Cars

Aston Martin's V8 Vantage Roadster; Vicious!!

Aston Martin will unveil one of the most eagerly anticipated convertibles of the year when the V8 Vantage Roadster is revealed at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show on Wednesday November 29th. Aston Martin Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ulrich Bez said: "The V8 Vantage Roadster is a pure sports car, a car that heightens the senses and provides a dynamically thrilling driving experience. The Vantage Roadster adds to the unbeatable thrill of open air motoring and by combining engineering excellence, technological innovation and physical perfection, will ensure every journey is one to remember."

Perfectly proportioned with a low "curve-hugging" stance, the V8 Roadster incorporates classic Aston Martin design. The elegant line of cars is fused with traditional craftsmanship and 21st century style, with an interior hand-trimmed and finished in the finest quality of genuine materials. The Vantage Roadster will be built at Gaydon, Aston Martin's global headquarters near Warwickshire in the UK. It will take it's place alongside the current Aston Martin line-up, consisting of the flagship Vanquish S, the elegant DB9, and the agile V8 Vantage Coupe.

Design

The design of the Vantage Roadster is powerful, yet elegant. The body is a fluid form with character and attention to detail. The Vantage Roadster represents the latest evolution of Aston Martin's combination of craft and technology. From the beautifully hand stitched leather seats to the hand-finished body, to the V8 engine, hand-assembled at a dedicated, high-technology facility, the Vantage Roadster is a highly desirable sports car. Even in convertible form the Roadster retains the critically acclaimed design of the Vantage Coupe. It is offered with a combination of different leathers, contemporary fabrics and aluminium.

Performance

Developed alongside the V8 Vantage Coupe which was launched in 2005, the Roadster shares the unique-to-Aston Martin bonded aluminium VH (Vertical Horizontal) architecture - the backbone to all modern Aston Martins. Advanced composites are used for the body along with lightweight alloys and magnesium, further contributing to the car's low weight and high rigidity. The driver and the passenger both sit low, close to the car's centre of gravity, where they can feel the car's "roadside manner", usually only experienced in racing cars - wich provides a direct connection between the car and the driver.

At just 172.5 in long, Vantage Roadster remains not only the smallest model in the Aston Martin range but also one of the leanest cars in its class. The Vantage Roadster delivers exceptional performance with careful development and engineering to ensure that the Roadster equals the achievements of its Coupe sibling, achieving 62mph in 5.0 seconds (0-60mph in 4.9 seconds) and a potential maximum speed of 175mph. Vantage Roadster will be available with two transmission alternatives from launch. Offered as standard is the fast-shifting, six-speed Graziano conventional stick-shift manual gearbox, with ratios perfectly matched to the performance of the V8 engine. This is joined by Aston Martin's new Sportshift automated manual transmission - an ultra-quick system that provides the driver with heightened precision via fingertip control of gear changes using paddles to progress smoothly and swiftly through the ratios.

Deliveries of the V8 Vantage Roadster are expected to commence during quarter two 2007, with prices to be confirmed at a later date.

General specifications
Country of origin	Great Britain
Year of introduction	2007
Introduced at	2006 LA Auto Show
Numbers built	N/A
Body design	N/A
Weight	3769.9 lbs
Drivetrain
Engine	90º V 8
Engine Location	Front , longitudinally mounted
Displacement	261.2 cu in
Valvetrain	4 valves / cylinder, DOHC
Fuel feed	Fuel injection
Aspiration	Naturally Aspirated
Gearbox	6 speed Manual
Drive	Rear wheel drive
Performance figures
Power	380 bhp / 283 KW @ 7300 rpm
Torque	302 ft lbs @ 5000 rpm
BHP/Liter	89 bhp / liter
Power to weight ratio	0.22 bhp / kg
Top Speed	174 mph
0-60 mph Acceleration	4.9 s