Aston Martin has taken the wraps off a new variant of its DB11, the convertible Volante, which is powered by a 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 motor sourced from AMG.

The British marque claims that the Volante is its sportiest prop-top model yet, highlighted by the fact that Aston Martin has used the lighter V8 motor rather than the heavier V12 mill to aid in handling. The V12 engine, which is offered on the DB11, is not in the current product plan but may be introduced at a later date.

The AMG-sourced engine develops the same 510hp at 6,000rpm and 696Nm at 2,000-5,000rpm as the DB11 V8 coupe, and shares the eight-speed automatic gearbox that powers the rear wheels.

The Volante’s kerb weight is 110kg more than its coupe sibling at 1,870kg, though the DB11 drop-top model is about 26kg lighter and 5 percent stiffer than its predecessor, the DB9 Volante V12. The DB11 Volante’s weight distribution is 47 percent to the front and 53 percent at the rear.

Aston Martin has incorporated a new design for the convertible’s roof and opening/closing mechanism. The folding soft-top is made up of eight layers and can be raised in 16 seconds, while taking 14 seconds to be lowered. The roof is available in red, black silver or grey silver and can be operated at speeds of up to 50kph.

Besides the soft-top, the largest difference between the coupe and the convertible is the absence of the aeroblades seen on the base of the C-pillar on the fixed-roof model. The Volante has a new rear deck and makes the model look more complete than its DB9 Volante predecessor.

The British manufacturer has not revealed if the model will arrive in India where it sells the DB11 coupe with the V12 motor at Rs 4.27 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi).