Currently reading: Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster is hardcore 690bhp drop-top
New limited-edition rival to Lamborghini Huracán Spyder is powered by a thunderous 5.2-litre V12

Aston Martin has unveiled a convertible version of its brutal new V12 Vantage, retaining the same 690bhp powertrain but in a toned-down body.

The roadster fills an important gap in Aston Martin’s range, with the last open-top V12 Vantage having gone off sale in 2018 – although the V8 Vantage is available as a convertible.

Revealed at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, it joins the “ultra-exclusive” Aston Martin DBR22 speedster, which also made its debut at the American event.

Expected to be the last V12 convertible the firm ever releases, just 249 are to be made, making it a little more exclusive than the coupé – all 333 examples of which sold out immediately.

The roadster’s fabric roof is the main distinguishing feature, but Aston Martin has also made a number of further styling tweaks to give the open-top car a more understated look.

For example, the rear spoiler has been removed (although it can be added back as an option) and the underbody aerodynamics tweaked to compensate for its loss. This means that it still produces “up to ten times the downforce of the series production Vantage Roadster,” according to Aston Martin chief technical officer Roberto Fedeli. 

Bespoke 21in alloy wheels feature at each corner, wrapped in Michelin Pilot 4S performance tyres. These can be finished in either satin black or silver-on-black two-tone. Lighter forged alloys are available as an optional extra, cutting 8kg of unsprung mass.

The restyled front end (with 25% more grille area than on the V8-powered Vantage) and the beefed-up wheel arches from the V12 Vantage coupé return, maintaining the car’s distinctly muscular silhouette.

Under the bonnet lies the same 5.2-litre V12 engine that produces 690bhp at 6500rpm and a thunderous 555lb ft of torque at 5500rpm.

Although the roadster is 60kg heavier (with all the lightweighting options added, it weighs in at 1850kg), it can dispatch the 0-60mph sprint in a rapid 3.5sec – just 0.1sec slower than the coupé. Top speed remains at 200mph.

Aston Martin hasn't officially detailed how much the roadster costs, but it's expected to be dearer than the £265,000 coupé. That would make it the most expensive Vantage on Aston’s books. However, it’s already sold out.

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Car review

Turbo V12 power and a serious chassis makeover turn the last-ever V12 Vantage into a startlingly fast and quite serious track car but it may finally have a shade too much grunt for its own good

Charlie Martin

Charlie Martin Autocar
Title: Editorial Assistant, Autocar

As a reporter, Charlie plays a key role in setting the news agenda for the automotive industry. He joined Autocar in July 2022 after a nine-month stint as an apprentice with sister publication, What Car?. He's previously contributed to The Intercooler, and placed second in Hagerty’s 2019 Young Writer competition with a MG Metro 6R4 feature

He is the proud owner of a Fiat Panda 100HP, and hopes to one day add a lightweight sports car like a Caterham Seven or a Lotus Elise S1 to his collection.

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Symanski 20 August 2022

And they're only going to build 249 Voltante versions of the Vantage - that's how big a disaster this car has been for Aston.   What should have been their most popular model has been a sales disaster.

 

Reichman designs have been sales disasters.

 

Autocar are right that this may be the last ever drop top manufactured by Aston Martin.   Because unless Aston sack Reichman and find a competent designer for their new models these cars may be the last from Aston Martin.

 

Aston has had two rescue packages, and several CEOs in recent years, yet the problem remains - Reichman designs aren't selling in sufficient numbers.   The amount of debt they've got now means its unlikely that any of his designs will be sufficient to save the company.   To save Aston you have to sack Reichman.

 

Peter Cavellini 20 August 2022

 And yet they still sell, this part of the Car industry seems to be doing ok, any new Car they come to market with sells out within weeks it seems, it's a nice looking Car, bit dated from certain angles,but I guess that's the Aston trad features.

Gulliver 21 August 2022
They have had to resort to limited editions because a full run does not sell. They stubbornly continue with their proven as failed design language. In this case the result is an unsports car like rear end. If they cant afford to hire Frank Stephensen they could outsource design to Hyundai who understand rear end design.