Vantage Roadster. The 911's open-top nightmare

Aston Martin is a sports car manufacturer that does things its own way. Aston Martin has always been, along with Jaguar-Bentley-Rolls Royce, a gentleman's car. A car that doesn't strive to be the top performance car or the best all-around ensemble, but to do what its competitors' cars do, in a more classy and classy, British to be sure, way.

The Vantage is Aston Martin's smallest entry-level model. It is somewhat smaller in size than its "big sister", the DB11, with an orientation a little more sport and driver oriented, rather than so much in luxury and GT character. It's the most fun to drive, if you like, Aston Martin (apart from the top of the range, DBS Superleggera).

In 2018, Aston Martin had introduced the Vantage Coupe. Completely redesigned compared to its previous generation (not just a facelift), now fitted with Mercedes-AMG's twin-turbo V8 4-litre engine, as well as ZF's 8-speed automatic transmission, it came to give Porsche's space-dominating 911 a run for its money. Now, Aston Martin is launching the long-awaited Roadster version, which is also set to capture the open-top share of the luxury sports car market.

The Vantage Roadster is just 60kg heavier than the Coupe, with its folding 'Folding Z' fabric roof taking just 6.7 seconds to open and 6.8 seconds to close at speeds of up to 50km/h. Along with the open-top version, Aston Martin has made a host of minor changes and improvements throughout the car, changes that will naturally carry over to the Coupe version.

In terms of numbers, Mercedes-AMG's twin-turbo V8 4-litre engine produces 510bhp and 685Nm of torque, capable of doing 0-100 in just 3.7 seconds and propelling the Vantage Roadster at speeds of up to 320km/h.

With minimal loss of torsional stiffness, Aston Martin has tried to adapt the suspension system to the Roadster chassis in the best possible way, through the driver programmes (GT, Sport, Sport+ and Track), while the engine and gearbox settings remain the same as in the Coupe.

The cabin of the Vantage has been heavily influenced and shares common elements in the infotainment system with the Mercedes Benz models (specifically the AMG GT), with this being immediately noticeable both in the design of the central console with the touchpad (same as the AMG GT), and in the menu and the way the infotainment system itself works (same as the AMG GT), with the only variation being the graphics.

As expected, the dominant element in the cabin is Nappa leather, which in combination with some aluminium trim elements, gives a modern yet luxurious feel to the interior. A characteristic element, proof of the complete hand-crafting, are the small imperfections that, if you look for them, you will find in every Aston Martin. A car with character, in 2020 !

But what gives the Vantage real character, in both Coupe and Roadster versions, is the option of a 7-speed manual gearbox. An option that Porsche had hitherto monopolized on the 911, making it highly tempting, now comes to the Vantage, which is its main rival. Typically, with the introduction of the limited-edition Vantage AMR, which was the first to carry the new manual 7-speed gearbox, followed by the announcement that the option will be available from 2020 on the regular Vantage. A few days later, Porsche in turn announced that it too will provide a manual 7-speed gearbox on all regular versions of the 992 generation 911. Manufacturers counter, customer wins.

All in all

The new Vantage, especially with the addition of the Roadster version, is a highly attractive option in the luxury sports car market, both in closed and open-top versions. The "irony" about its competition, Mercedes' AMG GT and Porsche's 911, is that it seamlessly combines the positive elements of both and more. It has the very powerful and reliable AMG engine, combined with either a top of the line automatic transmission (torque converter technology of course, not dual clutch as in the AMG GT) or a 7-speed manual ( you've lost your 911 exclusivity), with an interior where luxury and quality of materials and assembly are in the superlative degree (objectively, better than that of the 911), in a highly impressive design ensemble that immediately stands out wherever it is found. And all this, of course, with the AMG GT's superb sound, which is objectively (in terms of sound) the best of all twin-turbo V8 engines.

The starting price is 157,300 euros in the German market (with the 992 Carrera S Cabriolet is the top version of the open 911 so far, with 450 horses) at 134,400 euros and the AMG GT S Roadster (522 horses) at 151,130 euros) and deliveries will start in April 2020. It's worth saying that in proportion to the AMG GT S Roadster, which is closer in performance due to the same engine, the price is quite reasonable for a car that is largely hand-built rather than mass-produced. As for the prestige (well, call it shopping) part, "Mercedes" or "Porsche" sounds nice, but with "Aston Martin", you've flattened them. Simple.

P.S. With the right outfit, the owner can look like James Bond