Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420 Roadster arrives


Aston Martin Vantage N420 Roadster

Aston Martin Vantage N420 RoadsterAston Martin has released photos of the Aston Martin Vantage N420 Roadster which will show at the Paris Motor Show.It was back in June that Aston Martin announced the Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420, which is the 4.7 Vantage version of the N400, but this time – as the 4.7 Vantage is quite brisk without fiddling – the Vantage N420 has to make do with the regular model’s 420bhp.

When we got the original detail on the Vantage N420 we only got photos of the N420 Coupe, even though Aston Martin made it clear that there would be a roadster too. And here it is in all its glorious Aston Martin Convertible carporn-ness. No, we’re not at all biased towards the aesthetics of Aston Martin. Perish the thought.

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420 Roadster gets put on a diet and weighs in at 27kg less than the regular Vantage Roadster thanks to liberal use of carbon fibre. It also gets a set of side strakes, a new rear diffuser, front splitter, wide sills and a set of 10-spoke alloys.

The suspension also gets a tweak, getting the Sports Pack as standard which includes revised dampers and anti-roll bars and a new exhaust. So fitted the N420 Roadster hustles to 60mph in 4.5 seconds, a couple of tenths quicker than the regular Roadster.

Inside the N420 Roadster gets contrast stitch upholstery, a choice of steering wheels and graphite instruments. And the Iridium package.

Looks like the N420 Roadster is ready to hit the roads any day soon at £96,995. But for now I think the pick is the N420 Coupe.