Payne: Aston Martin Vantage Roadster is a work of art. With teeth

Posted by Talbot Payne on September 6, 2026

The 2026 Aston Martin Vantage S Roadster is a grand tourer that can quickly transform into an asphalt-inhaling supercar in Hell, Michigan.

The 2026 Aston Martin Vantage S Roadster is a grand tourer that can quickly transform into an asphalt-inhaling supercar in Hell, Michigan.

Henry Payne, The Detroit News

With a colossal 670 horsepower from its 4.0-liter, twin-turbo V-8 (14 more than the standard Vantage), the supercar inhaled the landscape in front of me. Developed alongside the Vantage GT3 car that is leading the 2026 IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship’s GTD class, the Vantage is remarkably nimble for a 4,000-pound production car.

After cruising across Washtenaw Couty, I entered Hell and selected TRACK mode. The variable shocks noticeably stiffened, making the car feel as one with the road. Sticky, summer Michelin Pilot Sport S tires gripped the asphalt. Switch the eight-speed automatic transmission to MANUAL mode. Pull the bat-wing-shaped paddles behind the steering wheel to keep the V-8 in its fat, 3,000-6,000 RPM torque band.

Third gear. Full throttle.

Snatch fourth gear. Brush the brakes into a right-hander. Back to third.

SNAP! CRACKLE! POP! Fireworks from the quad exhaust.

Back to throttle.

Sweet V-8 music. And for 2026, it comes in a convertible.

Read full article here.

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