Meet The Aston Martin Vanquish S Volante: 2017's Sexiest Convertible

It carries a small premium over the hardtop, with AutoGuide saying it’ll be priced at $315,775 and hit dealerships this April. The Vanquish S coupe has a starting price of $294,950 and deliveries have already began. The new DB11 has been hogging the spotlight the past few months, and with good reason. The Vanquish S and Vanquish S Volante are proof that the “older” Astons still have something to offer.

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Here's Every V12 Convertible You Can Buy Today

There's not as many as you might think.

V12-powered convertibles are on the endangered species list. There aren’t many left today you can buy new and the ones you can buy cost at least six-figures and are often built to order. It’s always been an uber-exclusive segment. Given the decreasing popularity for convertibles and the slow death of the V12, the survival odds are not stacked in this segment’s favor. But if you do happen to have the funds to make a purchase like this, which V12-powered convertible would you opt for? Unfortunately, the list isn’t very big. Not even BMW’s new 8 Series convertible will be offered with twelve cylinders.

But there’s a good chance at least one more could be added to the list assuming Aston Martin will do a DBS Superleggera Volante. There’s even a rumor of a drop-top Ferrari 812 Superfast. But the latter two don’t exist yet and, therefore, could not be included in this list. And so here they are, the fresh from the factory V12 convertibles you can buy today. Enjoy them while you can.

Aston Martin Vanquish S Volante

If you want a brand new Aston Martin Vanquish S Volante then you need to act fast. Later today could already be too late. Production of this stunning V12 convertible will conclude very soon, making way for the DBS Superleggera and, hopefully, a DBS Superleggera Volante, but this is still unconfirmed.

However, the Vanquish S has something its successor does not: a naturally aspirated 6.0-liter V12 instead of a twin-turbo 5.2-liter V12. That alone makes the Vanquish S Volante unique as the market for NA V12s continues to dwindle. But open top V12 awesomeness like this doesn’t come cheap as you’ll have to round up at least $312,000 to drive one home, and that’s without any added options for personalization.

Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster

Okay, here’s something that still has a couple of years life left until its successor arrives. No immediate rush to the dealership. The Lamborghini Aventador S Roadster is just as crazy as it looks. It’s a Lamborghini, after all. Powered by a 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 with 740 hp and 507 lb-ft of torque linked to a seven-speed automatic gearbox, the AWD Aventador S does the 0-60 mph sprint in just 3.0 seconds and has a claimed top speed of 217 mph. If you want to know what wind smacking your head feels like, this is the supercar for you. If for whatever reason these specs don’t impress you, then maybe it’s a good idea to wait a year or so because there’s a chance Lamborghini will unleash a roadster version of its most extreme Aventador to date, the SVJ.

Mercedes-AMG S65 Cabriolet

There are many ways one can spend $250,000, but few would give you the overall experience of luxury and performance the way the Mercedes-AMG S65 Cabriolet does. This big drop top does not apologize for anything and it never should. Its 630 hp and 737 lb-ft of torque is the reason why. Its biturbo V12 is an engineering masterpiece. The attention to detail inside and out and outstanding build quality makes us question why Mercedes-Maybach even has to exist. Of course, one could buy the coupe version and call it a day and also be satisfied. But would you truly be happy knowing there was a cherry on top of your ice cream sundae just waiting to be eaten? That cherry is the Mercedes-AMG S65 Cabriolet.

Pagani Huayra Roadster

Horacio Pagani likes to do things the old-fashioned way. When he set out to develop the Huayra hypercar, his Mercedes-AMG engine supplier tried to dissuade him from a naturally aspirated V12. A V8 would be the best all-around choice for power and efficiency. The parties settled on a twin-turbo 6.0-liter V12, rated at 764 hp and 740 lb-ft of torque in the Huayra Roadster. Don’t think for a moment Pagani simply sliced off the roof and altered the doors of the Huayra coupe and called it a day. No, the Huayra Roadster’s appearance changed because of a number of design adjustments specifically engineered for a roofless masterpiece. What’s more, the Huayra Roadster is the first roadster in auto history that’s lighter than its coupe counterpart. Only 100 examples will be built and all have been sold for at least $2.4 each. Sorry to get your hopes up.

Mercedes-AMG SL65

The Mercedes-AMG SL65 is the latest ultra-luxury roadster from a long line of predecessors going back decades. Sure, it may not be quite as pretty as the Mercedes-AMG GT S Roadster, but it does have the same 6.0-liter biturbo V12 under its roof as the S65 Cabriolet, though here it’s rated at 621 hp. Chances are you won’t feel the difference of only nine hp.

Facelifted for 2017, the SL65 still has a few years of life left in it, but we doubt its V12 will make another appearance whenever a complete redesign happens. Then again, Mercedes-AMG might ultimately conclude there is still a market for such an engine in a roadster. Who knows? But if you want one of these gorgeous drop tops now, you’ll have to fork over at least $222,000.

