Latest news with #VantageRoadster
Wall Street Journal
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Wall Street Journal
A Ravishing Aston Martin That Lets You Drop the Top
Last month researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, announced they had discovered a new color, a supersaturated blue-green outside the range of human color perception. To see it, test subjects had to have special lasers aimed at their retinas. I know an easier way. 'You get the blue one,' said the Aston Martin representative, pointing at the ravishing Vantage Roadster parked in front of the hotel in Palm Springs, Calif. A convertible version of the redesigned Coupe, the Roadster debuts three color schemes, one of which—Satin Iridescent Sapphire—infuses the carbon-fiber body panels with a hitherto undreamt, scarcely believable shade of teal, its polarized highlights shifting from indigo to forest-green in the brilliant sun like the chromatophores of the world's sexiest octopus.
The Irish Sun
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
I drove Aston Martin Vantage Roadster – it's car which cries out to be driven hard & will get you a nod of appreciation
I HAD two choices. Test an open-top Vantage dodging potholes in 20mph Great Britain. 4 Test an open-top Vantage dodging potholes at 20mph in the UK... or head to the Alps where roads are smooth, empty, and you can do much more than 20mph? Credit: Aston Martin 4 This roadster is basically the mega Vantage coupe but with headroom of about 20,000 miles Credit: Aston Martin 4 It's a car which cries out to be driven — and driven hard Credit: Aston Martin Or head to the Austrian Alps where the roads are smooth and empty and you can do a lot more than 20mph. I went for option B. The hills are alive with the sound of . . . a glorious V8. A masterpiece of engineering in one of nature's great masterpieces. READ MORE ON MOTORS Not Coventry ring road. Same 4-litre twin-turbo V8 sending 665 horses to the rear. And your ears. Same suspension set-up. Most read in Motors Same 202mph top speed. Just a tenth slower off the line. Because it's 60kg heavier. Iconic Top Gear Aston Martin that Clarkson compared to 'lightning' hits auction You won't be surprised to learn that driving it roof-down, on twisty mountain roads, turns everything up to 11. The power . The torque. The noise. The razor-sharp steering. The handling. The way it makes you feel. It's a car which cries out to be driven — and driven hard. Yet equally, it's a car that's just as pleasing parked up outside a cafe. Vantage Roadster or Porsche 911 Cabriolet? You can make strong arguments for bothx of them. Nod of appreciation Let's just say many other sports cars/supercars are often greeted with the old Nescafe wave from other road users. This car gets a nod of appreciation wherever it goes. Because it's cool and sophisticated. And so very British. As one might expect, the cabin fits like a tailored suit. Copy-and-paste the regular Vantage. Except here the numbers in the driver's display are bigger and easier to read and there's an extra button on the flight deck of controls. For the roof. Duh. By the way, the roof is eight layers thick, the motor is whisper-quiet, and it does the up/down sequence in just 6.8 seconds. It's an Aston Martin, darling. What do you expect? Ignore the £175k price tag. By the time you've spent two days on the configurator it's going to be way more than that. 4 It's cool, classy, sophisticated - and so very British Credit: Aston Martin Now I should perhaps explain why I'm really in the Alps. James Bond author Ian Fleming went to school in Kitzbuhel. Timothy Dalton's Bond drove a winterised Aston Martin on the southern Austrian border for The Living Daylights. Now I should perhaps explain why I'm really tooling about in the Alps. Any excuse, really. Q&A: ASTON MARTIN CEO ADRIAN HALLMARK FAST-forward to 2028 and Aston Martin will be killing it – as a car company, as a Formula 1 team, as a brand. I'm 100-per-cent certain. Billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll doesn't do anything by half and he's recruited the biggest brains to make Aston world-beaters on and off the track. Here's ten minutes inside the mind of Aston Martin CEO Adrian Hallmark, headhunted from Bentley last year to reinvent the car side of the business. Who phoned who? A mutual contact asked if I'd be interested in a conversation, which I agreed to because I was interested in the story. So I had the conversation, understood the story, could see the credibility of what they'd done and what they were doing, and thought about it. It wasn't a quick thing. It was a conversation over many, many months. What was the deciding factor? To prove if I could do it again. When I arrived at Bentley I was almost angry with the condition the company had got itself into having worked there before. I knew what it could be and had seen how Ferrari and others had developed. Aston is another brand that has never realised its true potential. It was never really sustainably profitable. It was very niche. So the chance to do it one more time, as long as I'm feeling happy, healthy, fit and fully energised, what an opportunity. Have you ever owned an Aston Martin? Never. In fact, when I drove the Vantage, I almost felt a twinge of guilt. The performance and the quality and the feel of the Vantage is phenomenal. I'd never tried it because I always underestimated what it would be. The whole philosophy at Bentley is super-fast but relaxed. In an Aston Martin, you feel energised. Every single one. The DB12 looks like an intercontinental cruiser. When you drive it, it's rampant, and feels really energetic and alive. The Vantage is a step even further and Vanquish is another level. All very different characters, but they've all got this vitality in the way they feel and drive. And they look the nuts . . . Honestly, you can't drive anywhere without being photographed. Everybody wants to talk to you about them and that's not just in the UK, that's when I'm in France or in Switzerland or travelling. So what needs fixing? To be really punchy about it, we were either unimaginative or self-limiting in assuming that we could launch a