Aston Martin has revealed the 2020 Vantage Roadster in full. The two-seat open-topped take on the Vantage coupe brings with it the same focus on driving and a super-fast new roof mechanism. Aston has also used the launch of the Roadster to update its Vantage coupe offering.
Soft and fast...
Aston is very proud of the new fabric soft-top used on the Vantage Roadster, claiming that, with a 6.7-second time to lower and 6.8 seconds to raise, it's the fastest 'full operating cycle of any automatic automotive convertible system.' That's thanks to its Z-fold design and low weight. Impressively, the Roadster is only 60kg heavier than its coupe sibling, despite chassis changes to maintain rigidity. Also, that hood is quite compact, so the boot still holds up to 200 litres of luggage (as opposed to 350 litres in the Vantage coupe). As you'd expect, the roof can be raised or lowered at speeds of up to 50km/h, and it can be had in several colours, with black as standard.
All the better to hear that V8
Many will choose the Vantage Roadster for its beguiling looks, but we like to think that others will want it so they can hear the noise from the exhaust a little better. The Roadster gets the same AMG-sourced twin-turbocharged V8 as the coupe, a 4.0-litre unit making 510hp at 6,000rpm and 685Nm of torque at 2,000-5,000rpm, paired with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and electronically controlled rear differential. Aston Martin quotes a 0-100km/h time of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 306km/h.
Chassis tech present and correct
Aston mentions tweaking of the Vantage's chassis structure to maintain its dynamic ability, while the rear dampers, adaptive damping software and stability control have all been revised. The Roadster gets the same driving options as the Vantage coupe, with driver-selectable modes for the chassis and powertrain separated for maximum customisation - Sport, Sport+ and Track.
Extra bits for all the Vantage family
The arrival of the Roadster is all the excuse Aston Martin needs to add more options to the entire line-up, so buyers of that or the Vantage coupe now have more wheel designs to choose from, a seven-speed manual gearbox (as previewed in the Vantage AMR) and a new design of front grille to celebrate 70 years of the Vantage name.
What Aston said
Aston Martin President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Andy Palmer, said: "Open-top Aston Martins are always firm favourites with our customers, so it's very exciting to introduce the Vantage Roadster. For many, driving with the roof down is the true definition of the sports car experience as it truly brings your senses to life. Vantage has always delivered the purest of thrills, but in Roadster form that adrenaline rush is set to go to the next level."
Matt Becker, Aston Martin Chief Engineer, adds: "Convertible sports cars are often seen as compromised when compared to their Coupe equivalents, but the Vantage Roadster remains absolutely dedicated true to its mission of delivering precise, agile and expressive handling dynamics combined with stonking straight-line performance. And of course, there's the added dimension of driving a great-sounding sports car with the roof down."