The 2021 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster may not have a license to kill, but the British automaker’s latest drop-top sure has looks to die for. Like its coupe sibling, the Vantage Roadster aims to take on the likes of the Mercedes-AMG GT and the Porsche 911, the former of which the Aston cribs its engine from.
With 503 horsepower, the Vantage’s twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8 engine bridges the performance gap between the entry-level 469-hp Mercedes-AMG GT and the 550-hp GT C. Whereas the Mercedes relies on a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the Aston channels its ponies to the rear wheels by way of a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic transmission. (A manual transmission is newly standard on the Vantage coupe.)
Predictably, the Vantage Roadster is properly quick, and Aston Martin reports the convertible hits 60 mph in 3.7 seconds on the way to a top speed of 190 mph (you’ll need to keep the roof closed to hit that figure, though). Still, that’s a wee bit slower than the 132-pound lighter Vantage coupe, which needs an estimated 3.5 seconds to hit the mile-a-minute mark and reaches a top speed of 195 mph.
The Vantage Roadster’s folding roof, however, more than makes up for its slight performance deficiency relative to its coupe counterpart. Credit the power-operated soft top’s ability to lower in just 6.7 seconds—and raise in 6.8—at speeds of up to 31 mph. Meanwhile, the roof’s compact dimensions bless the Vantage Roadster with a 7.0-cubic-foot trunk. Compare that to the holds of the Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster and Porsche 911 Cabriolet, which offer 5.8 and 4.6 cubic feet of respective space.
Of course, the Vantage Roadster’s combination of sultry styling and open-air performance doesn’t come cheap: the model’s $164,086 price tag (including $3,086 in delivery charges) is more than $30,000 higher than the similarly quick Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster and the Porsche 911 Carrera S Cabriolet. Whether or not the Aston’s low-slung looks are worthy of its hefty entry fee is a matter of personal taste. The 2021 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster is available to order, with deliveries set to begin toward the end of the year.
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Source: WORLD NEWS
