Aston Martin DB12 Volante

The drop-top version of Aston Martin's super tourer’ has arrived, complete with the same 6/lbhp V8 and 202mph top speed. But the need for a calmer soul lingers

- STUART GALLAGHER

SINCE THE CANADIAN BILLIONAIRE Lawrence Stroll took control of Aston Martin following Andy Palmer's financially disastrous IPO, the company has seen more CEO changes than new car launches. This trend continues with the appointment of Adrian Hallmark, the former chairman and CEO of Bentley, who will be CEO number four when he takes the AML hot seat by October 1st. And you thought certain football clubs were the only ones to chew through senior management at a rate that rivals a child devouring an Easter egg haul.

What will Hallmark inherit from ex-Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa when he walks through the door at Gaydon? Crucially, a new product strategy, one which started with the DB12 coupe in 2023, the new Vantage revealed in February of this year and an updated DBX next month. The replacement for the DBS will then arrive later in 2024 and Aston Martin's first mid-engined 'series' production car, the Valhalla, will be shown in its production glory before the year is out. That's quite the portfolio upgrade.

You can add to this deliveries of the DB12 and new Vantage derivatives that will also be underway, beginning with the DB12 Volante. It's a model from a sector that Hallmark has a great deal of experience with via one of its key rivals: Bentley's Continental GT.