Here's the Aston Martin DB11 Volante sneaking around the 'Ring

Aston Martin has been rather busy as of late - the Valkyrie hypercar, the AMR Vulcan and the development of a new Vantage have all kept the Gaydon kettle boiling in 2017 so far. To add further to the engineering breadth of the company, a DB11 Volante is on the way and it has been spotted trundling around the Nordschleife with a bit of camo to boot.

Seen in this footage, the Volante has replaced the DB11's hardtop with a retractable canvas roof, a modification that will also have led to a new rear deck and window setup.

Personally, I think the 21st Century Astons have looked prettier in Volante form (especially the DB9) and the DB11 certainly continues that handsome droptop aesthetic.

The soft top will probably come with the same two engine choices available to the coupe - a twin-turbocharged 5.2-litre V12 or an AMG V8. That'll leave you with the choice of either a 600bhp or 503bhp output; apart from the monetary factor, I don't really see why you'd spec your Aston with less of an engine.

The Volante is due to be released in 2018 and will probably be a chunk more expensive than the hardtop - £154,900 will play second fiddle to something more along the lines of £175,000. In other words, plenty.