Aston Martin DBS Volante

Aston Martin's busy year of launches begins with the DBS Volante, a convertible version of the brand's V12 GT car. It precedes the One-77 hypercar, V12 Vantage and Rapide saloon and gets its big unveil at the Geneva motor show.

It gets the same 6-litre V12 engine as the hard-top Aston DBS, with 510bhp and 420lb ft. Top speed is exactly the same at 191mph while 0-62mph takes an extra tenth of a second at 4.3sec. That still makes it one of the quickest drop-tops on sale, however.

It is Aston's 16th convertible in 95 years, and like many of the cars before it is a 2+2, although you'll have to be a bit on the small side if you intend to be a rear seat passenger.

Much like the coupe, there's a six-speed manual 'box as standard with Aston's Touchtronic auto an option, also with six speeds. Carbon ceramic brakes are also standard, as is the trick Bang & Olufsen stereo that is now standard on the DBS. It has 13 speakers and adjusts the sound when the fabric roof is retracted to compensate for the change in atmosphere and added wind noise.

The DBS Volante is revealed at the Geneva motor show, opening on March 3, with sales beginning in late summer. It should be priced around £172,000.