► New Aston Martin Vantage Roadster
► They’ve chopped the top off the V8
► New 2025 ‘entry-level’ Aston convertible
Launching just in time for summer 2025, it’s the new open-top Aston Martin Vantage Roadster – and it does exactly what it says on the tin.
The British manufacturer has a long history of chopping the top off its sports cars and the first rung up the Aston ownership ladder, the Vantage, has now succumbed to the tin-opener. It’s essentially an Aston Martin Vantage Coupe with the roof removed for alfresco thrills and posing power aplenty.
Launching in the second quarter of 2025, you can see (and hear) the convertible in action in the official launch video above. The 4.0-litre Mercedes-AMG V8 has never sounded as good…
It’s front-engined and rear-wheel drive, naturally, and the key headline outputs are pretty mind-boggling, the more so when you consider this is Aston Martin’s cheapest open-top sports car:
- Top speed: 202mph (the same as the coupe)
- 0-60mph acceleration: 3.5 seconds
- Roof speed, from open to closed: 6.8 seconds
It’s worth noting that roof operation time; Aston claims it’s the ‘fastest electric folding convertible roof on sale today, opening or closing fully in just 6.8 seconds, and at speeds of up to 31mph.’
It means you can flip from coupe protection (from sunshine or rain) to open-top thrills in a jiffy, giving occupants the greatest chance to enjoy the weather – and the sonorous sound of that twin-turbocharged V8.
Gaydon claims that the roof, electric motors and extra bracing add 60kg to the overall kerbweight of the new 2025 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster (total mass: 1665kg, dry).
The styling, honed at the Gaydon design centre in Warwickshire, England, is exactly as you’d expect. It takes the shape of the latest Vantage family and deftly replaces the metalwork above with a shape so elegant and clean that you just know the coupe and soft-top convertible were designed in tandem from the outset.
To these eyes, Aston Martin design has got it just right: it’s butch, purposeful and elegant all at once, without being too shouty. Aston Martin Lagonda design director Miles Nurnberger talks of athletic style, or a ‘brute in a suit’, and we’d say they’ve hit the bullseye with the Vantage Roadster.
Owners can pick from an array of design upgrades, including privacy side glass, extra carbonfibre detailing, pinstripe liveries and gloss black upper body packages.
Performance specs
The 4.0-litre twin-turbo is carried over from the coupe, meaning performance is destined to be strong.
Peak power output stands at 656bhp at 6000rpm while the torque mountain swells to 590lb ft all the way from 2750-6000rpm, enabling those outrageous performance claims. That flat torque curve indicates brutal acceleration available across the rev range.
The V8 is mounted far back in the front engine bay, allowing Aston to claim it’s ‘front-mid-mounted’, to improve the weight distribution. Furthermore, the eight-speed automatic transmission is mounted on the transaxle at the back and the propshaft is lightweight carbonfibre, helping to give car more balance.
The Aston Martin Vantage Roadster is 4495mm long, 2124mm wide (including mirrors) and just 1285mm high.
Suspension and driver modes
Suspension is by double wishbones up front, and the rear wheels are suspended by a multi-link arrangement. Aston Martin’s Adaptive Damping System uses Skyhook technology to soften or stiffen response, depending on the road surface and the driver commands. Choose from the following modes: Wet, Sport, Sports Plus, Track and Individual.
Twenty-one inch alloy wheels are standard: 275/35 ZR21 Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 AML tyres up front, whopping 325/30 ZR21 at the rear. Owners can choose to upgrade to Michelin’s Pilot Alpin 5 AML winter rubber if they wish.
How useable is the new 2025 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster?
Aston is adamant the new Vantage Roadster is an everyday proposition. We’ve driven the coupe extensively and can vouch for its ease of use. The two-seater cabin is snug and purposeful, with comfortable seats and – finally – infotainment that’s up to the job. If you need +2 rear seats, upgrade to the Aston Martin DB12 instead.
The Vantage soft-top has a 200-litre boot and 78-litre fuel tank. You’ll be filling the latter quite regularly, thanks to a 23mpg combined fuel consumption figure (worse if you enjoy all 656bhp, we suspect). CO2 emissions stand at a lofty 279g/km.