Aston Martin V12 Vantage roadster

Aston Martin has barely launched the V12 Vantage, yet is already prepping the open-top version. It seems every car in the Aston range is getting a convertible variant, after the slightly surprising unveil of the DBS Volante a couple of months ago.

The equally hardcore V12 Vantage will soon be available as a Roadster, and engine-wise will be identical to the coupe. Incidentally, that means the same powerplant as the Aston Martin DBS – a 5.9-litre V12 with a particularly potent 510bhp and 420lb ft of torque. In the hardtop car, that’ll see you to 60mph in 4.2sec and onto a 190mph maximum. Expect the chopping of the roof and ensuing chassis stiffening to raise and lower these figures respectively, although not by much. Sub-4.5sec and over 180mph will still be comfortably met.

Only 1000 V12 Vantage coupes are being made, and it’s likely the Roadster will match this, or perhaps be even more exclusive. It shouldn’t be a poor relation, though, the V8 Vantage Roadster being one of the most successful chop-top performance cars, losing little compared to the hardtop.

The V12 Vantage coupe is available to order now and costs £135,000. Don’t expect much change from £150K if you fancy one as a Roadster, although the premium may well be worth it when you’ve knocked back the roof before hoofing the V12 that sits in front of you…

Read a comparison of the V8 Vantage Roadster with its key rivals from Porsche and Jaguar.