One of the best-dressed gentleman within the area, Aston’s newest sports activities automotive underwent a complete front-end redesign this 12 months, that includes extra humanoid headlights and a extra pronounced grill with horizontal strakes. Distilling parts of the DB12 and Valhalla right into a compact silhouette, the sculpted traces seem cohesive and well-balanced, and whereas the rear styling is principally carried over with the quad exhausts and plateau spoiler, now we have to confess that this technology of Aston Martin design has been completely ravishing. The Vantage is without doubt one of the few automobiles that we park, step out of, and might’t resist trying again at.
Credit score to California Sage, a timeless pale inexperienced that first appeared within the Fifties on the DB4. It appears to be like super on the Vantage as the daylight fades and softens into a mild overcast, and the shadows start to creep into the paint flakes. However this isn’t simply any Vantage. That is the Roadster that exposes you to the weather and delivers sufficient sensory amusement to match its stylish silhouette.
Historically, convertibles add an ungodly quantity of weight because of the structural necessities for rigidity, however Aston Martin developed each the coupe and roadster concurrently from the beginning. In consequence, lots of the structural parts and fixing factors have been already in place. Whereas the Roadster doesn’t come near the stiffness of a devoted carbon tub like within the McLaren Artura, it’s extra stable and composed than many sports activities coupes we’ve pushed. There wasn’t any scuttle shake or nervous unsettling after hitting bumps, and it’s additionally one of many quickest working roofs available on the market. The eight-layer material roof stows flush with the rear deck in simply 6.8 seconds with only a easy fold and flick, reminding us of the mechanism within the BMW Z4. It operates at speeds below 50 km/h and doesn’t eat into trunk area both, which is extensive sufficient for a golf bag and weekend getaway duties.
Pure gentle flooding into the Centenary Saddle Tan inside is without doubt one of the world’s many unnatural wonders, because the meticulously-stitched semi-aniline leather-based glimmers like the within of a Hermès purse, and the darkish chrome accents conceal in its shadows. The design might seem superfluous subsequent to the stark confines of a 911 cabin, however it’s pretty restrained in comparison with the Bentley bling or the Roma’s haven of touchscreens. Aston has fashionably invested in correct switchgear, and the beginning button and equipment lever really feel significantly high-quality in appears to be like and operation, as do the speaker grill covers formed like fish scales. It’s extra of a leather-based store in right here than a jewellery one, however inexperienced on tan is a spec we may by no means argue in opposition to. It additionally helps that Aston Martin has one of the vital complete on-line configurators, providing detailed descriptions of each paint color, the power to image your automotive subsequent to the AMR25 System 1 automotive, and an assortment of sensible backdrops to view your spec in numerous lighting circumstances.
Aston Martin has addressed considered one of our greatest criticisms with the DB12: the small, almost illegible fonts on their driver’s gauges. As small a difficulty because it appears, no pun supposed, not having the ability to see the gear indicator doesn’t precisely instill us with driving confidence. With the most recent system that the Vantage is rocking, the graphics have been up to date, and the gear indicator and speeds at the moment are an acceptable font measurement.
Essentially the most thrilling addition is Apple CarPlay Extremely, an upgraded variant of the now ubiquitous CarPlay that integrates lots of the automotive’s inherent options into the Apple interface. Which means you’ll be able to management the local weather, ambient lighting, drive mode settings, and even alter the Bowers and Wilkins sound system proper from the identical interface. The system labored flawlessly throughout our time with it, and though there may be extra display latency than the most recent iPhone 17, it felt like a cohesive and totally baked Apple product expertise. If you happen to miss the previous format, you’ll be able to revert to common Apple CarPlay at any time, and the identical applies to Aston’s in-house interface. Nonetheless, it’s clear that Extremely provides a superior, cleaner, and simpler method to work together with the car’s suite of features.
Just like the DB12, the Vantage makes use of a hand-built 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 sourced from their companions at AMG however with an Aston Martin-specific tune that generates 656 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque by its rear-mounted 8-speed automated gearbox. That’s sufficient to dash from 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, simply one-tenth slower than the coupe, the identical velocity as a Mercedes-AMG SL 63 Roadster, and faster than the Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet and Bentley Continental GTC.