car for five years and take the top off it as the only action to keep the car relevant to customers. If I buy a Vantage in 2023, I probably want to change it by 2025-2026. So what's changed that allows me to come back and feel I'm buying a different and more attractive car than the one I'm already selling? That's our duty and we've not planned enough of that. We're gonna do the exciting stuff as well. But the real key to building a sustainable profitable business is having this bedrock of products that work through this five, six-year life cycle where there's lots of innovation. The luxury market has expanded exponentially over the past 20 years and we need to go and get our share. We're covering a price range from £150,000 to £1million for the base cars. With the plans we've got to take each nameplate and express its full potential, do more specials but at the right cadence, I can see a clear pathway to making the brand sustainably profitable. Talk to me about electrification . . . Step one is hybridisation. Beyond Valhalla, you'll start to see a complete hybridisation offer in parallel to some of the combustion offers that we have. We will focus our hybrid approach on performance first and the emissions benefits will be the given. We are still committed to full electric in the future. But we won't rush to change every model to electric one year after the next. We will launch something in this decade – but we won't have an offer in every body style by the end of this decade. Will the first EV have four doors and a high hip-point? More than likely. An all-new model? Or will you use an existing name? We've not made those decisions yet. It's like babies, isn't it? You have ideas before they are born but always do it after they are born. Aston has always had James Bond. Now it has F1 too . . . I was jealous to death of James Bond, F1 and the specials business of Aston Martin when I was at Bentley. Any one thing on its own is interesting. But if you look at the credibility and the integrity of what Lawrence is pulling together, I mean to get Adrian Newey, Enrico Cardile and Andy Cowell into the F1 team, this is not a vanity project. This is freaking serious. All-in. For now, we've got to get through this season and it's all about 2026, 2027, 2028. That three-year window is what Lawrence and the whole team are absolutely obsessively focused on. It coincides with where we should be as well. In the next few years we will have refreshed everything. Replaced everything. Not just the derivatives. Every car will be redone. You'll start to see a complete reset of the company both on track and off. We've got the resources and the talent. Everything we need to get it done. Last question – what's in your garage at home? I don't collect cars. I'm a profligate consumer. I would never buy something just to own it. I buy it for the fun of the driving. I've got two G-Wagons, a 1991 Swiss Army eight-seater, and a G63. We've also got a Fiat 500 Electric for the city. It's beautiful. Satin grey, OZ Racing wheels.
Auto Blog
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
What It's Like to Pilot the New 2026 Aston Martin Roadster
This is the first time I've driven such a compelling, well executed, delightful roadster – but it's not perfect. Still, the Aston Martin Vantage Roadster is epic. A special moment in time The Aston Martin Vantage was recently completely reimagined with a ton of upgrades, including a much more powerful powertrain. The Aston Martin Vantage Roadster is now getting the same treatment, which has been transformative for the model, rapidly taking it from so-so to extraordinary. Aston Martin Vantage Roadster 0:08 / 0:09 Audi A5 replaces A4: So, what's changed? Watch More Aston Martin has built world-class roadsters for over three-quarters of a century. In that time, they managed to build beautiful performance machines that often sat in a unique category. What I mean is that they were neither fish nor fowl—they were elegant performance machines or luxury sports cars. In recent years, Aston Martin has become far more serious about high performance, not only with its passenger vehicles but also with its racing portfolio. They have aggressive campaigns in Formula One and Le Mans, to name a few, with a 'go-fast' philosophy that has trickled down to its passenger vehicles. If you look at the Aston Martin Valkyrie or Valhalla, you'll most likely agree with me. If you were to follow that perspective down their lineup, you'll see where a lot of the passion has pollinated the Vantage Roadster's character. Despite is painfully good looking design and luxurious image, it is still a serious performance machine. Form and function work together like no other vehicle I've driven. The end result is sheer magic. What is the Aston Martin Vantage Roadster? This new drop-top version of the recently redesigned Vantage coupe gets the same 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo that makes 656 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque through a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels. That's over 150 horsepower more than the previous model. According to the automaker, it can run from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and has a top speed of 202 mph. After my drive in the Palm Springs desert, I think they're accurate. