Aston Martin Vantage V12 S Roadster 2014

Introduced in July 2014, the Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Roadster combined a two-seat open body with a naturally aspirated 5.9-litre V12 producing 565 bhp. Derived directly from the V12 Vantage S coupe, it shared that car’s mechanical package, adjustable chassis and seven-speed Sportshift III automated manual transmission. With a claimed top speed of 201 mph, or 323 km/h, it became Aston Martin’s fastest and most powerful production roadster at the time. The retractable fabric roof added 80 kg compared with the coupe, yet the car retained a compact footprint, rear-wheel drive and a strongly focused sporting character. Its appeal therefore rested on a distinctive combination of high performance, hand-finished luxury and the added sensory experience of open-air driving.

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Aston Martin Vantage V12 S Roadster 2014

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History

The V12 Vantage S Roadster emerged as the open-top counterpart to the V12 Vantage S coupe launched in 2013. Aston Martin carried over the naturally aspirated 5.9-litre V12, the seven-speed Sportshift III transmission and much of the coupe’s chassis hardware. The car was officially announced on 16 July 2014, followed by road tests later that year. Its retractable fabric roof was the main structural difference, while the technical specification included three-stage Bilstein adaptive dampers, Normal, Sport and Track driving modes, adjustable stability control and standard carbon-ceramic brakes. Output was quoted at 565 bhp and 620 Nm, with a claimed top speed of 201 mph. Aston Martin presented it as the fastest and most powerful production roadster in its range at the time. It followed the 2012 V12 Vantage Roadster, but brought more power, an automated transmission and a more sophisticated chassis calibration to the formula.

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Anecdotes

The V12 Vantage S Roadster’s lightweight exhaust was derived from the system developed for the One-77, one of Aston Martin’s most exclusive cars. Its grille also drew inspiration from the CC100 Speedster concept created for the company’s centenary. During period road tests, journalists repeatedly identified the V12 soundtrack as a central part of the car’s appeal, especially in Sport mode. Aston Martin also offered bespoke colour and trim combinations through its Q personalisation division.

Production

Aston Martin presented the V12 Vantage S Roadster as a series-production model rather than as a limited edition like the 2012 V12 Vantage Roadster. PistonHeads reported that the earlier car was limited to 100 examples, but no verified total production figure for the 2014 V12 Vantage S Roadster was identified in the sources consulted. A precise number should therefore not be assigned to this model. Announced in July 2014, the Roadster joined the V12 Vantage S coupe in Aston Martin’s Vantage range. Buyers could specify a variety of finishes and options, including carbon-fibre details, forged lightweight wheels and bespoke exterior and interior treatments available through the Q personalisation service.

Press reception

Specialist media generally praised the Roadster for preserving much of the V12 Vantage S coupe’s character. Motoring Research highlighted its accurate steering, neutral handling and adaptive suspension, which was firm but sufficiently supple for public-road use. The publication also judged the open car less focused than the coupe, a predictable consequence of its additional weight. PistonHeads welcomed the performance increase over the earlier V12 Vantage Roadster while noting the distinctive behaviour of the Sportshift III transmission. Reviews also emphasised the high price, close to £147,000 in the United Kingdom, and the importance of the V12 soundtrack to the car’s appeal. The overall reception was positive, but the Roadster was clearly aimed at buyers seeking exclusivity and open-air drama as much as outright lap-time performance.

Evolution

The main change was the move from the earlier V12 Vantage Roadster to the V12 Vantage S Roadster. Reported output rose from 517 to 565 bhp, while torque increased from 420 to 457 lb-ft. The previous six-speed manual was replaced by the seven-speed Sportshift III automated manual transmission, operated through steering-wheel paddles. The S Roadster also adopted the coupe’s newer chassis technology, including adaptive damping, selectable driving modes, a lightweight exhaust derived from the One-77 and standard carbon-ceramic brakes. The retractable roof increased weight compared with the coupe, although Autocar reported that the new car was lighter than the 2012 V12 Vantage Roadster. These changes were intended to make the high-performance Vantage more composed and usable, while preserving the response, sound and character of its naturally aspirated V12.

Variants

The 2014 V12 Vantage S range was offered primarily as a coupe and as a Roadster. Both versions used the 5.9-litre V12, 565 bhp output, seven-speed Sportshift III transmission and the same broad chassis concept. The coupe was lighter and faster, with slightly stronger published performance figures than the open car. The Roadster added a retractable fabric roof and a more immersive driving experience, while carrying 80 kg more than the coupe. It should not be confused with the 2012 V12 Vantage Roadster, which PistonHeads reported was limited to 100 cars. The 2014 S Roadster represented a new series-production model with more power and an automated transmission rather than a continuation of that limited run. Aston Martin’s Q division also offered bespoke exterior colours and interior trim choices.

References

Q2 2014 ResultsAston Martin
Supports the July 2014 launch context, series-production positioning, 565 bhp output, 620 Nm torque and 201 mph top speed.
Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Roadster revealedAutocar
Supports the engine, transmission, rear-wheel drive, roof weight increase, chassis systems, driving modes and standard equipment.
Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Roadster reviewMotoring Research
Supports period driving impressions, road behaviour, pricing, performance figures and the review’s comparison with the coupe.
Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Roadster: ReviewPistonHeads
Supports comparisons with the 2012 V12 Vantage Roadster, the reported 100-car limited run, performance gains and period reception.
Aston Martin V12 Vantage S Roadster news, price and specsevo
Supports the announcement date, engine and performance data, transmission description, torque availability and One-77-related technical details.
https://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/2014/2071070/aston_martin_v12_vantage_s_roadster.htmlautomobile-catalog.com
Source found by OpenAI web search for this vehicle page.
https://www.cargurus.com/research/2014-Aston-Martin-V12-Vantage-c24253cargurus.com
Source found by OpenAI web search for this vehicle page.