Aston Martin launched a redesigned Vantage coupe last year, and late on Tuesday, the automaker unveiled the car’s convertible variant, the Vantage Roadster.
The Roadster is set to arrive in showrooms in the second quarter of the year as a 2026 model for the U.S. market, and promises to be one of the most exhilarating convertibles available.
Like the coupe, the convertible features a 4. 0-liter twin-turbo V8 sourced from Mercedes-Benz AMG, tuned here to make 656 hp, a significant improvement over the outgoing Vantage Roadster’s 503 hp. The only transmission is an 8-speed automatic, with power sent to the rear wheels by an electronically controlled limited-slip differential.
The roof of the Vantage Roadster is equally impressive. Its automated padded upper design features a compact mechanism that minimizes impact on the trunk area when lowered. The roof is also fast: it can be raised or lowered in just seven seconds, even at speeds of up to 50 km/h. When raised, the design maintains the coupe’s sleek profile, with the roofline and rear canopy largely following the coupe’s sleek lines.
2026 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster
The changes needed for the comfortable and practical weight just 132 pounds more than the coupe, ensuring that functionality remains comparable. The adjustments come with structural reinforcements in the lightweight aluminum frame design to compensate for the loss of rigidity due to the lack of a consistent roof. The dry weight is 3671 pounds, with a balanced front-to-back weight distribution of 49:51.
Aston Martin claims a 0-60 mph time of 3. 5 seconds and a top speed of 202 mph.
2026 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster
The new Vantage Roadster also features important suspension innovations. Its setup includes unequal double wishbones at the front, a multi-link rear axle, coil springs, and surprise Bilstein DTX adaptive shock absorbers at all 4 corners. The surprises will offer a wide variety of adjustments between comfort and performance, with an express adjustment for the Roadster.
Braking is handled by carbon-ceramic rotors, with 6-piston calipers at the front and 4-piston calipers at the rear. These are housed within 21-inch wheels, offered in four standard designs, wrapped in Michelin’s new Pilot Sport S 5 tires with a unique compound developed specifically for Aston Martin. Tire dimensions are 275/35 at the front and a hefty 325/30 at the rear.
2026 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster
The Roadster’s handling is further improved by complex electronic formulas. The stability formula monitors the car’s motion and acceleration on six axes, while separate formulas for torque vectoring based on tractionArray brake and force guidance ensure precise cornering and straight-line handling.
In terms of styling, the new Vantage Roadster maintains the lines of the previous car to the maximum, with a larger grille and the updated headlight design of the Aston Martin range.
2026 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster
The interior represents a much more comprehensive update from the previous model, replacing the dated tool cluster and virtual display with a sleek, modern design that includes 10. 3-inch virtual displays for the gauge cluster and infotainment screen. The latter is Aston Martin’s own formula and is designed for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The popular audio formula is also that of Aston Martin, with 11 speakers and a surround sound mode.
Key pricing points will be revealed closer to market launch, but expect a slight premium over the 2025 Vantage Coupe’s $194,500 starting price.