£150,000 Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster goes on sale

An open-air version of Aston’s most powerful Vantage will be available as a ‘limited edition’ in selected markets worldwide. The V12 Vantage Roadster is powered by Aston Martin’s 510bhp naturally aspirated 6.0-litre V12 engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.

As in the coupe, 0-62 mph is dispatched in just 4.5 seconds while this most potent Aston Martin Roadster is capable of 190 mph flat out. Aston quote a predicted unladen weight of 1,760 kg, some 50 kg more than the V8 Roadster and 80 kg heavier than the V12 Vantage Coupe.

While the Roadster naturally shares much of its features with the V12 Vantage Coupe, some elements are redesigned to take account of the Roadster’s soft-top packaging. the V12 Roadster features a redesigned rear boot lid and lower front air intake to match the dynamic balance of the V12 Coupe, plus a number of unique chassis revisions including a modified rear damper set-up, front and rear damper valve tuning and a new rear spring design. Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres are fitted all round.

The new V12 Roadster boasts a number of eye-catching design features including carbon fibre side strakes; a carbon fibre front splitter and rear diffuser; carbon fibre mirror caps and carbon fibre rear lamp infills – plus a new forged alloy wheel design exclusive to the V12 Vantage.

At the rear, the boot lid on the V12 Vantage Roadster incorporates a more pronounced ‘flip’ to reduce rear lift and improve stability at high speeds. The V12’s diffuser houses a large, centre-mounted oil cooler and two large tail-pipe finishers.

As with the front splitter, the carbon fibre rear diffuser is hand-made to ensure the direction and consistency of the weave and provide the best possible finish.

Inside, the V12 Vantage Roadster can be distinguished from its less illustrious siblings by glass switches in the lower centre stack, plus the option of a carbon fibre facia and carbon fibre gearshift surround.

As in the V12 Vantage Coupe, the Roadster comes with a ‘Sport’ mode button, which enables the driver to select between two different powertrain modes.

Normal mode is the default from start-up and provides not only a more relaxed throttle response but also a quieter, more refined exhaust note. This creates a more progressive throttle response, suited to ‘everyday’ situations such as when driving in heavy traffic.

Sport mode, meanwhile, is designed for use in more dynamic driving situations where sharper responses are required. It has a number of tangible effects on the powertrain including a sharper throttle response, with the engine delivering more torque during the early stages of throttle pedal travel.

Exhaust system bypass valves are also kept open for longer to create a more sporty exhaust note.

Available to order in selected markets now, the new Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster is priced at £150,000 in the UK.