Updates
10/23/2019 – Aston Martin Vantage Volante testing at Nurburgring
10/7/2019 – First Images of the Aston Martin Vantage Volante Are Released
As you can see from these official images of the Vantage Volante prototype, very little change will take place in converting the coupe into a drop-top below the waist. It will retain the low, wide stance of the coupe it’s based on, along with the rear light bar, ducktail-style rear spoiler, and that mildly aggressive rear diffuser. Above the waistline, the Vantage Roadster will sport a soft canvass top that folds away and stashes below the rear deck. So, the big points to note here are merely unlimited headroom and a sexy topless design when the top is lowered. Otherwise, it’ll maintain the coupe look with the top up.
As far as details go, we don’t have a lot to tell you, as Aston Martin has said precious little. However, you can expect that 4.0-liter V-8 from the coupe to carry over, and it will likely carry over untouched. So, 503 horsepower and 505 pound-feet of torque will be at your disposal. A mild weight increase will come along with the droppable top due to the extra mechanicals, but this will have a minimal effect on performance. Since the coupe can sprint to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, the Vantage Volante Roadster should be able to post a 3.6-second sprint. Top speed should approach if not break the 190 mph barrier as well. Fuel economy should carry over as well, meaning the drop-top should offer up nearly 20 mpg in the city, around 34 mpg on the highway, and some 27 mpg combined. An eight-speed automatic should handle shifting duties.
The other big question here is whether or not Aston Martin will decide to offer up a Vantage AMR Volante, but if it does, expect better performance and a six-speed manual gearbox to be the main highlights. Pricing for the standard Vantage Volante should come out to be about eight-percent higher than the coupe, so expect it to cost somewhere around £130,500 or around $160,500 at current exchange rates. As you can see from the not-so-subtle decal in one of the images, the Aston Martin Vantage Volante should make its debut in the Spring of 2020, so we don’t have long to wait before it makes its big debut. Between now and then, expect to see a few teasers, learn a few more minor details, and –as is the industry standards these days – a few leaks.
Exterior
Note: Aston Martin Vantage Coupe pictured here.
We’ve already seen the new Aston Martin Vantage, and we agree that it’s downright gorgeous. If you don’t share our opinion on its design, it’s about time you get a pair of glasses.
The good news here is that the Volante model will be identical to the coupe below the waist. Also, X-Tomi’s rendering of the car shows that the drop-top configuration works well with the new Vantage design. Actually, I might like the convertible better than the coupe. And this comes from a coupe guy who doesn’t fancy cabriolets too much. Unless they’re really big and made in the U.S. in the 1960s.
Anyway, all the cool new design features of the coupe will be transferred onto the Volante, starting with the massive front intake, the smaller, organic headlamps, and the pointy nose. When viewed from the sides, the Vantage’s new and sexy beltline and sculpted side skirts will be combined with raked A-pillars and windshield and a slightly revised decklid to make way for the soft-top. As with any convertible, the B- and C-pillars will be gone, but Aston Martin will probably replicate the metal roof as much as possible with the soft-top in order to give the Volante similar aerodynamics.
The rear will remain identical to the coupe, with the very slim taillights, the race-inspired diffuser, and the big exhaust pipes. The rear windscreen will be gone and the decklid will become flatter and will seem slightly longer, but this shouldn’t damage the car’s wonderful design. All told, the Vantage Volante will be one of the most exciting cabriolets on the sports car market.
Interior
Note: Aston Martin Vantage Coupe pictured here.
Changes inside the new Vantage are rather dramatic. Except for the two-seat layout and the driver-focused dashboard, everything else was redesigned to look more modern. And needless to say, the previous Vantage looked a bit dated inside the cabin.
The dash and the center console sport a more organic design with various design elements flowing into each other. The center stack includes quite a few buttons and knobs, as well as an infotainment display at the top. But unlike other cars with floating screens, the Vantage has it set in a special pocket. This not only keeps the display in the driver’s view but also improves visibility.
Note: Aston Martin Vantage Coupe pictured here.
