The new Vantage?
Discussion
ThomW said:
A 911 won ECOTY? I’m shocked, shocked I tell you.
Not half as shocked as I was about the MX5 being in it at all let alone coming joint 2nd with the McLaren...While it's always been a great little car, spiritual successor to the everyman brit sports cars of the past (and all that), it's hardly among the sort of stuff that EVO was set up to focus on, is it?
If two things can be 'joint second' - then shouldn't that have made the Vantage third....?

Calinours said:
Not half as shocked as I was about the MX5 being in it at all let alone coming joint 2nd with the McLaren...
While it's always been a great little car, spiritual successor to the everyman brit sports cars of the past (and all that), it's hardly among the sort of stuff that EVO was set up to focus on, is it?
If two things can be 'joint second' - then shouldn't that have made the Vantage third....?
The MX-5 is arguably one of the only sporting cars on sale that’s actually usable these days. Fun at low speeds, you can use 100% of the performance without losing your licence, not too big for our roads etc. It, along with the GR86 are the most ‘Evo’ cars on sale. While it's always been a great little car, spiritual successor to the everyman brit sports cars of the past (and all that), it's hardly among the sort of stuff that EVO was set up to focus on, is it?
If two things can be 'joint second' - then shouldn't that have made the Vantage third....?

VantageHead said:
ThomW said:
A 911 won ECOTY? I’m shocked, shocked I tell you.



One advantage of the Vantage over the Porsche is you don’t have to go on a ‘waiting list’ or wait for your dealer to invite you in to order one (“Rolex Syndrome”)!

Edited by cayman-black on Sunday 12th January 17:12
VantageHead said:
EVO’s COTY 2024 just published on YouTube;
Vantage came 4th (after 911ST (1st), Artura & MX-5 (2nd equal)):

Henry torpedoed the Vantage by placing it 6th and had the Mazda in 1st. Really great car if you fit. I thought he was tall? I look like someone from Toyland in one of them. Vantage came 4th (after 911ST (1st), Artura & MX-5 (2nd equal)):
Stuart Gallagher (editor in chief) had it in first place.
James Taylor (deputy editor) and Dickie Meaden (overall legend) had it in second.
Pretty good result!
ThomW said:
A 911 won ECOTY? I’m shocked, shocked I tell you.
Usually just the GT cars these days. They placed the 992 Turbo last and the Cayman GTS 2nd last in 2020 when my beloved old M2CS won. Since sold. I kept my VH AMR Vantage over it as its a better drive. It was a great car though.I guess we all know what to expect but new new Vantage Roadster is scheduled to be officially revealed tomorrow. There are already a few leaked photos viewable on line but I shall refrain from posting any links. Here is the usual AML marketing guff..… 
Spines will tingle. Jaws will drop. Hair will stand.
Prepare to raise the roof.
BRM

Spines will tingle. Jaws will drop. Hair will stand.
Prepare to raise the roof.
BRM
Overall I like it but disappointed they carried over the ungainly fixed roll over hoops and exposed bit of canvas roof when open which look kind of alright on a cheaper Boxster but not on an Aston at this price level.
Why not fully conceal the convertible top under a tonneau and have retractable roll over hoops like on the VH Vantage Roadster?
Why not fully conceal the convertible top under a tonneau and have retractable roll over hoops like on the VH Vantage Roadster?
It's officially out - "Engineered for real drivers, designed for open air thrills": https://www.astonmartin.com/en-us/models/vantage-r...
“We were able to retain the outrageous dynamic capabilities and agile sporting character of Vantage with no compromise upon removal of the roof,” Newton says. https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2025-aston-mart...
“We were able to retain the outrageous dynamic capabilities and agile sporting character of Vantage with no compromise upon removal of the roof,” Newton says. https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2025-aston-mart...
I think it looks great. do agree on the fabric cover but oh well. Hopefully made the ride a shade softer.
wonder when they'll release Vanquish volante.
I guess with the Vanquish volante, that's really the final new model we should expect in the next bit, fully filling out the core model range.
wonder when they'll release Vanquish volante.
I guess with the Vanquish volante, that's really the final new model we should expect in the next bit, fully filling out the core model range.
CSK1 said:
Overall I like it but disappointed they carried over the ungainly fixed roll over hoops and exposed bit of canvas roof when open which look kind of alright on a cheaper Boxster but not on an Aston at this price level.
Why not fully conceal the convertible top under a tonneau and have retractable roll over hoops like on the VH Vantage Roadster?
Because the roof would take 5 minutes to raise and lower and reduce boot size a lot more like the VH roadster. Once you get used to a 6 second roof nothing else will do. I would think this would be especially valuable in the UK?Why not fully conceal the convertible top under a tonneau and have retractable roll over hoops like on the VH Vantage Roadster?
I think it looks fantastic.
I can’t wait to meet the New New Vantage Roadster (NNVR?) in a couple of weeks’ time.
My only concern - right from first seeing the coupe - is that the centre screen at that angle will be unreadable in the sun.
It was bad enough in my previous F-Type convertible and that at least had the screen set back into a shroud.
There again, most things will be set and forget on start up and just enjoy the drive.
My only concern - right from first seeing the coupe - is that the centre screen at that angle will be unreadable in the sun.
It was bad enough in my previous F-Type convertible and that at least had the screen set back into a shroud.
There again, most things will be set and forget on start up and just enjoy the drive.

I think it looks great, possibly even better than the coupé. The choice of wheels on the launch car isn’t the best imho, but no doubt there are more preferable options available. The launch video is splendid…is there a hint of The Spy Who Loved Me in there? The helicopter coming into view out of nowhere reminds me of the iconic car chase scene with the Stromberg helicopter piloted by Caroline Munro…no Lotus Esprit this time though! 
BRM.

BRM.
CSK1 said:
Overall I like it but disappointed they carried over the ungainly fixed roll over hoops and exposed bit of canvas roof when open which look kind of alright on a cheaper Boxster but not on an Aston at this price level.
Why not fully conceal the convertible top under a tonneau and have retractable roll over hoops like on the VH Vantage Roadster?
Because engineering that stuff is incredibly expensive and, genuinely without having looked, I'll bet everything above the waistline is carry-over from the current 2C Vantage and everything below the waistline is carry-over from the recently-facelifted coupe. There may be a few new panels around waist level to make the two match up.Why not fully conceal the convertible top under a tonneau and have retractable roll over hoops like on the VH Vantage Roadster?
There will be a slight rework of the centre console to fit in a roof switch and they will definitely have messed with the spring and damper rates, if only because the convertible roof and mechanism adds significant weight. I'd doubt that they will have stiffened the body further (as they used to on the VH Roadster by changing undersheets to aluminium) as I think they maxxed that out on the coupe at the facelift, so the Roadster will be slightly less stiff. Expect some Marketing guff about compliant Roadster ride for effortless cruising while the Coupe is hard-edged for the real drivers, or some such drivel.
Happy to eat humble pie if I'm wrong.
Edited by LTP on Wednesday 15th January 10:39
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DiGfIrWIcA
AM really are on a roll. A very strong line up of cars (arguably their best so far). Roadster is beautiful.
AM really are on a roll. A very strong line up of cars (arguably their best so far). Roadster is beautiful.
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