Accelerating to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, the 2020 Vantage Roadster has a top speed of 190 mph (305.8 km/h) and can drop its top in under seven seconds. That's the fastest fully-automatic automotive convertible roof going around, and it makes the Roadster one of the fastest convertible production supercars on the road.
Powering the Vantage Roadster is the same 4.0-liter 503 horsepower (375 kW) growler that propels the Vantage Coupe. There are 505 pound-feet (685 Nm) of torque drilling from the crankshaft into an eight-speed ZF transmission. That close-ratio, paddle-shifted transmission allows fast shifting that's controlled by either the car's electronics or the driver.
Surprisingly, adding the automated roof drop mechanism – which can be operated at speeds up to 31 mph (50 km/h) – added only 132 pounds (60 kg) to the Vantage Roadster's weight (compared to the Coupe). Aston Martin accomplished this with a light Z-fold roof mechanism and some chassis revisions to reduce weight gains. The chassis changes also helped stiffen the car so its dynamics would closely match the Coupe model's feel and capabilities.
Driver-selectable controls include Sport, Sport+, and Track as customization for the Vantage Roadster's dynamics in varied drive situations. These are akin to the settings found in the Coupe model. Bodywork on the Roadster, however, is different with an added rear height to help accommodate the folded roof when stowed and keep impact on luggage space in the trunk below to a minimum.
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of Aston Martin's Vantage nameplate, the company is adding several new options to the Vantage Coupe at the same time it introduces the Roadster. An alternative "hunter" grille, inspired by track legends of Aston Martin's past, can be opted on either model. Several new alloy wheel designs are also being offered as is a 7-speed manual transmission for the Coupe. That's the same 7-speed found on the AMR model.
The Aston Martin Vantage range starts at £114,850 with the Roadster starting at £126,950 ($161,000 in the USA). The Vantage Coupe is available now, and deliveries of the Roadster will begin in the second quarter of 2020.
Source: Aston Martin