There’s gloss black trim and black leather with contrast stitching, but you can also have brightly colored center console and door panel inserts, as well as carbon-fiber trim. The transmission button layout is unique, with the Park, Reverse, Neutral, and Drive inputs arranged in a triangular configuration, with the Start button at the top.
Leather and Alcantara cover just about every surface, while the sporty seats come with memory function, ventilation, and heating. The latter two are optional though. Customers can also opt for the Sport Plus seats and a sportier steering wheel with an aggressive flat bottom. Features include automatic climate control with dual-zone temperature, keyless start and stop, a parking distance display, and park assist with front and rear parking sensors.
Note: Aston Martin Vantage Coupe pictured here.
The infotainment is accessed through an eight-inch LCD screen. The standard audio system is Aston Martin’s very own design, but a Premium Audio is available. Bluetooth connectivity, phone streaming features, an iPod connector, USB playback, and satellite navigation come standard.
All of the above will carry over unchanged to the Volante model. Only two things will be different: an extra button for soft-top operation and infinite headroom when the roof is stowed behind the seats. Speaking of which, trunk space will decrease with the top rolled off. Not that the Vantage was made to carry a huge amount of shopping bags, but you’ll get a bit less luggage room in this configuration.
Drivetrain
Note: Aston Martin Vantage Coupe pictured here.
As before, the Volante model will share underpinnings with the coupe. So expect to find the 2018 Vantage’s all-alloy, twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8 powerplant under the hood. The engine is mounted further toward the back for a front-mid layout, which provides more even weight distribution. Output is rated at 503 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 505 pound-feet of torque at 2,000 rpm, which is pretty close to the engine’s numbers in its original Mercedes-AMG form. The new V-8 is a significant bump over the previous 4.3-liter V-8, which generated 430 horsepower. So we’re looking at a solid 75 horsepower increase.
The new engine is more modern too and features quad cams, water-to-air charge cooling, CNC-machined combustion chambers, and a 10.5:1 compression ratio. The stainless steel exhaust uses an electronically controlled flap for either a loud or quieter exhaust note. The mill mates to an eight-speed automatic transmission provided by ZF. Mounted at the rear/mid-position for optimal weight distribution, the new gearbox replaces the previous seven-speed transmission. There’s no word on a manual yet, so be prepared to send all that oomph to the rear wheels through the automatic. Speaking of which, this is achieved through an alloy torque tube and carbon-fiber prop shaft.
Note: Aston Martin Vantage Coupe pictured here.
Like any modern sports car, the Vantage is fitted with an electronic rear differential for extra traction. The coupe is the first Aston to get such a device, but expect to find it in the Volante too (as well as other Aston Martins in the future).
Moving over to performance figures, we already know that the Vantage coupe needs 3.5 seconds to hit 60 mph from a standing start. That’s nearly a half-second quicker than the outgoing Vantage S model. Expect similar performance from the Volante, but shave a tenth-second off that benchmark. Due to a slightly higher weight and possibly different aerodynamics, the convertible should need 3.6 clicks to get to speed. Top speed should also drop from the coupe’s 195-mph rating to around 192 mph. Fuel economy, on the other hand, is likely to remain the same at 19.7 mpg in the city, 34.3 mpg on the highway, and 26.8 mpg combined.
Chassis, Suspension, and Braking
Note: Aston Martin Vantage Coupe pictured here.
Being a small, niche-oriented company, Aston Martin relies on the same underpinnings for its entire lineup. That’s why all vehicles up until 2016 were built on the VH (Vertical/Horizontal) platform (except the One-77 and the Vulcan). The Brits have launched a brand-new platform with the DB11 that will soon underpin all Aston Martin vehicles. The new Vantage is also using it, even though about 70 percent of the components have been revised.
The design uses a solidly mounted rear subframe for a more connected feel on the road, as well as a speed-sensitive electric power assist steering for precise cornering. The front suspension includes double wishbones, coil springs, and an anti-roll bar, while the rear section uses a multi-link with coil springs and an anti-roll bar.
