, engineered in-house by Aston Martin, producing 824–835 PS (horsepower), depending on the source, and 738 lb-ft (1000 Nm) of torque, providing immense pulling power across a wide rev range. Rear-wheel drive, 8-speed automatic gearbox, optimized for rapid acceleration and high-speed performance.
Car and Driver cites acceleration of 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 3.4 seconds, with a top speed of 214 mph (344-345 km/h). That makes it one of the fastest convertibles in the world.
The Aston Martin Vanquish Volante is built on a bonded aluminum structure with double wishbone front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension, enhancing handling and stability at high speeds. Then there’s the suspension tuning: Adaptive dampers with multiple driving modes allow the car to switch between comfort-oriented grand touring and sharp, track-focused dynamics. Another factor: Advanced traction control, stability control, and torque vectoring systems ensure the massive power is delivered to the road efficiently.
Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider: Screaming to the Redline
The same can be said for the 12Cilindri Spider although the Maranello bred Italian has a fierier personality thanks to the naturally aspirated V12 which screams to its redline.
At a time when manufacturers are abandoning big engines, a naturally aspirated V12 seems like a generous helping of sepia tinted fun. It is analogue but is also brimming with the latest Ferrari tech that they can throw at it.
However, the 12Cilindr is a GT and is not a track weapon while the reflexes are calmer too. Even the styling is pure classic Ferrari with a heady reference to the iconic 1969 365GTS/4 notably with the long deck and the short hood along with the black stripe running across.
It is a modern-day Daytona which has split opinion but still looks gorgeous in a radical way compared to the Aston Martin.
Image: Ferrari
Tell Me More About the Speed
The 12Cilindri Spider delivers explosive power – naturally aspirated V12 engine, 819–830 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque, with a 9,500 rpm redline, 500 lb-ft (678 Nm) at 7,250 rpm of torque, RWD, 8-speed Magna PT dual-clutch transmission, for fast shifts and power delivery to the rear wheels. Just don’t wear a ballcap when behind the wheel, with the top down.
Top speed is over 211 mph (340 km/h), with Car and Driver saying acceleration of 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) is 2.7 seconds. Another factor with the Ferrari – its light weight, at 1,620 kg (3,571 lbs), which contributes to its acceleration.
Both Cars Hit the $600K Price Point
The interior of the Ferrari is sprinkled with screens and the design is like the sci-fi Ferrari cabins but space is decent and the ride comfort has been tweaked to prioritise being a GT.
The roof here also operates in 14 seconds and up to speeds of 28 mph. Unlike the 812 Superfast, Ferrari has given the 12Cilindri some leeway and it now looks after the GT side of things while not needing to be a hyper sports GT all the time.
Both cars breach the $600,000 mark but again the price is irrelevant because the appeal of these cars lie beyond conventional numbers, these two are the last of a genre which has long been forgotten by others but keenly preserved by these two and for that alone, we doff our imaginary hats to them.
Honourable Mentions
Now that I’ve whetted your appetite for a fast car, convertible, summer time drive experience, here are a few others options:
Bentley Continental GTC Speed
This one is a luxurious grand tourer with a powerful W12 or V8 engine, known for its opulent interior and refined ride, a competitor in the ultra-luxury convertible market. The latest version has a revolutionary new design and a powerful Ultra-Performance Hybrid V8 powertrain.
McLaren 750S Spider
A lightweight, high-performance convertible supercar with a focus on agility and speed, offering a more track-oriented experience compared to the Vanquish Volante’s grand touring focus. The McLaren is equipped with a beautifully engineered Retractable Hard Top (RHT) that glides up or down in just 11 seconds at speeds up to 50 km/h (31 mph).
BMW M8 Competition Convertible
A high-performance luxury convertible with a twin-turbo V8, combining sporty dynamics with premium comfort, making it a strong alternative in the segment.
Lamborghini Huracan EVO Spyder
A convertible supercar with aggressive styling and exhilarating performance, a high-performance convertible sports car, featuring a 5.2-liter V10 engine producing 640 horsepower. Top speed is reportedly 202 mph (325 km/h).
Top image: Flickr
Somnath Chatterjee grew up around cars and most of his childhood was spent obsessing over supercars. Years later he decided to start writing about them and hasn’t looked back since. While he has had his fair share of cars, the world of automobiles never ceases to amaze him. Travelling all over the world to drive them along with sharing that experience is what ultimately keeps him going. He hopes to drive a Ferrari 288 GTO someday because, well, do you really need a reason?
