Aston Martin Launches Refreshed Vantage and Vantage Roadster for 2020

by Michael Satterfield

Aston Martin has pulled the cover off the new 2020 Vantage Roadster joining the Vantage Coupe which launched in 2018. The convertible model of Aston's entry-level sports car has the same 4.0-liter twin-turbo 503hp V8 engine and 8-speed ZF automatic transmission as the hardtop. Like most convertibles, the Roadster is slightly slower than its Coupe sibling with a 0-60mph time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 190mph (the coupe does 195mph), thanks to an additional 132lbs and some aerodynamics. The weight is kept down thanks to a lighter Z-fold roof and the extensive use of aluminum and carbon fiber.

Sharing the same Adaptive Damping, Dynamic Stability Control, Dynamic Torque Vectoring, and Electronic Rear Differential as the Coupe, all of which have been recalibrated for the Roadster, it should be just as confidence-inspiring to drive as the hardtop. Driving modes include Sport, Sport + and Track specially tuned for the roofless chassis so drivers can still enjoy a local track day.

Open-top Aston Martins are always firm favorites with our customers, so it’s very exciting to introduce the Vantage Roadster. For many, driving with the roof down is the true definition of the sports car experience as it truly brings your senses to life. Vantage has always delivered the purest of thrills, but in Roadster form, that adrenaline rush is set to go to the next level.

Aston Martin President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Andy Palmer

Aston Martin is also offering a revised grille option for both the Coupe and Roadster in 2020 which features the iconic Aston Martin grille we all know and love in place of the "track-inspired" grille that has been with the car since it's launch in 2018. Aston claims this is to "celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Vantage Nameplate." The more likely scenario is that Aston is hoping the more traditional grill will help sluggish Vantage sales, in a category where Porsche is selling more of its 911 sportscars in a single month than Aston can sell Vantages in all of 2019.

The revised 2020 Vantage with the "vane grille" brings back that traditional Aston Martin aesthetic, which is really the only reason why people buy an Aston Martin over a Jaguar F-Type SVR or Mercedes-Benz AMG GT. The iconic DB series styling is what sets Aston Martin apart and announces to the world that the driver might just be a little like James Bond, it is a cool factor that the 2018 Vantage left out of the recipe and the sales figures reflect that.

For 2020 the Vantage is also getting a 7-speed manual transmission option in the Coupe which was previously only offered in the limited-edition Vantage AMR. New optional alloy wheels and finishes are also available and most importantly, you can still get a set of golf clubs in the new Roadster's trunk.

The 2020 Vantage Coupe starts from $152,995 with the Roadster starting $161,000 in the USA.