Dubai's glitterati (or those with motoring inclinations at least) arrived for the unveiling of the Aston Martin DBS Superleggera Volante this week, a car the company cites as the fastest convertible it's ever made.
Cameras flashed as the brightly hued vehicle made its entrance, with canapes and mocktails abandoned on whatever surface was convenient by those keen to get a closer look through the swathes of dry ice.
The marque's engineers had a simple brief when it came to creating this latest arrival - retain the coupe version's 'powerful dynamics, aggressive poise and astonishing performance' in the open-top newbie.
Vigour is unlikely to be an issue – the new Volante is powered by Aston Martin's own 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12, which will give a top speed of 340 kilometres per hour. And, amid all the roaring that kicks in when you put the vehicle into its most dynamic setting, drivers will be able to reach 100kph from a standing start in just 3.6 seconds.
This new version is, the company says, as aerodynamically sound as its hard-top sibling, exploiting high-speed surface airflow to maximum effect.
The manufacturers claim it will fit four people, but, as is often the case in cars of this sort, most of the passengers would have to be jockeys, and small ones at that, if everyone were to travel in any comfort.
Luxury of this sort doesn't come cheap though, so if you fancy one you'll have to part with Dh1.3 million.
Deliveries of the in the Middle East are set to begin from November 2019.
