New Aston Martin Vantage Roadster set for 2020 arrival

The new Aston Martin Vantage Roadster is set to rival the Porsche 911 Cabriolet and Audi R8 Spyder when it makes its spring 2020 debut

Aston Martin has revealed the first official images of the new Vantage Roadster. The latest open-top Aston will go toe-to-toe with the Porsche 911 Cabriolet and the Audi R8 Spyder when it’s released in spring 2020. 

Ditching the coupe’s metal roof has altered the Vantage’s shape quite dramatically. Gone is the long, gentle slope of the rear screen towards the ducktail rear spoiler; in its place is a small fabric hood, which joins a flattened boot lid just ahead of the rear axle line.

Best sports cars available

The compact design allows the hood to fold away just behind the rear seats without any need to engineer a moveable tonneau cover. This should help to minimise any weight or practicality compromises relative to the coupe, while ensuring the operation of the roof should be quick, too. When lowered, gusts are reduced in the cabin courtesy of a glass wind deflector.

While Aston Martin is yet to confirm any mechanical details, the Vantage Roadster is likely to remain mechanically similar to the coupe. That means power will come from a 4.0 twin-turbocharged V8 sourced from Mercedes-AMG - albeit tweaked to deliver a character unique to Aston Martin. In coupe form, power stands at 503bhp, and torque is rated at 685Nm. 

Expect the roof mechanism and any extra chassis bracing to add to the coupe’s kerb weight, which in turn will mean that the soft top is unlikely to match the current car’s 3.7-second 0-62mph time. The coupe’s top speed is 195mph.

Drive is sent to the rear wheels via an eight speed automatic gearbox; whether the coupe’s optional seven-speed manual will also feature remains to be seen. An electric differential will help deploy the power to the road, while standard steel disc brakes and optional carbon ceramic items are likely to feature.

Like the coupe, the Roadster will be two-seat only. Expect little to change inside, with a dashboard lifted pretty much wholesale from the coupe.

The Vantage Roadster should carry a price premium over the coupe, which starts from £120,900.

Click here for our list of the best convertible cars currently on sale...

Chief reviewer

Alex joined Auto Express as staff writer in early 2018, helping out with news, drives, features, and the occasional sports report. His current role of Chief reviewer sees him head up our road test team, which gives readers the full lowdown on our comparison tests.

Recommended

New 2024 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster in development
2024 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster (camouflaged) - front cornering
News

New 2024 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster in development

Aston Martin is testing its revamped V8 drop-top sports car
17 Aug 2023
New 2024 Aston Martin Vantage spied testing
New 2024 Aston Martin Vantage spied testing
News

New 2024 Aston Martin Vantage spied testing

The next step in Aston’s sports car renaissance is on its way. We’ve got eyes on the revamped Vantage
22 May 2023

Most Popular

‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’
Opinion - Fiat Scudo
Opinion

‘Forget leasing a car, a cut-price van should be your next everyday vehicle’

With some huge savings to be had, Mike Rutherford thinks a van could be the perfect vehicle
3 Dec 2023
Deal of the Day: Spacious Skoda Superb is a peerless estate for £223 a month
Skoda Superb Estate - front tracking
News

Deal of the Day: Spacious Skoda Superb is a peerless estate for £223 a month

The Superb is one of our favourite estates and our Deal of the Day for Monday 4 December
4 Dec 2023
New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates
Renault 5 EV concept at 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed
News

New Renault 5: price, specs, launch and on sale dates

Renault’s reborn Renault 5 will start from €25,000 in Europe, suggesting a circa-£30k price in the UK. It's due on sale in the summer of 2024. Here's …
1 Dec 2023