What is it?
Another entertaining Aston Martin arrives, then.
It was always the plan that this Vantage Roadster, a drop-roof version of Aston Martin’s most sporting car, would turn up at the same time as the DBX, its least sporting car. A spot of yin and yang, perhaps. Yes, see the SUV, but also don’t forget we still make sports cars. As if we would. The Vantage Roadster is all you’d expect a drop-topped Vantage to be, plus a little bit more, which we’ll come back to.
Among the expected things are an all-electric soft hood that adds some 60kg to the Vantage’s kerb weight but otherwise you get largely the same platform, mechanicals and interior that do a fine job in the coupé, which we already like a great deal.
There is the same 503bhp 4.0-litre V8, sourced from Mercedes-AMG but with Aston tuning, driving the rear wheels through an eight-speed transaxle automatic gearbox and electronically controlled differential (you can spec a seven-speed manual, too). In the coupé, those give the aluminium structure a 49:51 weight distribution front to back, while the roadster shifts another 1% rearwards.
One suspects of more significance is that the centre of mass is higher, too. So in come retuned damper and spring rates, giving increased rear roll stiffness. There are also new rear subframe mounts, and the steering has been remapped mildly.
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Dear God, that nose.
I mean, Revenant Automotive have already beaten them to the punch offering an aftermarket nose that is far, far better looking...
You’re right!
i've never heard of Revenant Automotive but just had a look on their website and you are absolutely right - their replacement front end is so much better than the one Aston fits to their car. I worry that it is a bit timid for the modern generation, or a bit too similar to the previous Vantage, but it is a vast improvement on the standard offering.
Now, if only Revenant could sort out the rear end, which on the standard Vantage looks like a dog's dinner......
Quality control?
Some of the panel gaps on that test car are shocking.
highlights
The car just needs the little details, the interior has the chrome detailing as otherwise it would look too dark and boring and the exterior needs it too. The designer has said he feels the shape of the car is soooo good it doesnt need it well I'm sorry he's wrong. Chrome leading edges on the bars across the grill, chrome strips along the bottom of the windows and chrome details at the edge of the exhaust tips and its job done!