2011 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster

The V8 Vantage Roadster with the uprated 4.7-litre V8 arrived for the 2009 model year and remained the heart of Aston’s open-top range right up to the Vantage’s replacement in 2017. It evolved from the 2007 4.3-litre Roadster, addressing the critics with more power, torque and polish while keeping the compact proportions and soundtrack that made the original a darling of British sports-car aficionados.

Aston’s bonded aluminium VH architecture kept weight in check and stiffness high, so lopping off the roof didn’t spoil the balance. The new 4.7-litre quad-cam V8—hand-assembled in Cologne and mounted low thanks to a dry-sump system—brought output to 420 bhp and 470 Nm, trimming sprint times and adding a harder, more eager top-end. Early cars offered a six-speed manual or a single-clutch Sportshift; a 2012 refresh sharpened steering, fitted bigger brakes and introduced the 7‑speed Sportshift II to the standard V8, effectively handing down hardware from the Vantage S.

In period, the Roadster’s natural rivals were the Porsche 911 Cabriolet (997 and later 991), Jaguar XKR Convertible and, as the decade wore on, the Audi R8 Spyder. What the Aston lacked in outright numbers, it countered with feel: a wonderfully fluid ride/handling balance and one of the great V8 soundtracks of its era. UK outlets like evo and Autocar praised the 4.7’s improved throttle response and steering precision, while noting the automated manual was happier when driven hard than when pottering.

Special editions punctuated the run. The N420 (2010) celebrated Aston’s Nürburgring exploits, pairing the 420 bhp engine with lighter wheels, sports exhaust and chassis tweaks—and was offered as a Roadster. Later came the N430 (2014, 430 bhp) and market-specific models such as the Vantage GT (US), but the 420 bhp Roadster remained the core open-top Vantage experience. A late-cycle update added Aston’s AMi II infotainment and detail refinements, and throughout its life a proper manual gearbox stayed on the price list—a rarity as competitors moved to dual-clutch autos.

Beyond the road tests, the V8 Vantage Roadster became a familiar face in games like Forza Motorsport and Gran Turismo, its silhouette and exhaust note making it an instant pick for virtual road trips. On television, Top Gear lauded the car’s beauty and noise—high praise that helped set its cultural tone. In Aston’s own “Power, Beauty, Soul” campaigns, the Roadster often starred, hood down, as the marque’s most attainable dream car, attracting new buyers to the brand and underpinning Aston Martin’s sales through a turbulent decade for the industry.

Today, the 2009–2017 4.7 Roadster stands out as a sweet-spot Aston: classic looks, naturally aspirated character and usable grand-touring manners, with meaningful mid-life upgrades that kept it competitive without diluting its analogue charm.