ASTON MARTINDB7 Vantage Volante 1999 - 2003

　　The Aston Martin DB7 was the rich brother of the Jaguar XK8 and, in 1999, it received a new version named Vantage or the coupe, and Vantage Volante for the convertible.

　　The Aston Martin brand was famed for staring in James Bond movies. But the DB7 was not chosen for any of the famous British spy agent. Strangely, in the 1999 movie "The world is not enough", James Bond drove an Aston Martin DB5. Yet, the DB7 was already launched since 1997 when "Tomorrow never dies" appeared and 007 drove the same, classic, DB5.

　　The Vantage Volante was considered by many as a more powerful Jaguar XK8 instead of a true thoroughbred Aston Martin. There were many similarities between the two cars, starting with the base platform and with the styling. The curved long hood, shaped headlights, and low beltline. On top of that, a fabric roof was installed in the purest convertible fashion. The Vantage Volante had the power-activated soft-top and it consisted of multiple layers to ensure a better soundproofing and thermal comfort.

　　Inside the vehicle, there were four seats even though the rear ones were big enough to accommodate a tiny toddler. But the front seats were far more important, and those offered enough comfort for long cruises. The Aston Martin Vantage was a true Gran Tourer with a powerful engine. Its amenities were exclusive and the mix between wood and leather was typical for a British engineered car.

　　The standard vehicle came with a 6-speed manual transmission, but an option for a 5-speed automatic was available. The manual version was considerably faster but, for a more relaxed drive, the automatic was chosen more often.