Luxury Guide

Luxury Cars: Hold your breath and accelerate--driving an Aston Martin is no longer an experience but a tactile memory. Your center of gravity is altered as the 2010 DBS Volante propels you forward, hinting at the unbridled power residing just beyond your reach in the V12 engine.

When first given the opportunity to review the vehicle I had planned on writing a story geared towards a weekend getaway, tying in elements of the DBS along the way. However, within my first two hours in the new 2010 DBS Volante, I realized my "getaway" wasn't at all about going anywhere. I had already arrived at what was to be my location of choice for the weekend sitting in the cockpit of this exotic and refined automobile.

At the touch of a finger, the roof retracts and is stowed away seamlessly; within seconds you are coasting under the sun (or the moon and stars). Thanks to a new five-piston hydraulic pump, the newly choreographed hood has an astounding opening time of only 14 seconds and is tucked away under the newly sculpted tonneau cover, redesigned to enhance the muscular stature of the DBS Volante.

In utilizing a fabric hood, the DBS Volante retains its sculptural shape and lines while minimizing overall weight gain, which is also aided by a bonnet, front wings and boot lid all constructed from carbon fiber to considerably reduce weight. To prevent the weave from protruding through the paint finish, Aston Martin employs a patented "surface veil" technology, which applies a 200-micron-thick layer of epoxy glue to the carbon fiber before the application of seven layers of paint, producing a class A level finish.

The sensory experience of driving the DBS Volante is completed by the aural component: Bang & Olufsen's BeoSound DBS audio system. Developed exclusively for Aston Martin and specifically revised for the DBS Volante, the BeoSound DBS does what most car audio systems do not: it takes into account the fact that it is being utilized in a moving vehicle; more importantly, a sports car.

The system is acoustically and physically matched to the DBS Volante. Loudspeaker grilles are finished with smoothly contoured aluminum that integrates seamlessly with the fluid lines and curves of the lavish cabin. The technology of the system itself has been tuned and adjusted to sense when the roof is up or retracted; it modifies the sound stage to compensate for wind noise and the car's change in acoustics. As perfectly tuned as the sound system is, you may just want to turn it off altogether as you become addicted to the growl of the engine.

The DBS Volante raises the bar and makes it look effortless. Aston Martin, already an unparalleled icon in the luxury automobile industry, is on its way to becoming a titan of legendary proportions. Having just released the Rapide in September of this year, the brand's first true four-door sports car, Aston Martin looks to bring in the new year with their most exciting, true sports car yet, the 2010 DBS Volante.