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Aston Martin Vantage GT12 Roadster Is a One-Off Commission To Die For

“The most extreme roadster ever produced by Aston Martin.” This is how the British automaker presents this rag-top convertible, a work of art that took nine months to complete. Need I say anything more about how intense and bewitching this thing is?
Aston Martin Vantage GT12 Roadster by Q by Aston Martin Advanced 20 photos
Photo: Aston Martin
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Created by the daftly named Q by Aston Martin Advanced division, the Aston Martin Vantage GT12 Roadster is, at heart, a Vantage GT12 with its roof chopped off. And just like the production model, this bad boy sings the song of its people through a V12.

The naturally aspirated 12-cylinder engine displaces 5.9 liters and churns out 600 PS, a figure that translates into 592 horsepower in old money. Mated to the Sportshift III seven-speed automatic transmission, the Vantage GT12 Roadster is able to accelerate to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.7 seconds, which is one tenth off the awe-inspiring 2017 Mercedes-AMG GT R.

Other technical highlights that are worth mentioning about this British interloper include a full titanium exhaust, lightweight magnesium torque tube and inlet manifolds, as well as a unique suspension set-up. Aston Martin chief exec Andy Palmer prides himself on what his talented craftsmen created here:

“The Vantage GT12 Roadster is a hugely exciting project. Not just because it’s sensational to look at, but because it vividly demonstrates the expanded capabilities of Q by Aston Martin. By incorporating the exceptional engineering capabilities of Aston Martin Advanced Operations within the Q by Aston Martin bespoke commissioning service we have a truly formidable creative team,” the head honcho commented.

There’s no word on the top speed, but chances are it’s a bit slower than the fixed-head Vantage GT12. Chopping the roof off implies reinforcing the chassis and/or body shell here and there, which in turn adds weight. Hence, it's probably slower than 185 mph (297 km/h). Nevertheless, you don’t need to go fast to hear the savagery that’s lurking underhood. This tune of the N/A V12 is probably the final iteration of the 13-year-old mill. In its place, Aston Martin has developed a 5.2-liter twin-turbo V12 capable of 820 ponies.
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About the author: Mircea Panait
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After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
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