Automotive

Aston Martin unveils 190-mph Vantage Roadster

Aston Martin unveils 190-mph Vantage Roadster
The Aston Martin Vantage Roadster (left) joins the Vantage Coupe in the company's supercar lineup
The Aston Martin Vantage Roadster (left) joins the Vantage Coupe in the supercar's lineup
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The Vantage Roadster is powered by Aston Martin’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine
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The Vantage Roadster is powered by Aston Martin’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine
The Vantage Roadster ads only 60 kg to the overall weight of the car compared to the Coupe model
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The Vantage Roadster ads only 60 kg to the overall weight of the car compared to the Coupe model
Sharing the same Adaptive Damping, Dynamic Stability Control, Dynamic Torque Vectoring and Electronic Rear Differential, the Roadster benefits from specific dynamic refinements
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Sharing the same Adaptive Damping, Dynamic Stability Control, Dynamic Torque Vectoring and Electronic Rear Differential, the Roadster benefits from specific dynamic refinements
Some modifications to the Vantage's rear design for the Roadster are seen, helping accommodate the Z-fold rooftop without changing rear cargo space much
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Some modifications to the Vantage's rear design for the Roadster are seen, helping accommodate the Z-fold rooftop without changing rear cargo space much
The tautly tailored fabric hood features a compact powered Z-fold mechanism that ensures rapid operation (lowered in 6.7 or raised in 6.8 seconds at speeds of up to 50kmh/31mph)
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The tautly tailored fabric hood features a compact powered Z-fold mechanism that ensures rapid operation (lowered in 6.7 or raised in 6.8 seconds at speeds of up to 50kmh/31mph)
The introduction of the Vantage Roadster sees a range of new options introduced across the Vantage range. To celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Vantage nameplate
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The introduction of the Vantage Roadster sees a range of new options introduced across the Vantage range. To celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Vantage nameplate
The Aston Martin Vantage Roadster (left) joins the Vantage Coupe in the company's supercar lineup
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The Aston Martin Vantage Roadster (left) joins the Vantage Coupe in the supercar's lineup
Aston Martin President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Andy Palmer, said of the Vantage Roadster: “Open-top Aston Martins are always firm favourites with our customers, so it’s very exciting to introduce the Vantage Roadster."
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Aston Martin President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Andy Palmer, said of the Vantage Roadster: “Open-top Aston Martins are always firm favourites with our customers, so it’s very exciting to introduce the Vantage Roadster."
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"
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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"
The Vantage Roadster starts at £126,950 in the UK, €157,300 in Germany, and $161,000 in USA
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The Vantage Roadster starts at £126,950 in the UK, €157,300 in Germany, and $161,000 in USA
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It took two years for Aston Martin to make a convertible Vantage, but it looks worth the wait.

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.

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"
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"

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

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6 comments
6 comments
guzmanchinky
So let me ask a question, why not just offer an electric option the does 0-60 in 2.1 seconds? Make Tesla eat crow. I personally would rather have an electric Aston Martin than a Tesla, but I don't want a Model S blowing my doors off with two kids in the back waving at me!
guzmanchinky
Oh and the way it uses the previous gen Mercedes Hand Me Down infotainment is very sad to me.
buzzclick
Hey, it's OK to lust for electric power, and there's more to choose from than ever, but please don't compare ICE cars to EV's. After hearing about all them hypercars with astronomical price tags, $161,000 for this Vantage is like a bargain basement discount. I'm sure it's fitted out with all the performance, comforts and quality one can expect from Aston Martin, but I will always be partial to 50's-80's models.
Nelson Hyde Chick
Another toy with the wealthy as the rest of humanity is left to rot.
guzmanchinky
buzzclick I think it's inevitable. All cars will eventually be electric so why not offer this amazingly beautiful car as an electric to simply rival the Tesla? So much power, so much more reliability, it's a win win.
Nobody
This isn't any faster than my Corvette convertible and costs about twice as much. I've never had a top retracting race.