Although the Aston Martin Vantage Roadster hadn’t been confirmed by the time of New Cars to Care About at the start of the year, we all knew it was coming: the 21st-century Vantage featured a droptop for 20 years. Years ago, the combination of snarling, low-slung V8 design often proved a tricky combination. So, here it is again, a Vantage roadster with an V8 in the front, driving to the rear wheels, and looking to kill. “Designed for real drivers, designed for outdoor excitement,” no less.
A lot of the good things about the coupe carry over to the cabrio: The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with 665 hp and 590 lb-ft remains, and Bilstein DTX dampers are included, as are e-diff, variable traction control, and bespoke Michelin Pilot Sport. 5S tires. So it remains tremendously quick, helped by carrying just 60kg (that’s 1,665kg dry with lightweight bits) over the coupe: 0-62mph takes 3.6 seconds, and top speed is 202mph. The two people on board were promised “more of the unique thunder V8 sound.”
Don’t think that a modest increase in weight means a reduction in convertible basics, either. Aston says that both the hardtop and softtop were designed “in parallel rather than sequentially”, suggesting that this was not always the case and therefore meaning that all the structural changes required could be made in a weight-optimised manner. Notable changes include tweaking how the body attaches to the rear axle, as well as inserting trim panels underneath “in strategic locations” to aid lateral rigidity. Aston says the aim was “structural rigidity at a very high level for a convertible”. The damper software has been revised for a change in overall weight and distribution (now 49:51 front to rear), plus the gearbox gets new mounts.
As for the roof itself, the Roadster gets a ‘Z-fold’ setup. Most roadsters seem to be moving towards a K-roof, which is said to be slower and heavier. It takes just 6.8 seconds for the Aston to climb or descend in the Vantage Roadster, which is blisteringly fast by any standard. The roof can be operated at speeds of up to 31 mph, or when stationary via the switch. Despite the lightweight construction, Aston believes there’s no compromise on improvement, with interior noise levels similar to those of the coupe – thanks in part to eight layers of insulation. As someone who is louder and more aggressive than before, it’s easier to accept a little extra noise in the sexy soft top if it’s there. The rollover protection is said to have been weight-optimized as well, and was assembled using a method called Castrusion due to how it combines “the perfect elements from both casting and extrusion to create a strong, light and easy-to-pack system.”
All of this sounds very promising, considering how impressive both the Vantage Coupe and DB12 Volante have been so far. Simon Newton, Aston’s Director of Vehicle Performance, added: “Developing both the Vantage Coupé and Roadster simultaneously meant we were able to retain the huge dynamic capabilities and agile, sporting character of the Vantage without any compromises when the roof was removed, allowing drivers to enjoy the vehicle. Limit with The extra exposure to the elements has been achieved through subtle body structure improvements combined with Roadster-specific chassis tuning carried out by our skilled dynamics team, and is the perfect companion to the range. The coupe.
But let’s be honest, buying an Aston Martin convertible is as much about looks as it is about driving dynamics. It’s understandable then that it was ‘essential’ to preserve the ‘profound and beautiful effect’ of the roadster’s hardtop, and it certainly looks a million dollars with the roof down – it stores neatly and draws attention to that spoiler really nicely. The same squat, purposeful, sculpted coupe style has survived the transition to these eyes, which is certainly enough to make owners of the old car look at it with envy. The roof can be had in black, red, blue, or two-tone black and silver, four 21-inch wheel designs are available, and new paint colors have joined the Vantage palette as well: Iridescent Sapphire, Satin Iridescent Sapphire and Brozen Flare. . Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichmann believes this new Aston is nothing less than a “sculptural masterpiece.”
The interior will be familiar to those who keep up with the pace of new-school Astons, which means a significant improvement over the recent past. In addition to the infotainment system upgrade with a 10.25-inch central screen, there’s a standard 390-watt, 11-speaker sound system – upgradable to a Bowers & Wilkins setup designed specifically for the Roadster. Speaking of options, the carbon fiber seats seen here can replace the standard power seats, and Q by Aston Martin will be available to all Vantage customers for all custom orders.
The new Vantage Roadsters will be available to order now, and will be available to customers in Q2 2025 – just in time for Aston’s hot summer. With the coupe costing £165,000, expect the drop to be around £180,000 before options. Aston CEO Adrian Hallmark added of the new model: “The technical capability and dynamics of the new Vantage have delivered outstanding performance; It far exceeds any other previous Vantage and is now seen as a class-leading sports car. The Vantage Roadster was no different in that it was a completely reinvented experience, with all the benefits of a coupe without compromising on refinement or performance through the meticulous work of our engineering and dynamics teams. The Vantage Roadster delivers a world-class driving experience from the top down like no other.