Aston Martin unveils its fastest convertible in the company's history

The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante is powered by a V12 engine delivering 715BHP. (Courtesy of Aston Martin, Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante)

Aston Martin has opened the roof on its DBS Superleggera, making it the fastest convertible in the British company's history. Powered by a 715BHP V12 engine, the droptop promises a top speed of 340 km/h.

Unsurprisingly, the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante is almost identical in design to the coupé version -- except for its open top. Its 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12 engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission promising prime performances, including 0-100km/h acceleration in just 3.6 seconds.

The 2+2 cabriolet has a fabric roof with a retraction mechanism that was put through its paces over more than 100,000 test cycles. The roof takes 14 seconds to open and 16 seconds to close. Aston Martin has also announced a variety of customization options for this model, with deliveries slated to start from Q3 2019.

The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante is expected to be priced at £247,500 (RRP including tax) in the UK, €295,500 (RRP including tax) in Germany and $329,100 (MSRP including Gas Guzzler Tax) in the US.