Aston Martin Vantage Roadster
Aston Martin has been increasingly in the media in recent weeks, even in those who otherwise tend to report less about the automotive sector. The reason for this is the entry of a Canadian consortium led by billionaire Lawrence Stroll. In addition to financial resources, they are providing their know-how and would like to finally bring the brand back into Formula 1 as a works team in 2021. For this purpose, the former Force India Team, which has been competing as ‘Racing Point’ since 2019, will be renamed again. It is the fifth change of name of this racing team since 2005, when Jordan F1 Racing became the Midland Team. But that’s not really what it’s all about today and at this point. Instead, we’re focusing on the British sports car brand’s latest model, which will roll out to dealerships in the second quarter of 2020. It is the Vantage in Roadster form.
The front and rear correspond to the already familiar Coupé version. However, the 200-liter luggage compartment with a large hatch and the tightly cut fabric soft top over the two passengers have been redesigned. The latter folds up in a Z-shape and disappears behind the seats at the push of a button in 6.7 seconds. The closing process takes only a tenth of a second longer. This is a new record in the production convertible segment. Both the opening and closing functions also work while driving up to a speed of 31 mph (50 kph).
In terms of drive, the four-liter V8 biturbo engine with 510 hp and 685 newtonmeters of torque remains the same. This power reaches the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and accelerates the Vantage Roadster from a standstill to 60 mph (96 kph) in 3.7 seconds if required. With the soft top closed, topspeeds of up to 190 mph (305 kph) are possible. Necessary stiffening measures on the bodyshell and chassis as well as the soft top mechanism increase the unladen weight by 60 kilograms compared to the Vantage Coupé. Driver assistance systems and driving modes correspond to those of the closed version.
To coincide with the launch of the Vantage Roadster, Aston Martin is offering several new options for all Vantage models. These include the Vane radiator grille as an alternative to the usual Hunter grille and new designs for the alloy wheels. For the Coupé, the seven-speed manual gearbox, previously only available on the limited edition Vantage AMR, is now on the option list. The prices for the Roadster start at 157,300 € in Germany, US$ 161,000 or £ 114,850 in the UK.
Images: Aston Martin
