2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage Convertible

Marking the return of a two seater sports car, Aston Martin’s Vantage was unveiled at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show and entered production at the Company’s new Gaydon facility the following year. A hugely significant model in the commercial success of the famous brand, the V8 Vantage took Aston Martin into new territory, proving a worthy rival for the Porsche 911. The Vantage’s delicious styling was a mix of familiar elements found on the Vanquish and DB9, perfectly translated to the compact dimensions of this strictly two seater. Indeed, many critics rated this the best looking Aston of all, with Jeremy Clarkson paying the ultimate compliment in naming it the year’s coolest on Top Gear in 2005. The Vantage’s cabin architecture matched the exterior, beautifully crafted in the finest materials with superb detailing. Aston Martin released a stylish roadster variant in 2006, first seen at the Los Angeles Auto Show, with a reinforced frame to ensure virtually no torsional rigidity was lost. The electronically-operated soft-top took just 18 seconds to be raised or lowered and could be operated at speeds up to 50km/h. Thanks to some clever packaging, the roof disappeared behind the seats without taking up any precious luggage space and the headrest farings are a neat design feature. Both the Vantage coupe and roadster shared the same 4.3-litre V8, developing 283 kW at 7000 rpm, with 409 Nm of torque at 5000 rpm. With a 0-100 km/h time of 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 286 km/h, the Vantage was on par with its rival 911 in pure performance terms, accompanied by an epic V8 soundtrack. Priced at $269,000, the Roadster commanded a $24,000 premium over its coupe sibling. The little Aston has proven popular over the past decade, ultimately achieving annual sales in excess of 10,000 units.