It’s Mother’s Day. There is nothing I would rather do today than to tell all of you what it feels like to drive a nice, quiet English sports car. But I can’t do that because that’s not what I found driving the 2026 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster.
Remember Gorgeous Cars? So Does Aston
Let’s start with the obvious. This is Aston Martin. They make beautiful cars about as predictably as politicians get caught with their pants down. This vehicle is no exception. According to Aston’s design boss, Marek Reichman, the Vantage Roadster was designed simultaneously as the Vantage Coupe, which explains why this more than a convertible version of an existing design.
Most sports cars are lovely in a coupe, but a rare few look even more spectacular as a convertible (think Jaguar E-Type). This, my friends, is one of those cars.
Look at that back end. It tells you exactly what you need to know here—that the top is down, lines are smooth, but that quad exhaust warns you, you’d better buckle up, Buttercup, because Mama is gonna burn some rubber. In fact, she may just burn 30% more than the last time she drove the Vantage.
Powering The Vantage Roadster
Thanks to a partnership with Mercedes, Aston has a specially tuned AMG engine powering the Vantage roadster. This 4L twin-turbo V8 produces 650 hp and 590 ft lb and has a top speed of 202 mph. It gets from zero to sixty mph in 3.5 glorious seconds. That’s 30% more aggressive than the last generation.
What’s it like to drive? I imagine it’s what bikini-clad Halle Berry feels like running down the beach with a puppy—sure, everyone is looking, but that doesn’t matter because there’s so much adrenaline and cortisol running through her veins that her only worry is that she’ll spontaneously combust with joy.
If that’s too abstract for you, check out my video where I show myself behind the wheel, doing my best not to get a speeding ticket. Plus, I grille Simon Newton, Director of Vehicle Performance at Aston Martin Lagonda, about how they achieve this remarkably enthralling yet accessible drive:
Vantage Roadster: Topless Yet Still Presentable
Speaking of convertibles, the Vantage’s top goes down in 6.8 seconds and can be operated up to 31 mph.
The convertible top has 9 layers, which makes a big difference both for sound quality as well as cabin insulation. But when the top was down, I found myself having effortless conversations with my drive partner and even finished 8 hours of spirited driving with presentable hair!
Approachable Behind The Wheel
If all of this sounds daunting, don’t be scared. This is one of the most inviting sports cars you’ll find. If your wallet can handle it and you appreciate beautiful things, you’d be a fool not to give it a test drive. The Aston Martin Vantage Roadster isn’t for everyone, and that is precisely the point. Let’s hope there are enough well-mannered people to buy it.
