Aston Martin steers the new V12 Vantage S Roadster into supercar territory
![The new V12 Vantage S Roadster](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NuhFTLEeBBqq52f6KudvbF-415-80.jpg)
In a world that craves constant, genre-redefining innovation, spare a thought for those who get it right the first time and then refuse to kowtow to society's raving neophiliac tendencies. The Aston Martin Vantage is the product of such an attitude. The basic shape of this two-seater sports car was probably penned at some point in the early years of this century, developed alongside the larger but closely related DB9. Exact attribution is hard to come by, but it's safe to assume that both Ian Callum (now at Jaguar) and Henrik Fisker (now an independent) were heavily involved. The first Vantages found customers in 2005, and for a couple of years the Vantage was the V8-powered sibling to the V12-propelled DB9.
From the outset, the Vantage has been a sensational car, whether as a coupé, a racer or the neatly proportioned Roadster convertible. It didn't take long for the larger engine to find its way into the smaller car. A real feat of engineering, the swap transformed the Vantage into a junior supercar, its sweeter handling and more wieldy scale giving Aston Martin a genuine contender, far more characterful and evocative than many of its rivals. For a few years now, the word on Aston Martin has been that the company does many things well (design, performance, craft) and that these rightfully trump the areas where it falls short (ergonomics, technology, efficiency).
And it's true that the current range represents the ongoing triumph of emotion over logic. Every brand in the 'luxury performance' sphere is essentially selling a dream, and Aston's strengths will almost always overcome its weaknesses, thanks to one of the best-known brand names in corporate history and a visual presence that never fails to turns heads. Having got it right all those years ago has proved a mixed blessing, as time and technology march on; even the dreamers who drive these cars will eventually want a satnav that works or a logical way of changing the cabin temperature.
Change is afoot at Aston Martin, though it'll be months, if not years, until an all-new product emerges. Many wax elegiac about the current generation of cars – and this engine in particular – lamenting how their era is soon to pass. The V12 Vantage S Roadster is a beautiful thing to look at it, a pretty special place to sit, a slightly frustrating thing to play with but an utterly sublime car to drive. Perhaps the barking exhaust note offers up a snarl too far, but it still garners admiration, not opposition. The Vantage was a classic the day it debuted, and the Vantage S Roadster simply cements that reputation.
The V12 Vantage S Roadster is a beautiful thing to look at it, a pretty special place to sit, a slightly frustrating thing to play with but an utterly sublime car to drive
Perhaps the barking exhaust note offers up a snarl too far, but it still garners admiration, not opposition
Wallpaper* Newsletter + Free Download
For a free digital copy of August Wallpaper*, celebrating Creative America, sign up today to receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories
Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
-
Designing the Olympics: Wallpaper* interviews Joachim Roncin, director of design for Paris 2024
How do you begin to design the Olympics? We pulled up a pew with the director of design for Paris 2024 to learn more about gender-free mascots with a genital likeness and medals made from the Eiffel Tower
By Hugo Macdonald Published
-
LA cool meets modern vintage in Ivi jewellery
Ivi jewellery is inspired by LA's glamorous film heritage
By Hannah Silver Published
-
Hamburg’s new food court Le Big TamTam offers traditional flavours in an irreverent setting
Le Big TamTam, designed by Studio Aisslinger, marks a new era in Hamburg’s hospitality-rich Hanse District
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
Could a car be any more muscular? Aston Martin unleashes the bold and brutalist Valiant
Equipped with a V12 engine, manual gearbox and chiselled bodywork, the limited-edition Aston Martin Valiant is the company’s most extreme front-engined road car to date
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Aston Martin Vantage review: we take the wheel to find out if it makes the supercar grade
The new Aston Martin Vantage is an upgrade on every conceivable metric, resulting in a machine with more power, luxury and dynamic ability than ever before
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Aston Martin DBX707 SUV is updated with a new interior and infotainment
The new Aston Martin DBX707 has better tech, better design but the same raw power, keeping its spot at the top of the ultra-SUV tree
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
New Aston Martin Ginza showroom brings customer personalisation to life
Aston Martin Ginza showroom is a two-storey space in The Peninsula Tokyo hotel and a new hub for the car maker
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Aston Martin Vantage is reshaped and revitalised for a new generation
The Aston Martin Vantage is a sports car with an authentic racing heritage, now upgraded and enhanced with new styling and fresh interiors
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Year in review: the top 10 cars of 2023, as selected by Wallpaper’s Jonathan Bell
What were the best four-wheeled offerings of 2023? Transport editor Jonathan Bell takes us through the year’s most intriguing automobiles
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
The J.Laverack Aston Martin .1R bicycle is a pedal-powered, two-wheeled hypercar
Aston Martin and J.Laverack reveal their exquisitely crafted road bike
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Zoute Grand Prix is a car fest like no other at a pristine Belgian beachside town
Amy Serafin takes to the well-heeled streets of Knokke-Heist to experience the Zoute Grand Prix, its annual cavalcade of classic car-related events, from a rally to an auction
By Amy Serafin Published