Evo Magazine’s Jethro Bovingdon didn’t want to miss the opportunity of driving the new Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster. So even though it was lashing rain, he took the Aston to the trck and set about finding out how it compares to the coupe, and of course the V8 Vantage. Not that it matters of course. When we’re talking about a drop-top V12 Aston Martin, all the arguments about handling, dynamics and value goes right out the window.

All that matters is gorgeous looks, and awesome noise. Stuff that V12 Vantage Roadster has in spades.

It’s a brilliant car this V12 Vantage. But we’d still go for the V8 Roadster because it doesn’t have those ugly bonnet vents, and purple bits in its taillights.

The Aston Martin V12 Vantage Roadster’s 6.0-litre engine, mated as in the Coupe to a six-speed manual gearbox, generates 517 PS at 6,500 rpm and a muscular 570 Nm of torque at 5,750 rpm. The 0-62 mph sprint is dispatched in just 4.5 seconds while this most potent Aston Martin Roadster is capable of 190 mph.