Skip to main content

Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster: Big engine, small car

Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster front three-quarter viewHot on the heels of the McLaren MP4-12C Spider is another drop-top supercar. Also hailing from the British Isles, it’s the Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster. It may not be as technologically advanced as the McLaren, but the Aston still promises to put smiles on enthusiasts’ faces.

Photos were leaked before the V12 Vantage Roadster’s official debut, and there are no surprises. Just like the V8-powered Vantage Roadster, the V12 borrows styling cues from its big brother, the DB9. The result is a classically-proportioned sports car with a weapons-grade powerplant under the bonnet.

Like the V12 Vantage Coupe, the Roadster uses the 6.0-liter engine from the larger DBS. The V12 produces 510 horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque, enough to power the hardtop Vantage to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, and on to a top speed of 190 mph. A V8 Vantage takes 4.3 seconds and has a 180 mph top speed.

V12 Vantages come exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, which is mounted in the rear for better weight distribution.

Signifying a V12 Vantage are hood vents, unique wheels, and blacked-out trim. There may be four more cylinders under the hood, but why spoil the surprise with flamboyant bodywork? The interior gets optional carbon fiber trim, and the Roadster adds glass switches.Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster rear three-quarter view

To get the Vantage Roadster ready for its V12 transplant, Aston Martin had to make a few modifications. The suspension was changed, and a new decklid spoiler and front air gurney were added.

When it debuts, the V12 Vantage Roadster will have plenty of convertible supercars to compete with. The McLaren, for one, promises 0 to 60 in 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 207 mph. The Audi R8 Spyder 5.2 hits 60 in 3.7 seconds and tops out at 195 mph.

The Aston may offer a less hectic pace, but will it really be less enjoyable? The V12 Vantage isn’t a mid-engined technology showpiece, so it might appeal to a different crowd. Very few people have hair that can withstand a top-down run at 200 mph, anyway.

The V12 Vantage Roadster is a special car, and it will be rare too. Only 101 V12 Vantage Roadsters will be sold when the car enters production later this year. Aston has not revealed its price, but the V12 Vantage Coupe starts at $180,535.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
The Apple Car was reportedly dubbed ‘the Bread Loaf’
A man checks his phone in an Apple retail store in Grand Central Terminal.

A 2020 prototype of the so-called "Apple Car" was dubbed "the Bread Loaf" for its looks, according to a Bloomberg report on Wednesday.

In a deep dive into the costly project, which Apple canceled last month, the report described the vehicle as “a white minivan with rounded sides, an all-glass roof, sliding doors, and whitewall tires [that] was designed to comfortably seat four people and inspired by the classic flower-power Volkswagen microbus.”

Read more
The Rivian R2 SUV is up for preorder for only $45,000
Rivian R2

You can now get a Rivian without spending more than $70,000. After months of rumors and leaks, Rivian has finally taken the wraps off of the Rivian R2, its newest SUV, and the first to be built on the new Rivian R2 platform. The R2 is built to be Rivian's "Model 3 moment," or its attempt to build a car that's more accessible to the general public and thus could be sold at a much higher volume than the R1S or R1T ever were.

The R2 certainly cuts some corners to achieve the lower price point, but it actually still has a lot going for it -- especially as an electric SUV in this price range. It goes up against the likes of the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Mustang Mach-E, and Kia EV6, but it's much more of an SUV than a crossover-sized car and should appeal to those who want something larger and with Rivian's design sensibility.

Read more
The R3 is Rivian’s surprise electric crossover
Rivian R3

Rivian didn't just announce the R2 platform at its latest launch event -- in a surprise twist, it also announced the R3 crossover. The R3 is Rivian's smallest car yet, offering a size much closer to the likes of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 than the SUVs that came before it.

Of course, not only is the Rivian R3 smaller, but presumably, it's also cheaper. Rivian didn't reveal actual pricing for the car, but it did say that it would be less than the R2's $45,000 price. Also, it may be some time before we start seeing the R3 on the road -- the car will follow the R2, which isn't set to be available until the first half of 2026.

Read more