The Vantage also comes with an Adaptive Damping System that changes its setup according to the drive mode. The system alters the dampers, but also changes engine, transmission, differential, steering, and stability settings. The brake assist, traction control, and torque control systems also help keep everything under control.
Traction comes from high-performance Pirelli P Zero tires, while stopping power is provided by big 15.7- and 14.2-inch brake discs front and rear.
Prices
Note: Aston Martin Vantage Coupe pictured here.
Pricing for the Vantage coupe starts from $149,995, but there’s no work as to how much the Volante would cost. This isn’t surprising though, as Aston Martin has yet to confirm the convertible and it will take some time until it arrives. My best guess is that we won’t see it in showrooms until 2019. However, it’s safe to assume that it will cost more than the coupe, simply because convertibles are usually priced higher. I’d venture to say that the Vantage Volante will come in at almost $160,000 before options.
The optional packages should remain the same, so be on the lookout for the Sports Plus Pack (Sports Plus seats, Sports steering wheel), the Exterior Black Pack (matte black front grill mesh, matte black window surround), the Tech Pack (keyless entry, blind spot monitoring, auto park assist, touchpad, glass switches), and the Comfort Pack (16-way adjustable seats, heated seats, closed storage and armrest).
Competition
Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet
The drop-top version of the Vantage would go against the 911 Turbo Cabriolet, a classic of the sports car market. The German car was updated for 2017 model year, gaining an updated exterior, new technology, and a more powerful engine. Both styling and sporty on the outside, the 911 Turbo stands out in this niche for being the only vehicle with a rear-mounted engine. Motivation is provided by a twin-turbo, 3.8-liter inline-six engine available in two power ratings. The 911 Turbo model comes with 540 horsepower, while the 911 Turbo S gets 580 horses. Not only more powerful than the Vantage, the 911 Turbo is also quicker. The base model needs three seconds to hit 60 mph, while the Turbo S gets to the benchmark in 2.9 clicks. Both figures are achieved with the Sport Chrono package. Top speed is also superior at 198 and 205 mph, respectively. The Porsche returns good fuel economy too, being able to hit 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. On the other hand, it’s significantly more expensive too. While the 911 Turbo Cabriolet retails from $174,100, the 911 Turbo S Cabriolet starts from $203,000 before options.
Read our review of the 2017 Porsche 911 Turbo.
Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster
Introduced in 2015, the Mercedes-AMG is the spiritual successor to the iconic SLS AMG. A tad smaller than its predecessor, it’s aimed at the Porsche 911, but it also competes with the new Vantage. The two actually have something in common, as Aston Martin is using a version of the same twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8 engine. Just like the 911 Turbo, the GT Roadster is available in two variants. The base model cranks out 469 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, which enables it to hit 60 mph in 3.9 seconds, toward a top speed of 188 mph. Not exactly fast compared to the Vantage Volante. However, Mercedes also offers the GT C Roadster, which uses a more powerful version of the V-8, rated at 549 horses and 500 pound-feet. This model hits 60 mph in 3.6 seconds, which should be on par with the Vantage Volante, to go with a top speed of 196 mph. Pricing for the AMG GT Roadster starts from $124,400 in base spec and increases to $157,000 before options for the GT C model.
Read our reviews of the 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT Roadster and 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT C Roadster.
Conclusion
The Vantage Volante may not be official as of this writing, but I’m 100% positive that Aston Martin will bring it into dealerships by 2019. Not only is the Vantage Volante a traditional model, but it’s also a much-needed piece in the company’s financial puzzle. The Brits need as many models as possible in order to compete with the big guns and steer toward profitability and leaving the Vantage Volante, essentially its most affordable roadster, out of the equation is suicide in the current market. Not to mention that it would be a big shame to not take advantage of the car’s gorgeous design for a convertible model.
References
Aston Martin Vantage
Read our full review on the 2019 Aston Martin Vantage.
Read our full review on the previous generation 2015 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster.
Read more Aston Martin news.