With 565bhp and 620Nm on tap, the V12 Vantage S Roadster can blast from 0-60mph in just 3.9 seconds - but it can tour just as well as it can sprint. Three selectable adaptive damping modes are available – Normal, Sport and Track – and the system has been tuned to the specific weight and stiffness characteristics of the Roadster bodyshell. As a result it can cover the spectrum from a compliant low-speed ride in town to a flat, precise and balanced response at high speed.
The V12 drives through an uprated Oerlikon Graziano ‘Sportshift III’ 7-speed transmission, allowing the driver to exploit the full potential of that V12 engine. To rein in the performance, a carbon-ceramic matrix Brembo braking system features front and rear discs of 398 mm and 360 mm diameter respectively. A lightweight sports exhaust liberates the full symphony of the V12 at high rpm, a must for those roof-down Alpine tunnel drives.
The technical achievement of the V12 Vantage S can be summed up by one fact. According to Aston Martin’s test team, it recorded the same lap time as the V12 Vantage S coupé on the test handling circuit. And with the roof down, we’d wager it felt even faster.
2016 model upgrades include the updated AMi II Infotainment system which offers improved driver interface controls with additional vehicle information. Updates also include the introduction of a new style fascia, this stylish one-piece console now flows through the centre of the car, offering a more useable interface for both the driver and the passenger.