FIELD TRIP

Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo or Aston Martin DB12 Volante? Two powerful and charismatic convertibles, but which is best? A cross-country drive to the coast should hold the answer

- by STUART GALLAGHER

AS THE SUN SETS AND THE NORTH SEA waves crash against the rocks and stone of the east coast beach, the products of two of the automotive world’s most storied companies sit silently having their picture taken. Their roofs are down, their jewel-like head and tail lamps twinkle in the dusk, their turbocharged motors are long cooled and all tick, tick, ticked out. After a full day shooting and several more days behind their respective wheels, the time has come to nail my colours: Aston Martin DB12 Volante or Maserati GranCabrio Trofeo?

The Maserati is your purer GT car, less frenetic than the DB12, which we've always felt a little hyperactive for a classic GT, if not quite sharp enough to be a super-sports car. The GranCabrio has a softer edge and also a power deficit of almost 130bhp, the Trofeo’s twin-turbocharged ‘Nettuno’ V6 producing 542bhp to the 671bhp of the DB12’s similarly boosted V8, though this isn’t the mismatch the bald figures might suggest.

The Italian motor feels quite old-school in how it delivers its performance, building strongly from low down, swelling through the mid-range and exploding to its peak. Unlike many of today’s large-lunged engines, it hasn't been mapped to deliver everything in one big rush; rather it paints a broader picture of performance, while still leaving you in no doubt as to your progress and with a soundtrack to match your pace. What it lacks in cubic capacity and cylinder count, it makes up for with nuance and pedigree as it climbs towards its peaks.