Aston Martin claims the new Vantage Roadster has the fastest electric folding convertible roof of any car on sale. It takes only 6.8sec to open or close at speeds up to 50km/h – or 31mph. Impressive, but we reckon you’ll be more interested in some other figures. Outputs of 655bhp and 590lb ft mean it’s 30% up on power and 15% up in torque from the previous Vantage Roadster.
That translates to a top speed of 202mph and 0-60mph in 3.5sec, the latter within a tenth of the accelerative ability of the Vantage Coupé, introduced in its most recent form almost exactly a year ago. Why the slight difference? The hood mechanism and associated structural enhancements add 60kg to overall weight. And with the hood stowed, weight distribution shifts rearwards to 49:51 from the Coupé’s 50:50.
It’s worth mentioning the Coupé as the Roadster was developed in tandem with it and, indeed, thanks to lessons learned in those 12 months, includes a couple of tweaks, not least more legible TFT instrumentation (which existing Coupé owners can have as a software upgrade) and a button that enables quick defeat of the mandatory driver-assistance nannying, such as lane centring. The mechanical package is shared, featuring a new quad exhaust, and new cam profiles, higher compression and bigger turbos for the AMG-sourced twin-turbo V8 than before, all calibrated in-house. There’s the latest-generation eight-speed ZF automatic transmission too, its shift programme tweaked for sharpness of response, and there are small changes to suspension geometry (namely camber and toe) relative to the Coupé. The only other drivetrain difference is a slightly softer transmission mount.
Importantly, rigidity has been improved over the old-gen Roadster, with a measurable 30% increase in lateral stiffness between the rear suspension top mounts and a 10% increase up-front, for enhanced turn-in. There is laminated glass, said to be worth its weight in improved refinement, which capitalises on the enhanced quietness afforded by an eight-layer hood. Much aerodynamic attention has been paid to reduce buffeting and draughts when driving with the roof down, too. As James Owen, Aston Martin’s head of vehicle performance, says: ‘Software can cover for hardware shortfalls – but only up to 90%. It’s important to get the hardware right.’
In essence this is the same mechanical component set you’ll find in the bigger DB12 (which I tested in Volante form just before the Vantage Coupé was launched), but honed differently to suit the Vantage’s more sporting intent. The two sit either side of the Porsche 911 Turbo, both in price and appeal, and the Vantage is very much intended to be the edgier sports car foil to the DB12’s slightly more relaxed GT demeanour.
First impressions are that it’s super-slick. Marek Reichman’s styling tweaks give it greater presence, thanks to sharper corners, the larger front intake, 21in wheels, a much more prominent rear diffuser and fractionally greater overall width. Inside, reflecting the Coupé, it’s all-change, with a more elegant dashboard, exquisite materials and superb quality of finish. As with the DB12, the overall effect is to bring Aston Martin into a new era, in which you no longer feel the need to excuse the odd indiosyncrasy or foible. From every switch to the feel and sound of the door closing, this is up there with the best of mass-produced cars while maintaining the bespoke ambience of the most exclusive handbuilts. A class act.
Highback seats hold you in firm embrace as you adjust your position. I normally go for full-on BTCC, with seat on the floor and wheel in my chest, but I’ll be honest, such is the range of adjustability offered here that to see over the dash and reach the pedals comfortably, I go only about 80% on both.
Hit the button, the V8 rumbles instantly, revs snappily and you instantly feel engaged. Despite the aural encouragement, refinement levels are extremely high, which remains the case on the move, hood up or down. With the roof in place, such are the structural rigidity and hermetic levels of enclosure that you might just as well be in the Coupé. Roof down in the rain, nothing less than stormy gusts of crosswind at motorway speeds cause any water to find its way in, and even then only the odd drop on your shoulder or in your hair.
Of course, Aston’s sportiest mount is at its most interesting when the going gets a bit twistier. It shrinks the straights between corners like little else, dispatching distance with a quite a thrilling V8 roar and some orchestrated popping and banging from the exhaust on the over-run. It certainly needs no more power and braking is strong and progressive to match. A bit more of a vocal repertoire wouldn’t go amiss, though, something more like the steely edge of older Astons at higher revs, but it’s entertaining nevertheless.
So is the handling. The Vantage is a substantial beast, weighing in around 1.7 tonnes and fully 7ft wide, so this definition of a sports car doesn’t do agile in the manner of a Lotus Elise or even an Alpine A110. Equally, Aston Martin intended the Vantage to ‘breathe’ with the road surface, and in ‘Sport’ or even ‘Sport+’ mode there’s genuine suppleness to the suspension settings and a surprising degree of body movement. Even so, excellent adjustable damping means it manages the sensation of weight very well, certainly better than the sensation of width.
Those on the Vantage Coupé launch speak of real tautness in ‘Track’ mode on a circuit, where the adjustability on offer with an eight-mode traction control can better be explored too. Suffice to say that on damp and slippery mountain passes, traction control is kept in its sticky setting, yet still the monstrous torque easily overwhelms rear-end grip on more than one hairpin. All grin-inducing rather than scary, though.
Steering feels keyed-in and direct, turn-in sharp and focused, and on these smooth roads there’s rarely any intrusiveness to the ride. Only a bit of patter on a damaged motorway off-ramp suggests the kind of high-frequency rocking you might expect on a pock-marked British B-road, and even then composure remains high.
Aston Martin’s aim was to make the Vantage driver feel connected and entertained yet without being roughed-up. It has succeeded, and now in Roadster form you get the benefit of fresh air without the refinement drawbacks a soft-top sometimes brings. Prices start around £175,000, around £30,000 less than you’ll pay for the DB12 Volante and with a more focused driving experience as part of the deal. Click here for more.