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. There is a 49/51-percent split with its weight distribution favoring the rear, and that extra rear weight helps. It also has an Electronic Rear Differential (E-diff), which shifts power to the wheel that needs it the most and keeps things pointed in the right direction when you're pouring on the power. Aston Martin added Bilstein DTX adaptive dampers with bespoke tuning as well as Brembo brake discs that measure 410mm at the front with six-piston monoblock calipers. Carbon ceramic brakes are an option. Specially developed Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tires hang on the end of unequal-length double wishbones at the front, a multi-link rear axle, and coil springs. To me, it felt like a cross between a Mercedes-AMG GT R Roadster and a 911 Carrera Cabriolet on the corners, but with more spirit and grace. Indeed, it does pack a AMG-sourced V8, but it was uniquely tuned by Aston Martin, giving it a sound and character all its own. Additionally, Aston Martin now ha the distinction of designing one of the fastest electrically controlled convertible tops on the planet. It goes down and up in about 6.8-seconds, and it can be function up to 31 mph. The Design is Amazing in Almost Every Way… Seating comfort, one-golf-bag cargo space, and even the overall interior design are vast improvements over the previous model. It's hard to find components lifted from other automakers, and the design aesthetic is classy inside and out. Every external line has a purpose, yet the body is voluptuous. The mouth is larger, as the turbos are larger, and the intercoolers are stacked, so they all require greater cooling. Despite this, the nose is shapely, and you'll never confuse it for anything else. The rear's massive diffuser and burly quad pipes dominate the tail's design, but the curved taillight design holds it all together beautifully. With the roof up or down, the car is mighty sexy, from any angle. There are a few issues with that beautiful design inside, though. Right off the bat, I was treated with a haunted seat that moved about as I got comfortable. That was because the seat controls, which are mounted on the transmission tunnel, were rubbing against my right knee more often than I'd like. I don't think shorter drivers will have much of an issue, but for taller drivers, a better location is needed. As I stated before, the switchgear has been improved. It looks and feels great; however, the location of some of the controls leaves a lot to be desired. In order to trigger the top, or change into manual driving mode, you have to master one-armed yoga to drop back far enough to use these switches. There are other examples of this, but these were the most notable. Final thoughts Yes, this car will set you back at least $200,000 – $250,000, and it is hitting dealerships the second quarter of 2025. Additionally, you can use the 'Q' option to make the color and material choices of the Vantage Roadster bespoke. Even without all of the extras, this is an amazing vehicle to drive and behold. It feels bigger than a 911, but it's actually a bit smaller with a lot more character. Just listening to it as I bounded through corners in 'Sport +' mode (there's Sport, Sport +, Track and Wet) was more than enough to lift my spirits, feel connected to the road, and have all of my senses rewarded. Driving the Vantage Roadster made me think, 'Man, I wish I was wealthy.'
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The 2025 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster in Photos
More from Robb Report First Drive: The 2025 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster Is a Menacing Open-Air Delight Why the Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Is Still Coveted by Collectors Aston Martin Just Unveiled Its Most Powerful SUV Ever Best of Robb Report The 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast The World's Best Superyacht Shipyards The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht Click here to read the full article. The 2025 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster. Aston Martin's chief creative officer, Marek Reichman, likens the Vantage Roadster's outline to that of a shark. The interior showcases the finely detailed fit and finish that's now de rigueur for any Aston Martin model. The leather upholstery comes from Scotland's Bridge of Weir and is as fine as any in the high-end part of the market. Under the hood lies a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 that delivers 656 hp and 590 ft lbs of torque. When viewed from the front three-quarters angle, the smart little ducktail is hidden by the Vantage's massive rear hips. It takes just 6.8 seconds for the powered top to drop or raise. The Vantage Roadster covers zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds on its way to a top speed of 202 mph. When the Vantage Roadster is in Sport+ or Track mode, torque is suddenly everywhere. The steering weight and quickness feel more alive than what is found with the clinical Porsche 911, but not over boosted, as is often the case with a Ferrari. Many of the kinks that bothered us when the coupe version of the Vantage launched have been ironed out with the convertible.
Business Mayor
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Mayor
Aston Martin Vantage Roadster
Eyebrows were raised when an Aston Martin engineer, speaking at the Austrian launch of the new Roadster, suggested the spring and damper rates had been carried over wholesale from the coupé unaltered. For something without a proper carbonfibre tub, this would be irregular. When you lop the top off a coupé, the body often then needs to be dramatically strengthened, adding heft to a car whose axles are already no longer singing in perfect unison because torsional stiffness has plummeted. Custom suspension rates are devised to claw back some precision and cohesion – or at least enhance the perception of those attributes. As it happens, the Vantage Roadster's rear dampers do run recalibrated software, but the change compared with the coupé is minimal and the front axle hasn't received any attention at all. So is this conversion a rush job? Budgets biting, perhaps? Nope. The Roadster simply doesn't need special treatment, apparently. So meagre is the weight gain over the coupé and so stiff is the aluminium chassis (thanks in part to the fact it was developed from the outset with both derivatives in mind) that from a dynamic standpoint the coupé and convertible are essentially the same. Given how keen and fun-loving the coupé is, that will be music to the ears of those in the market for a rip-snorting drop-top that really handles. Here's another surprising stat: 6.8sec. Not the 0-62mph time, thankfully. Rather the time taken for the 'Z-fold' fabric roof to arc through its full scope in either direction. It really is a rapid bit of mechanical choreography. The Porsche 911 Cabriolet needs 12sec and Ferrari's Roma Spider a little longer still. READ SOURCE
