The wait for the Aston Martin Vantage Roadster is almost over.
Aston Martin revealed the all-new 2021 Vantage convertible this past February. It was a full 18 months after the Vantage Coupe hit the market. The good news is that the wait appears to have been worth it. The Vantage Roadster is mechanically identical to its hardtop counterpart. That means that it has the same monstrous 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 made by Mercedes-AMG under its hood. The Roadster also looks as sleek and sexy as the Coupe. It might even look better, depending on how much you fancy convertibles.
Okay, so we’ve established that Aston Martin’s newest convertible is drool-worthy. Now continue reading to learn everything else you need to know about the all-new 2021 Vantage Roadster.
Exterior Styling: A Drop-Dead Gorgeous Droptop
If the Aston Martin Vantage Roadster looks familiar, it’s because the luxury drop top is based on the DB1o. That’s the luxury vehicle that played a supporting role in the James Bond movie Spectre. The Vantage is characterized by its sharp lines, bulging hood, and a twin dual-exhaust setup.
The Roadster looks virtually identical to the coupe on which it’s based. That is thanks in large part to Aston Martin’s “Z-Fold” mechanism, which tucks the soft top behind the rear seats and eliminates the need for a separate storage cubby. While Spectre came out back in 2016, and the Vantage Coupe debuted in 2018, the Vantage Roadster still looks as sexy and stylish as anything on the market today.
Under the Hood: A Twin-Turbo V8 That’s Begging to Be Unleashed
Aston Martin wisely decided not to tone down the power output of the Vantage Roadster’s engine. That means if you put your foot down, the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 under the hood will give you 503 horsepower and 505 lb-ft of torque. All of that power is routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The bad news is that a seven-speed manual, which has recently become the standard on the Coupe, doesn’t appear to be on offer for the Roadster.
Like the Coupe on which it’s based, the convertible Vantage features active damping, dynamic stability control, dynamic torque vectoring, and an electronic rear differential. Although the technology is the same, Aston Martin said the systems have been optimized specifically for the Roadster. The Roadster also features three driving modes: Sport, Sport+, and Track.
Top Speed and 0-to-60 Time
While no manual is a bit of a bummer, the good news is that it doesn’t impact the Roadster’s performance. Even though it’s 132 pounds heavier than the hardtop, the Roadster is just as capable. The Vantage has a top speed of 190 mph and can do 0-to-60 in just 3.7 seconds. Those times are only 5 mph less and .2 seconds slower than the hardtop Vantage.
Fuel Efficiency
The EPA hasn’t released its official fuel economy figures for the 2021 Vantage Roadster. However, there are numbers out for the Vantage Coupe. Despite its massive engine, the Vantage doesn’t do all that bad at the pump. It posts a split of 18/24/20 MPG city, highway, combined) when filled with premium fuel. Expect those figures to drop ever so slightly given that the Roadster weighs 132 pounds more than the hardtop. It’s also designed to be driven with the top down, which increases drag.
The Interior: Luxury to Spare, but Lacking in Tech
The 2021 Vantage Roadster comes standard with a cabin swathed in leather and Alcantara, heated eight-way power adjustable seats, and a flat-bottom sport steering wheel. However, as you’d expect, there are plenty of optional extras to choose from. Those include a full leather interior, heated 16-way power adjustable seats, and carbon fiber interior accents. You could easily spend all day playing around with the configurator for the 2021 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster. If you’re seriously considering buying one, you actually should take the time to do so.
In case you were wondering, the Vantage Roadster offers 7.0 cubic feet of storage space in the trunk. That’s about enough to fit a set of golf clubs. Tall passengers will be happy to know that the Roadster’s mechanical soft top retracts in 6.7 seconds at speeds of up to 30 mph. Should it start to rain, the roof can be raised in 6.8 seconds. According to Aston Martin, both times are a new record.
Tech On Tap
All 2021 Vantage Roadsters come standard with an eight-inch infotainment screen that’s controlled via a rotary knob and buttons. Those who want to control the screen via touch have to spring for the optional “Tech Collection,” which adds a touchpad, blind-spot monitoring, and auto park.
The Roadster comes standard with a six-speaker audio system, although a nine-speaker system is available. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are sadly not available. Although the Roadster is designed to be driven, it’s hard to ignore the lackluster selection of tech and driver’s assistance features available here.
Pricing
The good news is that Aston Martin has made things easy for buyers. There’s only one Vantage Roadster for sale, and it starts at $164,086. Of course, things can start to get even more expensive once the optional extras are added to the bill. One thing worth nothing is the convertible Vantage is $8,000 more than the coupe.
How It Stacks Up Against the Competition
The 2021 Vantage Roadster’s main competitors are the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet and the Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster. Both alternatives offer more horsepower than the Aston Martin — 550 hp and 540 hp, respectively. However, that extra power comes at a price. While the AMG GT C Roadster costs a couple thousand more than the Vantage Roadster, the 911 Turbo Cabriolet starts at $174,100.
On price alone, the Aston Martin is technically the “budget” option in this trio. However, it’s only a tenth of a second slower to 60 mph than the Mercedes-AMG. It can easily hold its own with the Porsche in the looks and luxury department. In terms of drivability, well, there’s Porsche and then there’s everybody else. That being said, while CarandDriver complained about the Vantage coupe’s harsh suspension, the outlet did call the car “hilariously good fun on a race track.”
The Last Word
The 2021 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster has enough good looks and power to go around. It’s also priced right, at least compared to its immediate competition. Other than its lack of standard version and available tech, there’s really not much to complain about here.
No, the Roadster won’t carve up winding roads like the 911 Cabriolet or AMG GT C Roadster. But it’s no slouch in a straight line and looks just as sexy as its German rivals, if not more so. Although not many people have $164,000 (at minimum) to drop on a car, those who do should take the all-new Vantage Roadster for a spin.
Source: AstonMartin.com
Loading ...