The Aston Martin V12 Vantage S sports car has spawned a new roadster variant for the international markets. It is the fastest open-top model ever produced by the company.

The V12 Vantage S Roadster shares its mechanical make-up with the coupé, so power comes from a mighty 565bhp 5.9-litre V12 engine. The new Aston can crack 0-100kph in 3.9sec and reach a top speed of 323kph, figures that are just shy of the 3.7sec and 330kph of the coupé model. The engine’s torque output is also impressive, at 63.2kgm, and 52kgm is available from just 1000rpm. Drive is sent to the rear wheels through a race-derived Sportshift III seven-speed automated manual transmission that is supplied by Graziano.

The adoption of a retractable fabric roof has added 80kg to the kerb weight, taking it to 1745kg. However, that figure is 20kg lighter than the previous V12 Vantage Roadster, produced in 2012. Apart from the roof, the roadster is identical to the coupé model. Adjustable chassis features include Bilstein three-stage adaptive dampers, a three-stage dynamic stability control system and a two-stage ABS set-up, traits that are changeable through selecting one of the three driving modes: Normal, Sport and Track.

A further Sport driving mode is also offered. This adjusts the level of power steering assistance from the Servotronic system, the sound from the lightweight sports exhaust, the speed and timing of the gearshift and the throttle response. Standard equipment includes carbon-ceramic brakes. On the options list are lightweight 10-spoke alloy wheels and an Interior Carbon pack.