Following the launch of the V8 Vantage coupe for the 2006 model year, Aston Martin has a new droptop version of the car that features a powered fabric roof the company says can be lowered or raised in 18 seconds. The V8 Vantage roadster hits dealerships in the second quarter of 2007 and has the same 380-horsepower V-8 engine that the coupe uses. Pricing information has not yet been released, but expect a $10,000 premium over the coupe, which starts at slightly less than $110,000.
Exterior
The rear-wheel-drive V8 Vantage roadster has the same sharklike face and cutouts in the front fenders that the coupe has, but with its transformation into a convertible it loses the coupe's fastback profile. That's not to say the convertible is any less handsome, as its windshield arc carries into the fabric roof, which curves naturally down toward the rear deck. The roof features a glass rear window and stows underneath a hard tonneau cover when lowered, giving the convertible a clean top-down appearance.
Aluminum is heavily used in the roadster's construction, and the car features an aluminum independent suspension. (At 3,770 pounds, the convertible weighs about 300 pounds more than the coupe.) Standard alloy wheels measure 18 inches in diameter, and the rear wheels are an inch wider than the front ones; 19-inch wheels are optional. Other options include painted brake calipers, xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights and power-folding mirrors.
Interior
The two-person cockpit features power-adjustable seats covered in hand-stitched leather. British cars are known for their eccentricities, and one of the V8 Vantage roadster's is its tachometer needle, which swings counterclockwise as the rpms rise. An engine start button is located in the center of the dash, and models with the available sequential manual transmission have steering wheel paddle shifters.
Comfort and convenience features include automatic air conditioning and a six-CD audio system. Heated seats, cruise control and a navigation system are optional. The trunk measures 5 cubic feet.
Under the Hood
The roadster's 4.3-liter V-8 develops 380 hp at 7,000 rpm and 302 pounds-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm. Buyers have a choice between a six-speed manual transmission and a Sportshift sequential manual transmission. Top speed is 175 mph, and Aston Martin says the roadster can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds.
Safety
All-disc antilock brakes with brake assist, an electronic stability system and side-impact airbags are standard. |
— Reported by
Mike Hanley, Cars.com;
images courtesy of the manufacturer |
