Aston Martin DB7 was launched the to the publi at the Geneva Motorshow in March 1993. The engine proved to be a light alloy, twin camshaft, supercharged straight six of 3,228cc based on a design that had originated at Jaguar. The cylinder head used 4 valves per cylinder with Zytec electronic multi-point fuel injection while the air needed to combust the fuel was delivered by a water cooled Eaton, ‘roots’ type, supercharger which was driven by a toothed belt from the camshaft.

Although it didn’t appear for almost 3 years after the Aston Martin DB7′s unveiling, Aston Martin had every intention of creating a soft-top version. In 1996, the Aston Martin DB7 Volante made its debut at the Los Angeles and Detroit motor show.

In 1995, more than 600 DB7s were delivered worldwide (none to North America), topping Aston’s previous best single-year sales mark (591 DB6s in ’66). Last January, Aston Martin heralded its return to the U.S. by holding the international launch of a superbly crafted open-top variant called the DB7 Volante at the Detroit and Los Angeles auto shows. The 3.2-liter, 335-horsepower supercharged 6 can be teamed with a 4-speedautomatic or a 5-speed manual for the same price. In the Midwest and mostcongested cities, 85 percent of buyers opt for the automatic. Smooth, quiet engine. But in being called upon to move almost 4,000 pounds from the stoplight or into the passing lane, don’t expect to be thrown backinto your bucket–at least not before the supercharger goes to work. And in propelling 4,000 pounds, don’t be alarmed when you look at the window sticker and see a 14-mile-per-gallon city/18-m.p.g. highway rating anda $2,200 gas-guzzler tax. The fuel gauge doesn’t hesitate when moving from theline, into the passing lane or any time the radials are rolling. Ever wonder why there are so few small-volume manufacturers? For ’97 Aston Martin spent more than $1 million just to develop new rubber door seals after the previous version was criticized for admitting excess wind and road noise.