The Aston Martin Vantage Roadster — it's the car of the summer
The Vantage Roadster is being launched as Aston Martin celebrates 75 years of convertible cars — it first offered the soft-top version of the DB2 in 1950. In Aston Martin parlance, the open-topped DB models are referred to as Volantes, while the Roadster badge is reserved for convertible Vantage models. This Vantage Roadster was engineered alongside the coupé from the outset as a potential convertible, meaning Aston Martin didn't have to take a figurative can opener to a car not initially conceived as a drop-top. Consequently the Roadster is essentially identical to the coupé, aside from the fabric roof, with only the header rail slightly reduced in height. As a result, the weight penalty for the Roadster over the coupé is a mere 60kg — barely noticeable to most drivers.
Performance figures are also broadly indistinguishable from those of the hard top, and with an eight-layer fabric folding roof featuring insulated glass, it provides a quiet interior experience similar to that of the coupé. It's hard not to argue that this version of the Vantage is the one to opt for. The roof folding mechanism is currently the fastest on the market — and taking only six seconds at speeds of up to 31mph, this is a real bonus, as it encourages you to use the convertible roof more regularly, even for short trips. In contrast, risking opening a slower roof on another brand's convertible, taking about 30 seconds, is a real gamble at the traffic lights, with the awkward prospect of having to pull away with the pramlike folded roof embarrassingly halfway open.
Aston Martin has also been refining the interior of the Vantage in response to customer feedback — a commendable move when a brand is willing to address sensible criticism. The interior was already a significant improvement over the previous Vantage. Still, the new Roadster version features clearer, more legible instrument graphics and, mercy of mercies, a one-touch button on the centre console that disables all of the interventions of the sometimes annoying ADAS systems (such as lane change alert, speed limit warnings, etc) that new cars are now required to start with. Expect that to be the most worn-out button on this Vantage. These upgrades will also be seen on all new coupés.
You can be sniffy about its use of a Mercedes AMG-sourced engine, but most owners will be more than happy that their car is powered by such a reliable, capable and tried-and-tested motor. You would not go as far as to describe it as emotive — turbos and emission regulations putting paid to that — but it's more than up for the job, and this is a seriously rapid car with 656bhp from that twin-turbo V8 unit. Laughably, with the enormous power hike across the range, this is the least powerful Aston Martin you can purchase. It may be the baby Aston, but it's very much a case of nobody puts baby in the corner with a top speed of over 200mph.
This is a sophisticated and striking vehicle that its rivals will be worried about. The hard-top coupé remains an option for those purists who scoff at soft tops or wish to emulate the Vantage F1 Safety Car that plies its trade on racing circuits around the globe. However, the sensible choice has to be the Roadster version of the Vantage. Thanks to its engineering integrity, this convertible offers the advantages of a split personality, allowing it to function both as a hardcore sports car and a stylish boulevard cruiser… however the mood takes you.
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