By some means, it feels swifter than the spec sheet suggests. The Vantage makes quick, flowing progress with its tidal abundance of torque and exploring the final 20% of the throttle pedal looks like manually lighting the frenetic afterburner. The Roadster carries a 60 kg weight penalty over the coupe, however you’d be hard-pressed to inform from the motive force’s seat. Fervent bursts of velocity are met with the stable chew of the carbon ceramic brakes, with a lot of the stopping energy proper on the prime of the pedal, so that you’re not bothered with lengthy, inconsistent pedal journey.
An appropriate eight-cylinder soundtrack follows go well with, however to say it sounds totally totally different from an AMG GT 63 exhaust could be a stretch. The 2 symphonies aren’t terribly distinctive from one another, however the Vantage nonetheless delivers deep, sonically impactful crescendos which can be additional punctuated by artillery fireplace on downshifts and throttle overrun. Whereas it’s tough to tire from listening to British rolling thunder, the height exhaust vary lives between 3,000 – 5,000 rpm, and it lacks the high-end fizz of a Temerario V8 and the wailing screams of a 911 GT3 flat-six, however the notes match the Vantage’s ethos of a brute in a go well with.
Construct up the velocity, and the Vantage handles fantastically, rapidly settling right into a joyous, impartial rhythm. The entrance finish is sharp and desirous to scythe in one other path, although it’s not simple to interrupt traction within the rear. That’s each and unhealthy factor, relying on what you’re in search of. The Vantage is wickedly steady in slippery circumstances, though it’s solely rear-wheel drive however with all the protection nannies on, the Vantage is a pitbull on a restraint. Holding down the swirvy brand button engages a richer sensory expertise. It disables stability management and means that you can select from eight ranges of traction management, every with much less intervention.
Whereas not as expertly tuned as a Huracan STO’s system for gradual powerslides, or as intuitive (for some motive TC1 means extra intervention whereas TC8 means extra wheel slip), the Vantage’s intelligent e-diff and TC software program permits you to dictate slip angles with millimetric accuracy. It takes apply to induce a slide, and also you want no less than TC7 to forestall the Vantage from pendulously slapping you again straight, however the chassis relays clear indicators of weight switch to the motive force, and the chunky 325-section width rears ensures most of these horses are translated into ahead momentum.
The Vantage prospers on twisty again roads, however it nails the GT transient fairly properly, too. Dial again the settings, and there’s sufficient wheel journey and suspension slack to even name it snug. The chassis breathes gently with the highway beneath, and the adaptive damping works nicely at isolating harsh impacts and protecting undesirable undulations from disturbing the journey. Crossing a close-by railroad observe that we all the time use to check the highway compliance of a car, the Vantage casually skips over it like a rock skipping the floor of a pond with no rattles or creaks from the chassis or cabin panels.
The Vantage isn’t solely the infant roadster within the vary, but in addition probably the most effervescent and rewarding to drive. It doesn’t require the CV of Fernando Alonso to extract its potential totally; as a substitute, the Vantage means that you can construct your abilities as a driver with its protecting powerslides and thunderous exhaust notes. The DB12 Volante suits the invoice as the last word grand tourer, rigorously mixing sport with consolation, however go away it to the Vantage Roadster to raise and intensify the thrills of high-octane, al fresco motoring.
Specs:
Mannequin: 2026 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster
Paint Kind: California Sage
Base Value: $259,700
Value as Examined: $374,700
Wheelbase(mm): 2,705
Size/Width/Peak (mm): 4,495 / 1,980 / 1,275
Curb weight: 1,805 kg (EU)
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8
Horsepower: 671 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque: 590 lb-ft @ 2,750 – 6,000 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed automated
Engine & Drive Configuration: Entrance engine, RWD
Noticed Gas Consumption (L/100km): 15.7
Tires: Michelin Pilot Sport 5 S AML; Entrance 275/35/ZR21; Rear 325/30/ZR21
