2025 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster claims fastest electric convertible roof on sale

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Aston Martin’s least expensive sports car, the 2025 Aston Martin Vantage, has gained a convertible version claiming to offer the “fastest fully automatic deployable roof mechanism” of any new car.

Based on the latest Vantage coupe unveiled about 12 months ago, the Roadster is billed as a new model by Aston Martin but is in fact a heavy update of the outgoing car, with updated styling, a new interior and significant mechanical changes.

Australian arrivals are due to commence between April and June 2025, priced from $435,000 before on-road costs – $25,000 more than the coupe.

The Roadster shares the coupe’s reworked 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V8 sourced from Mercedes-AMG, matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive.

MORE: 2024 Aston Martin Vantage unveiled

While the British car maker was limited in how many changes it could make to the German engine in the outgoing Vantage, it has been given free reign to boost outputs from 375kW/685Nm to 489kW/800Nm for the 2025 model.

Thanks to larger turbochargers, revised camshaft profiles and a tweaked compression ratio, the power boost allows for a claimed 0-100km/h time of 3.6 seconds, and a 325km/h top speed.

The coupe quotes 3.4 seconds and 325km/h for the same metrics, while the previous Roadster claimed sub-4.0 seconds and 305km/h.

Aston Martin says the Vantage coupe and Roadster were developed simultaneously, rather than the latter after the former, which it says reduces the compromises typically associated with the weight, stiffness and driving dynamics of convertibles.

The ‘Z-fold’ fabric soft-top roof can raise or lower electrically in just 6.8 seconds – claimed to be the “fastest fully automatic deployable roof mechanism on the market today” – from the key fob at short distances, or at speeds up to 50km/h while in the car.

Chassis changes include revised rear body mountings and “weight-optimised shear panels” to counteract the dent in body stiffness made by removing the fixed metal roof.

The vehicle’s weight has increased by 60kg, while changes to the rear damper software and gearbox mountings have also been applied.

Shared with the coupe is adaptive suspension, a non-isolated steering rack, 21-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tyres, and a new eight-stage traction-control system.

Standard are six-piston front and four-piston rear brake calipers clamping 400x36mm front and 360x36mm rear steel discs, which can be upgraded to 410x38mm front and 360x38mm rear carbon-ceramic rotors as an option.

New colours for the Roadster include Iridescent Sapphire, Satin Iridescent Sapphire and Bronze Flare, offsetting a roof available in black, red, blue or black/silver two-tone.

Inside, the Vantage Roadster shares the fixed-roof model’s redesigned dashboard, with dual 10.25-inch screens running Aston Martin’s in-house software while keeping physical controls for the exhaust, suspension, safety systems, and other key features.

Buyers can choose between an 11-speaker, 390-watt in-house-designed stereo, or a Bowers & Wilkins premium option.

The 2025 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster is due to commence global deliveries in the second quarter of 2025 (April to June), the company says.

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