When it was first unveiled at the 1990 British Motor Show, the prototype Virage Volante convertible was a two-seater. However, due to customer pressure, the car had gained two additional rear seats by the time of the Geneva Motor Show in March 1991. Subsequently all the production cars were built with 2+2 seating.
Production cars eventually reached customers at the beginning of 1992 as the Volante was subjected to a considerable additional development and testing programme before being released to customers. It was said that the hood mechanism was subjected to 2000 opening and closing cycles on the test rig before the design was approved for production.
Mechanically, the Volante was very closely based on the Coupe, with the same specification 5.3-litre engine with a choice of automatic three-speed or, quite rarely manual five-speed ZF transmission. The suspension was revised to improve both ride and handling and an antilock braking system (ABS) was included in the specification; the Volante was the first Aston Martin to have this feature.
Production cars eventually reached customers at the beginning of 1992 as the Volante was subjected to a considerable additional development and testing programme before being released to customers. It was said that the hood mechanism was subjected to 2000 opening and closing cycles on the test rig before the design was approved for production.
Mechanically, the Volante was very closely based on the Coupe, with the same specification 5.3-litre engine with a choice of automatic three-speed or, quite rarely manual five-speed ZF transmission. The suspension was revised to improve both ride and handling and an antilock braking system (ABS) was included in the specification; the Volante was the first Aston Martin to have this feature.