Aston Martin V12 Vantage roadster to start at $233,340

Aston Martin dropped the details of its UK-onlyV12 Vantage roadster on Tuesday, and the news is good. The new convertible will boast 509 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque from Aston's signature 6.0-liter engine.

The roadster shares many of the technical features and specifications from the hardtop version, though some elements had to be changed to accommodate the folding soft top. Among those changes are a redesigned trunk lid with a more pronounced lip—for stability at speed—and a lower front air intake.

Under the sheetmetal, the V12 Vantage roadster has a modified rear damper setup, new front and rear damper tuning and a new rear-spring design. Aston Martin says that these changes, along with the use of Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires, ensure that the roadster will handle and drive per Aston tradition.

Outside, the Vantage roadster makes liberal use of carbon-fiber accents on the side strakes, front splitter, rear diffuser, mirror caps and rear lamp surrounds. It also boasts a set of newly designed forged-alloy wheels inside 19-inch tires.

Occupants of the cabin will see new glass switches in the lower center stack, as well as carbon-fiber accents around the fascia and the stick shift.

That's right—stick shift. Buyers will be able to row their own gears in the V12 roadster, as it comes standard with the company's oversized shifter and rear-mounted gearbox which helps manage weight balance. A limited-slip differential is also standard, enabling the car to get from 0 to 62 mph in 4.5 seconds, on its way to a terminal velocity of 190 mph.

Also new to the V12 Vantage and Vantage roadster is the engine's sport button, which is said to offer sharper throttle response, with the engine delivering more torque early in the rev range. Exhaust flaps are also kept open longer, creating the sporty sound that Astons are known for. In normal mode, the car has a more relaxed throttle response and a quieter exhaust note—as if someone would want that.

At 3,880 pounds, the V12 Vantage roadster comes in at about 180 pounds heavier than its hardtop sibling.

Prices will start at $233,340, converted from British pounds.

By Jake Lingeman