2015 Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Roadster
Aston Martin is opening up a new world of exhilarating driving excitement
with the announcement of the hotly anticipated V12 Vantage S Roadster.
When it arrives in markets around the world later this year the new sports
car will become the luxury British marque’s most potent, fastest and
fastest-accelerating series production roadster to date and follows in the
broad tyre tracks of the V12 Vantage S Coupe that was launched to worldwide
acclaim in 2013.
Providing the most visceral yet engaging open-top experience in Aston
Martin’s current range, the new V12 Vantage S Roadster delivers characteristic
sporting agility underpinned by an enviable sports ‘soundtrack’ generated by
its naturally aspirated V12 engine and expertly-tuned sports exhaust.
Equipped with the latest 565 bhp (573 PS) Aston Martin AM28 6.0-litre V12
engine, featuring state-of-the-art Bosch engine management, the car is capable
of reaching 201 mph and sprinting from rest to 60 mph in only 3.9 seconds
(0-100km/h 4.1 seconds).
Peak and low rev torque is delivered in abundance. With 620 Nm available at
5,750 rpm the V12 Vantage S Roadster is not to be found wanting in this vital
department. Crucially, too, low rev torque – measured from just 1,000 rpm –
starts at a colossal 510 Nm. Together, these statistics demonstrate the Aston
Martin engineers’ ability to create a ‘flatter’, yet ‘fatter’, torque curve
which supports exceptional driveability and strong pick-up through the gears.
Aston Martin Director of Design, Marek Reichman, said: “The V12 Vantage S
Roadster is the mechanical embodiment of our company’s exceptional spirit.
“Beautiful, powerful and spirited it is as spectacular to listen to as it
is to look at. The new roadster is truly a treat for the senses with,
underlying all this, the capacity to deliver one of the most dynamic, exciting
and stirring driving experiences in our current range.
“I’m sure the V12 Vantage S Roadster will appeal to luxury sports car
enthusiasts worldwide who want to add a truly exceptional new model to their
garage.”
Race car technology
As with its coupe sibling, race car technology runs right through the DNA
of the V12 Vantage S Roadster with, for instance, CNC machined combustion
chambers and hollow camshafts just two examples of track technology feeding
through to the road.
Another clear example is the new car’s Sportshift™ III 7-speed
transmission. Engineered to exploit the full sporting potential of the V12
engine, the latest generation Sportshift™ III hydraulically actuated automated
manual transmission provides motorsport-style paddle shift changes for optimum
performance delivery. The unit, which replaces the six-speed manual gearbox
found in the previous V12 Vantage Roadster, is also appreciably lighter –
saving 20 kg versus its forebear.
This race-derived and motorsport-proven technology – used routinely in
Aston Martin Racing’s race-winning Vantage GT4, GT3 and GTE competition cars –
provides for great driver control with only milliseconds of torque interruption
and delivers precise and swift gear changes.
The Sportshift™ III transaxle, developed in conjunction with transmission
experts Oerlikon Graziano, joins an extensive array of new sport and
track-focused developments that ensure the V12 Vantage S Roadster is fully
equipped to exploit the huge performance potential of its 6.0-litre naturally
aspirated engine.
The use of three-stage adaptive damping, allied to three-stage DSC and
two-stage ABS, allows the driver to more precisely tailor the car’s dynamic
character. ‘Normal’, ‘Sport’ and ‘Track’ modes provide a broad swathe of
dynamic performance that can be tuned to better suit the driver’s requirements.
The system also governs the level of power steering assistance offered.
Working alongside the extended chassis capabilities is a ‘Sport’ mode,
controlled via a button on the centre console, that alters throttle response,
gearshift speed and timing, and exhaust note to, once again, tune the character
of the car to the driver’s requirements.
Optimum braking performance is delivered via the specially-created carbon
ceramic discs all round, with near-identical brakes appearing on the brand’s
ultimate GT, the Vanquish. Meanwhile a whole new lightweight exhaust system –
derived from that of Aston Martin’s most expensive and exclusive production model,
the One-77 hypercar – is wonderfully sonorous.
The ZF Servotronic power assisted steering offers a quick, slick, 15:1
ratio and, linked to the adaptive damping button, provides two-mode steering
assistance designed to best match the ‘Sport’ or ‘Normal’ settings generated by
the Adaptive Damping System.
Pure power, beautifully presented
As Aston Martin’s most overtly sporting convertible, with an even more
dynamic character than the luxurious Vanquish Volante ultimate GT or refined
DB9 Volante, the V12 Vantage S Roadster has been styled to reflect is position
as the flagship convertible in the Vantage family.
In keeping with the V12 Vantage S Coupe, the Roadster replaces the famous
aluminium vanes in the Aston Martin grille – with a carbon fibre arrangement
that also includes sporty black or titanium silver mesh. Created to maximise
airflow to the V12 engine, the new grille is inspired by both the remarkable
CC100 Speedster Concept and the Vantage race cars.
Other distinguishing features of the V12 Vantage S Roadster include the
option of lightweight forged alloy ten-spoke wheels.
The new Roadster retains the same compact proportions of its predecessor
while features such as the pronounced bonnet louvres, optional bold graphics
(painted carbon front grille, front grille lipstick and tailgate panel) as well
as the exterior carbon pack and flared wheel arches underscore its sporting
abilities.
Inside, as out, the new car has been styled to reflect its powerful nature.
New-style seat trim and door trims, with Sport and carbon fibre lightweight
seat options – present V12 Vantage S Roadster buyers with an exciting array of
choices.
The optional Interior Carbon Pack, which adds carbon fibre to the car’s
facia and door pulls, plus the availability for the first time in a V12 Vantage
S Roadster of black pedals, further enhances personalisation options for those
in search of a truly bespoke sports car.
Q by Aston Martin
Meanwhile, For V12 Vantage S Roadster, the company is introducing a Q by
Aston Martin Collection which comprises bespoke features that are entirely in
keeping with the character of the car.
For V12 Vantage S Roadster this includes a palette of bold exterior and
interior colours; body coloured carbon bonnet louvres; a red tint or satin
finish to the carbon fibre elements on the exterior and interior of the car; a
full carbon fibre centre console, black anodised and machined rotary controls
and a steering wheel with a leather on-centre stripe in the chosen interior
accent colour.
Marek Reichman added: “The new V12 Vantage S Roadster not only looks the
part, but has been engineered and built to showcase the ethos of Aston Martin:
power, beauty and soul.
“We believe that it is a truly exceptional sports car, with the capacity to
set pulses racing just by its sound alone. The authentic appeal of its style,
performance, quality and craftsmanship ensure its stands head and shoulders
above others in its sector and delivers that most precious of experiences – fun
– in abundance!”
Source:Aston Martin
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