Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster and AM310 Vanquish

2013 Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster

Here it is. It looks like the Aston Martin V12 Vantage, the one that Jeremy Clarkson got emotional in the Season 13 finale of Top Gear, only this time the roof is off. This is the V12 Vantage Roadster but I prefer to think of it as...Chihaya Kisaragi's gone topless. It still comes with the same 6.0L V12 engine from the hardtop V12 Vantage that produces 517PS of power and always ready to rev to the tune of 眠り姫. Also, I'd still expect the worthless Volvo sat-nav of other Astons and buttons that I can't read in the sunshine. Lastly, I'd still expect the only transmission available on the V12 Vantage, that is a 6-speed manual transmission and that's good.

However, aside from having her haircut, she also expected a carbon fiber materials. Something that Chihaya Kisaragi would dress for the concert. There was carbon fibre side strakes, a carbon fibre front splitter, carbon fibre rear diffuser, carbon fibre mirror caps and carbon fibre rear lamp infills. What an overload of carbon materials for the V12 Vantage Roadster!

Sadly though, the convertible's a bit heavier than the hardtop model due to its strengthening needs. The hardtop V12 Vantage can do 0-60mph time of 4.1 seconds but for this Roadster version, 0-60mph time is now 4.5 seconds. Still, both the hardtop and the convertible versions of the V12 Vantage can reach a top speed of 190mph.

2013 Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster

When it comes to fun factor, you can really smoke her whatever you want and with such dynamic handling, it's great if you want to handle the V12 Roadster in style but sometimes it could be somewhat difficult to regain grip because it's a challenging machine for beginners. On normal roads, it's surprisingly an epic grand tourer for those who want to go out for a long distance cruising, something that the new Ferrari California 30 couldn't guess what comes next.

This car costs about £150,000 RRP and they'll be making up to 101 units. Because it's a limited production model, a false mistake may cost you dearly. Smuggle one and you've wasted it. It appears that this is the final Aston to use the old 6.0L V12 engine. So, let's move on from ALLONS-Y to GERONIMO...

2013 Aston Martin Vanquish

Welcome to the all new Aston Martin Vanquish. The original one was used by Pierce Brosnan for his last Bond film before his retirement, Die Another Day, in 2002. The cool bit was the one that Q BRANCH gave it body panels that render the car invisible. Now that the name has been resurrected, I was quite surprised that this car served as the replacement to my ever-favorite DBS and now, there's more to this comeback.

2013 Aston Martin Vanquish

2013 Aston Martin Vanquish

It seems that the people from Aston Martin were attracted to the design from the mega-expensive One-77 and they decided that they will use the One-77's design as its language to create future Astons and this new Vanquish was one of them to wear the One-77's clothing. I just noticed something, the front looks like the Virage while the back really looks like the One-77. On the interior, it does really look like the One-77 for sure and like the Virage, it no longer has a Volvo sat nav of other Astons. It comes with the one that works.

I was impressed but what about performance? The newly developed 6.0L V12 engine was now positioned lower for added agility and this time, it produces 565bhp of power and 457lb-ft of torque. That's more power than the outgoing DBS or the V12 Vantage but top speed is now 183mph, less than the DBS' top speed. Never mind about that but the transmission is now a 6-speed paddle shift transmission.

What's also clever is that the new Vanquish is the first Aston to come with launch control. Push it, turn the TCS off, build the revs and when the light is green, you'll be ready to yell GERONIMO through a loud haler. 

This new model marks the new chapter of Aston Martin's history and while this carmaker is gearing for its centennial anniversary next year, this new Vanquish became an omen, a sign that warns us that it is coming. However, the new Vanquish really has a noble heart that can perform better and as delicate as a piano concerto. By making it better, this is the best Aston I have ever seen in my life. I would gladly ditch the DBS and the V12 Vantage in favor of this car.

Photo: Aston Martin