This one-off Aston Vantage GT12 Roadster will be LOUD

30 June 2016 | Kamugelo Langa

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Stephen Dobie

You’ve met the Aston Martin Vantage GT12: the lairiest, scariest, loudest Aston road car you can buy. Save for the track-only Vulcan, it’s the most hardcore thing to come out of Gaydon.

So chopping the roof off – reducing its chassis stiffness – would seem an odd thing to do. It has happened, though, at the command of one customer via Aston’s ‘Q by Aston Martin’ personalisation scheme.

It’s the first time that Q has been used to bring a whole, bespoke car about, rather than just a specific colour scheme. It’s thanks to an offshoot called Aston Martin Advanced Operations, and it’s an exciting line in the sand. You too could create your own utterly unique Aston.

But back to this, the Vantage GT12 Roadster. There’s no denying it looks utterly superb, its carbon vents, slashes and racecar-like diffuser given a newly subtle edge alongside grey paint. These things all being relative, of course; it’s still a fighty looking thing.

Underneath its aggressive skin, there’s the same 444kW 6-litre V12 engine and seven-speed paddleshift gearbox as the GT12 coupe. The suspension has been tweaked to allow the Roadster’s inevitably wobblier body to handle it all, though.

There’s a titanium exhaust too. Hand in hand with the folding fabric roof, this should ensure the GT12 Roadster provides your ears with one of the finest experiences the world of cars can offer. Nay, the world full stop. We wouldn’t be surprised if other people wish to follow this customer’s lead.

No price has been announced, but we imagine the GT12 Roadster’s orchestrator paid a healthy chunk over the Coupe’s R5m. It makes its first public appearance from today at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

“The Vantage GT12 Roadster is a hugely exciting project,” says Aston Martin boss Dr Andy Palmer. “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.”

So, over to you: what fantasy Aston would you like the Advanced Operations team to put together? Vulcan Roadster? One-77 Shooting Brake? Let your imagination run wild in the comments section below.