RE: Aston Martin to make V12 Vantage Roadster
Discussion
This is a ltd ed drop top run of an existing car - it's not supposed to be an all new car - of course it looks familiar ! It's for people that love the V12V coupe but want it without a roof....
As for comments about the wheels - these are almost identical to those on the coupe, they are simply painted differently and according to the AM literature, have very marginally slimmer spokes although I'm not altogether sure that's correct. Mine certainly won't be painted two tone like this.
As for comments about the wheels - these are almost identical to those on the coupe, they are simply painted differently and according to the AM literature, have very marginally slimmer spokes although I'm not altogether sure that's correct. Mine certainly won't be painted two tone like this.
apart from the vents, surely this is every petrolheads' car? absolutely gorgeous engine, rwd, manual gearbox, looks to die for. Looks/feels old? Only in the way the Mona Lisa looks, or a Strad violin feels, old I reckon. What's the continuing fascination with newness all the time? AM hit on quite probably the best look for a car for 50 years, why change it to something worse just to keep it 'new'?St John Smythe said:
I think the 'Astons look boring/all the same' and '30k for a Golf!' must be the two most predictable replies on PH these days 
Nah, "every 911 looks the same / engine in the wrong place" edges it by a nose.I don't care if every aston looks similar, I want every single one of them. Better go sell a kidney...
Duffman83 said:
Thanks George,that looks cracking. Its amazing how much of an improvement painting those vents makes to the car. Can they be ordered like that from the factory when you spec up your car?
I don't think they can be ordered like that. Something to do with Aston saying they can't get the paint finish to their high standards over the complex geometry of the vents. Or something like that.I'm sure Works Service would do it for a price
Some Gump said:
Nah, "every 911 looks the same / engine in the wrong place" edges it by a nose.
I don't care if every aston looks similar, I want every single one of them. Better go sell a kidney...
I agree. Why would you change a perfect design style, such as the DB9/Vantage or 911. Evolution is always the way.I don't care if every aston looks similar, I want every single one of them. Better go sell a kidney...
Dr S said:
I have been a big admirer of recent Astons and consider the Vantage one of the best car designs ever. But this car leaves me very disappointed. It is nothing more than reheated cabbage. Where is the innovation? Aston need to really up their game if they want to remain a credible alternative to Porsche, Ferrari etc.
Somehow I fear that Aston needs one of the big manufacturers as owner to afford technical proper technical advancement. It needs to be an owner who understands what makes an Aston an Aston and who has the ability to develope the marque further
You can re heat the cabbage on the bonnet vents. Has Aston ever been about innovation? Its about all the things that other manufacturers seem to aspire too - being an Aston Martin. Oh and btw you can now spec a rear view camera - thats a first for Aston ( and I bet no-one does) Somehow I fear that Aston needs one of the big manufacturers as owner to afford technical proper technical advancement. It needs to be an owner who understands what makes an Aston an Aston and who has the ability to develope the marque further
Some Gump said:
St John Smythe said:
I think the 'Astons look boring/all the same' and '30k for a Golf!' must be the two most predictable replies on PH these days
Nah, "every 911 looks the same / engine in the wrong place" edges it by a nose.I don't care if every aston looks similar, I want every single one of them. Better go sell a kidney...
silverspeed said:
Dr S said:
I have been a big admirer of recent Astons and consider the Vantage one of the best car designs ever. But this car leaves me very disappointed. It is nothing more than reheated cabbage. Where is the innovation? Aston need to really up their game if they want to remain a credible alternative to Porsche, Ferrari etc.
Somehow I fear that Aston needs one of the big manufacturers as owner to afford technical proper technical advancement. It needs to be an owner who understands what makes an Aston an Aston and who has the ability to develope the marque further
You can re heat the cabbage on the bonnet vents. Has Aston ever been about innovation? Its about all the things that other manufacturers seem to aspire too - being an Aston Martin. Oh and btw you can now spec a rear view camera - thats a first for Aston ( and I bet no-one does) Somehow I fear that Aston needs one of the big manufacturers as owner to afford technical proper technical advancement. It needs to be an owner who understands what makes an Aston an Aston and who has the ability to develope the marque further
t1grm said:
Considering every Aston since the DB9 is based on the same platform surely there is some truth in this. I read the new Vanquish is to be based on the DBS which in turn is a DB9/VH platform variant. When is Aston going to develop a new platform?
They risk going the same way as TVR at this rate - just offering periodic rebodies of the same chassis/engine combination.
Why does a new platform matter - do you ever get to see it?They risk going the same way as TVR at this rate - just offering periodic rebodies of the same chassis/engine combination.
Do you care a Rolls Royce Phantom is a 7 series platform? Does that mean you can't charge more than you do a BMW?
