The British heartbeat on the rainy island quickened slightly before they returned to tea and cookies when Aston Martin revealed the open version of its new Vantage model. With an even stronger appeal to emotions, the Roadster version provides a unique blend of exhilarating performance, enjoyable driving, and even daily usability, not to mention the “cool” factor that only Bond, James Bond, can promote.
Evidence that Aston Martin doesn’t cut corners can be found in the engine compartment, where an identical engine to the closed version resides – a 4.0-liter V8 breathing through twin turbochargers. The output: 510 horsepower and 68.5 kgm. Rear-wheel drive only ensures tail-happiness and the power is transmitted to the wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Optimal weight distribution and quite a bit of power result in a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of just 3.7 seconds. And if you close the roof, you can reach a top speed of 306 km/h (if allowed…). The cost of cutting the roof and reinforcing the chassis to handle the load adds an extra 60 kg to the overall weight, which is 1,628 kg.
The cabin, as expected in a car of this caliber, is highly luxurious. It is adorned with a combination of Strathmore leather and Alcantara, offering sporty seats, a premium sound system, an 8-inch touchscreen multimedia display, and additional options for carbon fiber, prestigious aluminum, and various color options for the seat belts. Furthermore, you’ll find an active suspension system and several different dynamic management modes for the driver to choose from.
In summary, there’s nothing quite like the superior British tradition.
Price: Starting at 130,000 GBP.
