Aston Martin Vantage Roadster

Pairing the coupe's thrilling dynamics with open-air intensity, the drop-top Vantage has Porsche and Ferrari in its crosshairs

- STUART GALLAGHER

'THE ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE IS THE product to kill 911s.' That's a bold statement for 8 o'clock on a Thursday morning, but bold is what Aston Martin wants to be; needs to be if it is to implement and deliver on CEO Adrian Hallmark's new strategy. Adding the Roadster to the Vantage line-up certainly broadens the model's appeal and adds to a range that Hallmark has plans to expand further, with trimline derivatives à la 911. Although not to the same extent: where Porsche thinks nothing of offering 20-plus 911 derivatives across three body styles, Aston is sticking with two bodies and three trim lines, for now.

The VH Vantage has lived in the 911's shadow since the first Gaydon-era small Aston arrived on the eve of Porsche's updated 997-generation 911 in the summer of 2004. They've sparred with each other ever since, although the previous and current Vantage have eyed-up the 911 Turbo rather than your more regular Carrera models. An unashamed thug of a super-sports car, it also has Ferrari's Roma firmly in its sights. In coupe form it's proven to be an Aston that excites, thrills and entertains in a way that was previously reserved for specials benefiting from a more focused engineering attention to detail, such as the N430 and GT8 (we'll ignore the clumsy F1 Edition stickers-and-wings job).

Today's 'regular' Vantage is already a special car. One with a desirability factor that's now matched with a dynamic repertoire with no excuses. The new Roadster needs to stick to the same path.