The gentleman’s roadster: reimagined and still raising hell

Refined, charismatic and understated, Aston’s Vantage has long held its reputation for being the Gentleman’s sports car. Jeremy Clarkson once described the 2005 model as “the best-looking car ever made.” And it’s easy to see why. Unlike it’s flashier Italian rivals, this British icon doesn’t shout about itself. It’s confident. Cool. And when you get behind the wheel, it becomes clear that what really matters goes on under the bonnet.

In the same era, Clarkson speculated that rising geopolitical tensions in the world would soon bring an end to the good old V8, and with it, the Vantage. That was more than a decade ago and yet here we are. Aston Martin’s executive chairman Lawrence Stroll has explicitly said, “We will continue to make them as long as we are allowed to.” Current legislation aims to phase out pure combustion engine cars by 2030 and hybrids by 2035, BUT some low-volume manufacturers like Aston may qualify for an exemption. So, in its rightful form, hopefully there is plenty more still to come from this national treasure… “Mercifully.”

The latest iteration of the Vantage Roadster has had a bit of a glow-up, compared to it’s predecessor. Like that slightly awkward acquaintance who suddenly decides to bulk up in the gym after getting all healthy and clean living during their early thirties. And its newfound flare doesn’t stop at the wheel arches either. Side scoops now flank its beefy front grille. Air vents, more commonly associated with the V12, straddle the contoured bonnet. Bigger and bolder headlights look less like cats’ eyes and more like… headlights. From the front, it’s an ode to the One-77. But my favourite angle is by far from behind. Its curvy boot lid and toned rear diffuser - this was no afterthought. I don’t know what it is but suddenly, baby got back! You can keep your flat bottomed Romas and F-Types, I could look at that thing all day long.

Astonishingly, the engineers at Aston Martin have managed to squeeze out an extra 153 brake horsepower from the same AMG derived 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, elevating it from 503 hp to a mighty 656 hp. That’s a lot of power for a rear wheel drive, front mid-engine sports car - giving it a bit of a waggy tail when you stamp on throttle. It does make you wonder what on earth they were doing before.

Other than the 153 extra horses under the bonnet, it’s inside the car where the real upgrade has taken place. A shiny new centre console dominates the cockpit. Unlike the confusing and clunky mishmash of cheap buttons and dials in the old model, borrowed from a C-Class Mercedes Benz, Aston has developed its own in-house infotainment system, worthy of the badge. And what a difference it has made. Silky smooth rollers operate the climate control and volume. The large touchscreen display is… kind of intuitive (which these days is saying something).

There is still, however, a slightly hollow and plasticky feel to the doors and compartments, that you wouldn’t expect in a car of this calibre. Weight saving measures like these seem a bit over-the-top when there’s 656 bhp coiled beneath your right foot, and a £175,000 price tag to boot. Personally, I don’t mind the severe lack of internal storage space. I like a clean cabin. And such compartments only seem to attract unnecessary clutter. But I can see how this might frustrate some drivers, who still pay parking meters with coins and navigate using an A to Z.

In all seriousness though, one thing their engineers are quite proud of, is the roof mechanism. At speeds of up to 31 miles per hour, it deploys in under 7 seconds. Faster than the McLaren 720S (11 secs), the Ferrari Roma (14 secs) and the Audi R8 (20 secs). Maybe it’s our unpredictable weather, but Aston seems to have prioritised roof speed more than anyone else – how very British!

Top speed 202mph | 0-60mph 3.5s | 656 horsepower | 800Nm torque | 4.0-litre V8 Twin-Turbo | Starting from £175,000

For more information about the new Vantage roadster, visit Aston Martin's website here.