2018 Aston Martin DB11 Volante Spied, Shows Modified AeroBlade Intakes

Aston Martin put its mind into designing the DB11, everyone on the design team refused to slap a rear wing on the trunk lid. Why? Because a go-faster accessory like that would’ve spoiled the gorgeous looks. Instead, the design team joined hands with aerodynamicists to create what Aston Martin calls AeroBlade. For the forthcoming DB11 Volante, however, the AeroBlade system’s intakes will be modified to suit the ragtop.

Spied by the shutterbugs while roaming around Sweden for cold-weather testing, the pictured DB11 Volante prototype is wrapped in almost no camouflage at all. On closer inspection, you’ll spot that the rear haunches are the only parts of the car that received the masking treatment. Aston Martin decided to move the two air ducts that feed air to the discreet aperture in the rear trunk lid from the base of the C-pillars to the well-muscled rear fenders.

The British manufacturer had to make this change because hacking the roof results in losing the C-pillars. It remains to be seen how Aston Martin pulled this trick off from a visual point of view, but the bottom line is that the DB11 Volante will generate the same amount of downforce as the coupe. And just like the regular DB11, the ragtop also boasts a retractable spoiler that rises out 2.5 inches at speeds between 50 and 80 miles per hour (80 - 128 km/h).

Another area where the Aston Martin DB11 Volante differs from the DB11 is the rear valance panel. Other than that, it’s business as usual for the British manufacturer. Slated to go on sale in early in 2018, the Aston Martin DB11 Volante will mirror the engine, transmission, and interior design of the fixed-head DB11. Hence, a 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12 with 600 horsepower on tap will send its goodies to the rear axle via an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Also in 2018, the DB11 and DB11 Volante will gain a Mercedes-AMG-developed 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. Based on the difference in oomph between the V8 Vantage S and V12 Vantage S, the 2018 Aston Martin DB11 V8 could get the 503 horsepower tune from the Mercedes-AMG GT S, whereas the next-generation V8 Vantage will settle for the 456 horsepower variant.

On that note, a manual transmission is in the offing for the V8 Vantage. "[...] The manual gearbox remains an integral part of our product plans and will do for many years to come,” said Dr. Andy Palmer, the CEO of Aston Martin, when he introduced the V12 Vantage S with the 7-speed dog-leg manual.