Following the recent teaser and announcement of the new McLaren MP4-12C Spider, comes news of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster. The V12 Vantage first entered production in 2009, but it’s the V8 Roadster S that’s remained the most powerful Vantage rag-top available (read our review of the V8 Vantage Roadster S).
The V12-powered roadster has been given a number of updates over the Vantage Roadster S model, in the same way the V12 Coupe was over its smaller V8 sibling. The Roadster has been given the same front air intake and splitter as the V12 Coupe, as well as a larger spoiler integrated with the boot lid for improved high-speed aerodynamics. The V12 Roadster’s suspension has been modified to handle the extra power and resulting cornering forces, while Aston Martin have given their flagship drop-top a unique set of 19-inch alloy wheels. Other exterior highlights include carbon fibre side strakes, mirror housings and taillight inlays, while further cosmetic options include a black grille, side strake meshes and tailpipes.
The interior is comparable with the V12 Coupe, with the exception of the Aston Martin logos with black backgrounds and glass switches in place of black plastic items in the centre stack. Carbon fibre trim elements are optional, which feature on the centre stack and gearshift surround.
As the title suggests, the V12 engine is shared with the Coupe model, which produces 380 kW and 570 Nm of torque. Expect acceleration to be slightly slower than the Coupe, which will be slightly lighter too, with a 0 – 100 km/h sprint in the region of 4.5 seconds. Top speed should be fast enough, at a touch over 300 km/h.
Production of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster is set to start in the final quarter of 2012, with a production run limited to 101 cars, as evident by the plaque shown in the images.
