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| Aston Martin V8 Volante (long wheelbase) (1997-2000) |
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The long chassis V8 Volante is perhaps the most elegant Aston
Martin ever. It is also the biggest production Aston (although the DB9 based
Rapide may be a tad longer) and the heaviest too. It was unveiled at the 1997
London Motor Show and has a unique wheelbase not shared with any other model. It
will also be perhaps the last production Volante ever made at Newport Pagnell.
The V8 Volante shares it's styling and mechanicals with the V8 Coupe which was
introduced the previous year. It was a little late in appearing as the car it
replaced, the Virage Volante, was a little slow at selling through at the
dealers.
A long chassis version of the Volante had been considered at the factory as far back as 1992. On a visit to the Aston Martin Heritage Trust archive, I discovered a drawing of a long chassis Virage Volante that was never produced |
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Here's the factory demonstrator (AMV8) as pictured at the Stratton Motor Company open day in the Summer if 1998. Although a heavy car, tipping the scales at 2050kg empty, the car is capable of a maximum speed in excess of 150mph, with 60mph coming from rest in 6.5 seconds. Power is provided by a 354bhp V8 engine, still displacing 5340cc and virtually identical to that used in the V8 Coupe. It was only ever available with automatic transmission, a four speed version of the classic Chrysler Torqueflite with a lock-up torque converter and switchable sport mode. |
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The elegant Volante is far roomier for rear seat passengers with an additional 200mm of leg room over the Virage Volante 2+2. This makes it an ideal Aston for families as average sized people can be very comfortable in the back. The extra lag room and additional luggage capacity has been achieved by increasing the wheelbase by 200mm. |
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