I read somewhere the Vanquish is based on a platform developed over 100 years ago where there are 4 wheels and an engine in front of the driver! Where does this obsession with platforms come from? Aston can change the length, width and strength of an existing platform but because it's glued aluminium that was first seen 8 years ago it's too similar and is therefore an existing platform. Their next platform is made from Unobtanium but is the same shape as a Lotus one from ten years ago so sadly it's an existing platform.
Vantagefan said:
t1grm said:
Considering every Aston since the DB9 is based on the same platform surely there is some truth in this. I read the new Vanquish is to be based on the DBS which in turn is a DB9/VH platform variant. When is Aston going to develop a new platform?
They risk going the same way as TVR at this rate - just offering periodic rebodies of the same chassis/engine combination.
Why does a new platform matter - do you ever get to see it?They risk going the same way as TVR at this rate - just offering periodic rebodies of the same chassis/engine combination.
Do you care a Rolls Royce Phantom is a 7 series platform? Does that mean you can't charge more than you do a BMW?
I read somewhere the Vanquish is based on a platform developed over 100 years ago where there are 4 wheels and an engine in front of the driver! Where does this obsession with platforms come from? Aston can change the length, width and strength of an existing platform but because it's glued aluminium that was first seen 8 years ago it's too similar and is therefore an existing platform. Their next platform is made from Unobtanium but is the same shape as a Lotus one from ten years ago so sadly it's an existing platform.
Shame it could be the last Aston manual.
Awesome car overall, love the idea of a manual V12 in a relatively compact rag-top sports car body. It's great classic shape though I for one am bored with all Aston's looking the same now.
Not keen on some of the details namely - the wheels, the black front splitter and bonnet vents, the lexarse rear lights, and the bootlid lip spoiler.
Awesome car overall, love the idea of a manual V12 in a relatively compact rag-top sports car body. It's great classic shape though I for one am bored with all Aston's looking the same now.
Not keen on some of the details namely - the wheels, the black front splitter and bonnet vents, the lexarse rear lights, and the bootlid lip spoiler.
The coupes really aren't that exciting to drive and I have a life long love affair that has cost me £000s with AML. As for the V8 being "perfectly balanced" etc in the original article; I think someone has an undiagnosed inner ear infection - they are under powered in 4.3 spec and a 911 or any V8 ferrari post 360 is measurably better poised.
Personally wouldn't trust the limited edition BS further than I could skid one backwards into a boggy field. I'm glad they built it, shame they lied for so many years saying they never would (to my face at Geneva motorshow last year).
Add it to the list of AML BS:
- Limited no of V12 Coupes;
- Can't put a manual gearbox in a Vanquish;
- 4.3 is as big as the V8 engine can be bored out to;
- etc
They are of course very pretty and the brand is still (just about) the one that English men feel warmest about.
Personally wouldn't trust the limited edition BS further than I could skid one backwards into a boggy field. I'm glad they built it, shame they lied for so many years saying they never would (to my face at Geneva motorshow last year).
Add it to the list of AML BS:
- Limited no of V12 Coupes;
- Can't put a manual gearbox in a Vanquish;
- 4.3 is as big as the V8 engine can be bored out to;
- etc
They are of course very pretty and the brand is still (just about) the one that English men feel warmest about.
Vantagefan said:
Why does a new platform matter - do you ever get to see it?
Do you care a Rolls Royce Phantom is a 7 series platform? Does that mean you can't charge more than you do a BMW?
I read somewhere the Vanquish is based on a platform developed over 100 years ago where there are 4 wheels and an engine in front of the driver! Where does this obsession with platforms come from? Aston can change the length, width and strength of an existing platform but because it's glued aluminium that was first seen 8 years ago it's too similar and is therefore an existing platform. Their next platform is made from Unobtanium but is the same shape as a Lotus one from ten years ago so sadly it's an existing platform.
That’s platform sharing. I’m talking about the age of the platform not what cars it’s shared with. I don’t think the RR Ghost shares the same chassis as a 10 year old 7 series.Do you care a Rolls Royce Phantom is a 7 series platform? Does that mean you can't charge more than you do a BMW?
I read somewhere the Vanquish is based on a platform developed over 100 years ago where there are 4 wheels and an engine in front of the driver! Where does this obsession with platforms come from? Aston can change the length, width and strength of an existing platform but because it's glued aluminium that was first seen 8 years ago it's too similar and is therefore an existing platform. Their next platform is made from Unobtanium but is the same shape as a Lotus one from ten years ago so sadly it's an existing platform.
So just because you can’t see it, it doesn’t matter? Presumably you could say the same about the engine. So let’s all put 1950’s big block V8’s in every sports car. The platform has a key effect on handling and chassis dynamics. As other manufactures replace their platforms Aston will be left behind if they don’t replace theirs.
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