Six point eight seconds. That’s how long it takes to lower or raise the roof of the Vantage Roadster.
Aston Martin claims that makes it the fastest electric folding convertible top on sale, and it can go from closed to open while motoring at speeds up to 31mph as well. While we’re talking speed, the Vantage Roadster can accelerate from 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds and its VMax is 202mph – the equivalent to the coupe.
The four-litre twin-turbocharged V8 offers the same 656bhp as the coupe and it’s also said to match the hardtop for dynamic ability thanks to being designed at the same time, rather than simply having its roof chopped later. The engineering team focused on two key elements which are, arguably, diametrically opposed. The first was to bring the body stiffness back up, with the second keeping any increase in weight to a minimum.
This was achieved by modifying the way the body is attached at the rear end and adding shear panels in crucial locations to add torsional rigidity. Using a Z-fold roof saved some weight as it is less complex than a tradition K-fold design and negates the need for a tonneau cover. Even with eight layers of insulation it’s lighter than previous designs.
In all the Roadster is just 60kg heavier than the coupe, but even so Aston Martin has recalibrated the Bilstein DTX adaptive dampers to suit and retuned mounts for the gearbox. “Developing both Vantage Coupe and Roadster simultaneously meant we were able to retain the outrageous dynamic capabilities and agile sporting character of Vantage with no compromise upon removal of the roof, allowing drivers to revel at the limit with the added exposure to the elements,” says Simon Newton, Director of Vehicle Performance. “This has been achieved from meticulous optimisations in the body structure combined with Roadster specific chassis tuning carried out by our skilled dynamics team and is the perfect stablemate to its Coupe cohort.”
The stylists also deserve praise, crafting a new rear deck that slopes downwards to meet the ducktail rear spoiler. Putting the roof up spoils the picture a little, but Aston’s Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman clearly hopes owners will only raise the roof in the worst of weathers. “Created as both art and performance, the engine’s sound amplifies, turning the auditory experience into an essential part of the journey. With the roof down, the soundscape becomes as dynamic as the design, blending simplicity, power, and a visceral connection that transcends driving into an unmatched sensory experience.”
Aston Martin has added three new paint hues for the Vantage Roadster named Iridescent Sapphire, Satin Iridescent Sapphire and Bronze Flare, and the fabric roof can be made in black, red, blue or a combination of black and silver. Four different 21-inch wheel styles are offered, there are seven choices of colour for the brake calipers plus a range of painted liveries.
The first deliveries are due in the second quarter of the year with prices expected to be around £15,000 more than the coupe, putting it north of £180,000.
