Vantage S Roadster challenges 911
The 2026 Aston Martin Vantage S Roadster is being touted as a genuine Porsche 911 challenger — critics say it 'moves beyond excuses' and finally competes on dynamism and emotional impact rather than badge alone. (carbuzz.com)
Aston Martin’s S variant uses an AMG‑sourced 4.0‑liter twin‑turbo V‑8 tuned to roughly 670–671 horsepower and 590 lb‑ft of torque, with a quoted top speed of 202 mph. (carbuzz.com)) Aston quotes a 0–60 mph time of about 3.3 seconds for the Vantage S—Aston says that improvement comes from recalibrated throttle mapping, launch‑control refinements and an optimized transaxle setup. (motortrend.com)) The S gets substantive chassis hardware and software changes, including a stiffer structure, adaptive hydraulic/Bilstein dampers at all four corners, an electronic limited‑slip differential and optional carbon‑ceramic brakes to sharpen turn‑in and stability. (motortrend.com)) The Roadster version adds only about 132 pounds over the coupe while retaining much of the coupe’s handling character, and its folding soft top deploys or stows in roughly six to seven seconds. (motor1.com)) U.S. listing prices place the Vantage S Roadster around the low‑to‑mid $200,000s—Aston/retailer listings show S Roadster figures near $211,000—and test/first‑drive cars with options can push well past $250,000. (cars.com)) Aston’s engineers and several outlets frame the S as a performance step closer to Porsche’s 911 family, while reviewers note the 911’s broader model range and differing price/power spectrum as the context for head‑to‑head comparison. (motortrend.com))
