Friday 24th June 2016

Aston Martin Vantage GT12 Roadster

What to do when a GT12 coupe isn't enough? Get Q Division to make a Roadster!

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What would be the first thing you would do with an Aston Martin GT12? You might well reasonably argue nothing, but perhaps more power would be on the agenda, or a Works manual conversion if you were feeling bold. This GT12 customer has gone one step further, commissioning a one-off Roadster from Aston's Q Division.

Trim and colours bespoke

And, well, here it is! Said to combine the "hardcore ethos" with the "visceral thrill" of open-top driving, it uses the same 600hp V12 and Sportshift automated manual as the coupe. The most significant changes are in the new carbon panels, most notably the boot. Funny how much more subdued the GT12 is in grey as well... There's a unique suspension set up for the Roadster, the result apparently being "the same exceptional handling characteristics as the Coupe." Hopefully the fortunate owner can put both to the test...

The GT12 Roadster is significant in the history of Aston as the first time a customer has been able to bring in Aston design and engineering as part of a Q commission. Does this perhaps point towards more unique Astons in future, along the line of Ferrari's One-Off cars? The official line from Aston is that, as part of Q's expansion to include Aston Advanced Operations, "customers can now commission highly ambitious full-scale design and engineering projects." Intriguing.

The GT12 Roadster project has taken nine months from dream to realisation, with the car being shown for the first time at the Festival of Speed. Aston CEO Dr Andy Palmer added that it's "a hugely exciting project... because it vividly demonstrates the expanded capabilities of Q by Aston Martin." And no, of course the price hasn't been announced. Another one to see this weekend!

[PhantomPH]

Christ, that's stunning!

[AyBee]

Bloody hell, that thing is stunning

[Guvernator]

Who says money can't buy you happiness? Having that on my drive would make me VERY happy.

That first pic is surely pic of the week contender?

[epom]

Oh wow, that is fab. Well to be picky I'd prefer wheels with a straight spoke, kinda like speedlines or something. That however is nit picking. Wow.

[PetrolAholic]

Guvernator said:

That first pic is surely pic of the week contender?

I completely agree, but it'll be some 1950's car that none of us know about.

[Vocht]

Well this definitely wins the best looking arm rest award!



The whole car is absolutely perfect also. Well done Aston!

[SwissJonese]

For an old original design it is still looking stunning, wow, so much want and I normally wouldn't even consider a drop top

[hufggfg]

Does look stunning.

I have to say though, that one of the things I've always liked about Porsche's GT cars is that they only make them as coupes, as they are for driving, not posing in.

This kind of shows that Aston don't see their equivalent "special" cars in the same way. That's ok, I guess they're playing to what consumers actually want, but as a car nut, I find it a bit disappointing that the ethos is not "pure drivers car".

[Guvernator]

hufggfg said:

Does look stunning.

I have to say though, that one of the things I've always liked about Porsche's GT cars is that they only make them as coupes, as they are for driving, not posing in.

This kind of shows that Aston don't see their equivalent "special" cars in the same way. That's ok, I guess they're playing to what consumers actually want, but as a car nut, I find it a bit disappointing that the ethos is not "pure drivers car".

This may seem odd but I never associate the Aston brand with out and out track cars like I do the Porsche GT cars. Not sure why that is but racing cars all seems a bit too try hard for Aston. Whenever I think Aston, I think of winding my way down some mountain roads to Monaco rather than hammering it around the Ring and for that job this car is perfect. I guess the James Bond image has a lot to answer for good and bad.

[Neil1300r]

For Sale:-
1 kidney - possibly 2 for the right price.
Cash needed immediately to buy this

[Vocht]

hufggfg said:

I have to say though, that one of the things I've always liked about Porsche's GT cars is that they only make them as coupes, as they are for driving, not posing in.

[hufggfg]

Vocht said:

hufggfg said:

I have to say though, that one of the things I've always liked about Porsche's GT cars is that they only make them as coupes, as they are for driving, not posing in.

See your point, but that's not one of the GT versions of the regular car, in the vein of the GT3 or this GT12. Also, it's a very different concept, that's not a coupe with the roof chopped off, it's a car specifically designed as as a roadster with a carbon fibre monocoque, much like the 918.

[hufggfg]

Guvernator said:

This may seem odd but I never associate the Aston brand with out and out track cars like I do the Porsche GT cars. Not sure why that is but racing cars all seems a bit too try hard for Aston. Whenever I think Aston, I think of winding my way down some mountain roads to Monaco rather than hammering it around the Ring and for that job this car is perfect. I guess the James Bond image has a lot to answer for good and bad.

Yep I'm on totally same page. I just like that "race car for road" ethos more than i like the "winding my way down some mountain roads to Monaco" image.

[SuperVM]

Vocht said:

Well this definitely wins the best looking arm rest award!



The whole car is absolutely perfect also. Well done Aston!

I don't know, to me it looks like it is wearing a thong. I like the car as a whole though.

[mwstewart]

Wow.

[thepoisondwarf]

awesome.

[McAndy]

That looks stunning. I never liked the garish colours and hoofing great wing on the coupé, but that looks, as I said, stunning.

[JCB123]

I did a cum!

[V8A*ndy]

I do approve

[Wizardskills]

SuperVM said:

I don't know, to me it looks like it is wearing a thong. I like the car as a whole though.

Cannot unsee that now