Aston Martin unveils 515kW V12 Vantage Roadster

Aston Martin has lifted the veil on its most manic Vantage Roadster ever produced.

The recipe is simple, blending the brand’s 515kW/753Nm 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 with the showstopping lines of its Vantage Roadster, the dramatic new V12 Vantage Roadster is striking in its execution and will be available to just 249 lucky buyers globally.

Sadly, all 249 examples have already been sold ahead of release.

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The centrepiece of the car is Aston Martin’s quad-cam 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12, producing 515kW @ 6500rpm and 753Nm @ 5500rpm, yielding a potent 372kW-per-tonne.

The sprint from 0-100km/h is claimed to take just 3.5 seconds, with the roadster able to spin the speedo all the way up to a toupee-tearing 320km/h.

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Many of the ingredients found in the existing V12 Vantage (limited to 333 examples) are carried over to the Roadster, including its eight-speed ZF transmission, suspension hardware and rear-mounted mechanical limited-slip differential. Engine, gearbox and suspension all receive bespoke tunes for the new V12 Roadster, maximising the effectiveness of its body control and driver sensory feedback – further enhanced with the open-air experience.

Also lifted from the V12 Vantage coupe are the monstrous carbon-ceramic brakes, measuring 410 millimetres up front, clamped by six-piston calipers, and 360mm out back, paired with four-piston calipers. Not only do the carbon-ceramic brakes boast increased stopping power and a higher fade resistance, they also shave off 23 kilograms of unsprung mass compared to conventional steel brakes.

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Further weight saving measures include a carbon-fibre front bumper, clamshell bonnet, front fenders and side sills. The rear bumper and deck lid is also constructed out of weight-saving composite materials. A bespoke exhaust made of 1mm steel shaves a further 7.2kg of mass from the standard V8-powered Vantage Roadster.

The V12 Vantage Roadster enjoys an array of visual and function distinctions over the standard Vantage Roadster, in order to aid cooling properties of the big V12 – as well as add aerodynamic grip to the increased power and pace. The integrated rear diffuser has been optimised to package the new centre-mounted exhaust system, there’s an added rear wing on the options list, and the detailed management of underbody airflow.

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The front bumper has been redesigned with a 25 per cent larger grille to aid cooling properties, while Aston Martin’s signature horseshoe bonnet vent helps extract hot air from the crowded engine bay.

The track has been widened by 40mm to house 21-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 275/315 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres. An optional forged wheel package is also available.

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Marek Reichman, Aston Martin's Chief Creative Officer, said of the V12 Vantage Roadster: “We created this explicit open-top sports car for those craving excitement and drama. The platform presented us with a design opportunity to make a contemporary visual statement of intent. The result is a living, breathing, driving sculpture with a level of control that sits at the fingertips.”

As the sun sets on the dawn of internal combustion engines, the V12 Vantage Roadster is likely the last V12-powered Vantage we might ever see.

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Production of those 249 V12 Vantage Roadsters is set to commence in the third quarter of 2022, with the first customer deliveries expected to commence from the fourth quarter.