Rolls-Royce Dawn

If you want to make an even bigger statement at the country club or wherever you dock your yacht, the Rolls-Royce Dawn is calling you. This hand-built, four-seat luxury convertible comes powered by a turbocharged 6.6-liter V12 producing 563 hp and 605 lb-ft of torque. Total weight: Over 5,600 pounds, and yet it still hits 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. Compared to its Wraith coupe sibling, Rolls-Royce claims 80 percent of its body panels are new. Its six-layer roof requires only 20 seconds to unfurl. Buyers also have a near endless palette of 44,000 exterior and interior colors to choose from, making each Dawn unique. Still interested? Good, but you may not be after learning its base price: $350,000, and that’s with absolutely zero options or other bespoke features.

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Can't Afford The New BMW 8 Series Convertible? Here Are 8 Cheaper Alternatives

You can spend way less than $121,000 on a luxury convertible.

BMW wowed us when it first revealed the new 8 Series Coupe. Now, our jaw has gone from dropped to fallen off with the reveal of the new 8 Series Convertible. Like the coupe, the convertible will initially be available in M850i xDrive trim with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 pumping out 523 horsepower. The 8 Series Convertible is also extremely quick, with a 0-60 mph time of just 3.8 seconds - just 0.2 of a second slower than the coupe.

Pricing starts at $121,400, making it $9,500 more than the coupe. However, if all you want is a fast, luxurious convertible, there are plenty of cheaper alternatives on the used market. Since this is the BMW 8 Series, after all, we have chosen eight cheaper used alternatives.

2010-2018 Maserati GranTurismo

Although it is nowhere near as powerful or as technologically advanced as the new 8 Series, we'd argue few cars are as beautiful as the Maserati GranTurismo. Used Maserati cars tend to plummet in value, which is why used GranTurismo Convertibles can now be found for less than $40,000 on the low end. The car is powered by a Ferrari-designed 4.7-liter V8 producing 454 hp. Yes, it is not as powerful as the BMW but it sounds even better. For less than the price of the 8 Series, it is even possible to find the more hardcore MC version.

2012-2018 BMW M6 Convertible

The BMW 8 Series takes the place of the old 6 Series in BMW's lineup. Instead of buying the latest and greatest BMW, some people will be more comfortable taking enormous savings on an older model. The last generation BMW M6 Convertible, the F12, can now be found for less than $40,000 on the low end. Like the new 8 Series, the M6 is powered by a 4.4-liter V8. However, the M6 is actually more powerful with 560 hp.

2013-2014 Bentley Continental GTC

The BMW 8 Series may sit as the flagship of BMW's lineup but it still cannot compare to the prestige of a Bentley. For less than the cost of a new 8 Series, it is possible to buy a Bentley Continental GTC from around 2013 or 2014 (post facelift). Even at this price, we managed to find certified pre-owned examples with both the 500-hp 4.0-liter V8 and 567-hp 6.0-liter W12.

2011-2014 Audi R8 Spyder

The Audi R8 Spyder may not fit the same mold as the other convertibles on this list but we still like it at this price point. We found plenty of used examples with both the 4.2-liter V8 and 5.2-liter V10 with the automatic and manual transmission. Obviously, we prefer the gated manual, though the dual-clutch transmission in the 2014-and-later cars is pretty competent. Even at this price, we managed to find an R8 GT Spyder, which has a 560-hp version of the glorious V10 engine.

2013-2014 Porsche 911 Turbo / Turbo S Cabriolet

Most 911 variants tend to hold their value extremely well but the Turbo models are the lone exception. We found plenty of 911 Turbo and Turbo S Cabrio models from the 991.1 generation for less than the price of a new 8 Series. This generation 911 Turbo packed 520 hp from a 3.8-liter twin-turbo flat-six. The Turbo S bumped the power up to 560 hp going out through a seven-speed PDK transmission. While not as luxurious as the 8 Series, the 911 Turbo Cabriolet can hit 60 mph in under three seconds, making it the quickest on this list.

2011-2015 Jaguar XKR And XKR-S Convertible

Few cars depreciate as quickly as a Jaguar, which is great news if you are in the market for a used one. The Jaguar XKR Convertible is powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine pumping out 510 hp. We also found several examples of the drop-top XKR-S, which produces 550 hp. We love the old-school styling of the XK and believe it is one of the prettiest cars on this list.

2006-2015 Aston Martin DB9 Volante

While we are on the subject of pretty cars, how about the Aston Martin DB9. Yes, for less than the price of a new BMW you could have a bonafide Aston Martin. By the end of the DB9's life, the 6.0-liter V12 produced 510 hp. The newer DB9 examples can command up to $120,000 but the older models can be found for less than $40,000.

2016-2017 Mercedes-AMG SL63 And SL65 Roadster

If you don't feel like waiting for the M version of the BMW 8 Series, just turn your attention to AMG. For less than the M850i, you can get either an SL63 or SL65 AMG Roadster. The SL63 is powered by a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 577 hp. We also found a few examples of the SL65, which packs a 6.0-liter twin-turbo V12 producing 621 hp. The SL63 can be found starting at around $85,000 for the most recent, facelifted R231 model, while the SL65 is a bit more expensive.