Clearly the man in charge of good taste at Aston Martin was on holiday this week. Otherwise he’d have never allowed this car out the doors. No I’m not talking about the superb bit of engineering involved in shoehorning a massive 6.0 litre V12 into the gorgeous body of the Vantage Roadster. I’m talking about all the superfluous bits of tacky design which have been added needlessly. Colored carbon fiber? Come on this isn’t a contender in a mid-nineties modified Japanese car show. The wheels look like they were chosen primarily; “because they were going cheap”. They were then attacked with a can of red spray paint. Oh yeah and the taillights look like they’ve got condensation inside.
How could Aston Martin’s designers so spectacularly misjudge the V12 Vantage Roadster’s character. I bet there’s some P!$$*d off automotive engineers down at AM headquarters today. They spend months getting the drivetrain to fit, recalibrating the suspension, aerodynamically testing the new rear spoiler and diffuser (with integrated oil cooler I might add). And then the fly-boy designers screw it all up in five minutes with some red marker pens.
Lets say you ‘re able to see past the distasteful and childish color scheme of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster. Or you’re just an ostentatious poser who likes that kind of thing. Here are the important facts about the car:
The V12 puts out 510 horsepower and 570 Nm of torque @ 5,750 rpm. That’s exactly the same numbers as the V12 Vantage coupe. The V12 Vantage Roadster also gets the same six-speed manual gearbox. Being a convertible, and therefore slightly heavier than the coupe, it’s a little slower in accomplishing the 0-62 mph sprint, taking 4.5 seconds. The top speed is an identical 190 mph.
At the rear the Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster features a redesigned rear spoiler and lower front air intake designed to improve downforce. The suspension system has been updated to include a modified rear damper set-up, front and rear damper valve tuning and a new rear spring design. The V12 Vantage’s rear diffuser houses a large, centre-mounted oil cooler and the two tail pipes.
Unique to the V12 Vantage and V12 Vantage Roadster is the engine’s “Sport” mode button, which enables the driver to select between two different powertrain modes.
Normal mode is the default from start-up and provides not only a more relaxed throttle response but also a quieter, more refined exhaust note. This creates a more progressive throttle response, suited to normal driving conditions.
Sport mode, well it’s self-explanatory really – it’s for when you want a little more drama. It has a number of noticeable effects on the powertrain including a sharper throttle response, with the engine delivering more torque during the early stages of throttle pedal travel. Exhaust system bypass valves are also kept open for longer to enhance the exhaust note.
All-in-all the V12 Vantage Roadster has to be one of the most infuriating cars of the year. How could a company as classy and prestigious as Aston Martin screw up so badly at the last minute what should be an incredible supercar.
Source: Aston Martin
