RE: Driven: Aston Martin Virage
Discussion
diehardbenzfan said:
for god sake aston martin! change your style! move on, this is a lovely car but its just the saem stuff everytime, everyone has moved on apart from them! the makers cant think of any other look for it, they just make minor ajustments, put crappy lexus lights on them. bigger exhaust and a black grill, everythings the same, i love astons but it annoys me how they all look the same, mercedes, ferrari, lamborghini, audi, porsche, all of them moved on, apart from crappy aston martin
Porsche moved on ???When?
Ferrari moved but where fgs???
There is no style left.
Audi is repeating itself over and over again with the same form language.
While the R8 is a cool car so wait whether Audi succeeds in developing a design that will be more advanced than the current one. I have my doubts.
Mercedes, well, can you still call it design anymore what they do ???
It is more some ornamental something and nowhere elegant or nice. It is just a well-known brand.
Agreed !
Lamborghini moved on with great success, I think.
The Gallardo is great and the Aventador just sensational and the cars still bear the taste of the great Countach.
But visit your client in an Aventador. Could be tricky, this.
So, what is wrong with the Aston Martin design then?
It's an evolution of beauty, let's say.
Give them time. It is not so easy to improve perfection.
And AM is a rather small company with low production output.
So, why change too much while there is enough demand for timeless beauty.
If you look for much change you might be not an Aston Martin customer.
Edited by vintageracer01 on Sunday 20th March 21:35
Godzuki said:
scampbird said:
Why does "AM need a new design" when the one they've got is unspeakably gorgeous?
Because they are just trotting out the same car with different bits on, or different engines. Come on, you must eager to see what their next design will look like? It is a nice design, {I preferred the DB7 to be honest), bit the same style has been there since 1994... The DB-7 was an is still beautiful I see no particular need to move away from that design language. Aston could most certainly get more power out of the 6.0l V12 they managed 520bhp with the Vanquish 6 years ago. I imagine the reason they don't is that Astons are not looking under powered yet and it means they have some performance in hand for future upgrades.
Chris71 said:
Elephantine? I quite like the original Virage.
I'd prefer a new one though.
Agreed - the original Virage was fine as long as it is taken for what it is, a more modern original V8 Coupe. It even looks pretty good as long as it has the 17" wheels - the original design look much too small.I'd prefer a new one though.
Additionally, there is an error in the article - the Virage was launched in 1988/1989, not in 1985 as the article suggests.
I wouldn't be surprised if both the DB9 and DBS get subtly dropped soon. I don't think the DBS was selling too well (way too expensive for what it is), and it seems to me this solves any 'problems' the DB9 had while acknowledging that most people who can fork out for a DB9 can probably stretch to a Virage if they're honest, or are more likely to snap up one of the burgeoning Vantage range.
There are problems with the design. Granted it's beautiful, but it's been with us, in effect, since 1994. However, the major flaw with the shape and proportions is the way it restricts rear seat space. Even the Rapide isn't a roomy car in the back. Try and add more headroom to a sleek, low fastback and you end up with an awkward, hunchbacked shape or a car that looks too long.
The original Virage, funnily enough, was a skilfully-proportioned four-seater. Effectively a notchback, it managed to look sleeker by having the waistline sweep upwards rather than have such a steep rake to the roof.
I'd keep the styling for the V8, accepting that it's a dedicated two-seater in every guise, and completely redesign the V12 2+2 range to make them more useful.
However, this is a nice step in a more coherent direction if Aston drop some other models in order to accommodate it.
There are problems with the design. Granted it's beautiful, but it's been with us, in effect, since 1994. However, the major flaw with the shape and proportions is the way it restricts rear seat space. Even the Rapide isn't a roomy car in the back. Try and add more headroom to a sleek, low fastback and you end up with an awkward, hunchbacked shape or a car that looks too long.
The original Virage, funnily enough, was a skilfully-proportioned four-seater. Effectively a notchback, it managed to look sleeker by having the waistline sweep upwards rather than have such a steep rake to the roof.
I'd keep the styling for the V8, accepting that it's a dedicated two-seater in every guise, and completely redesign the V12 2+2 range to make them more useful.
However, this is a nice step in a more coherent direction if Aston drop some other models in order to accommodate it.
Godzuki said:
Because they are just trotting out the same car with different bits on, or different engines. Come on, you must eager to see what their next design will look like? It is a nice design, {I preferred the DB7 to be honest), bit the same style has been there since 1994...
That strategy has served Porsche well for the last decades or so...vintageracer01 said:
Because it is the most beautiful and cultivated car on earth.
It is THE car closest to perfection.
Why always new and different just for the sake of it. Where is the point?
That's why.
Aston are going to get into serious financial difficulties if the don't bring out a new car. Everyone who wanted one has had one now. Who's going to keep buying it? It may be pretty but they're a common sight, so it's no longer the desirable rarity it once was - I see an Aston most days.It is THE car closest to perfection.
Why always new and different just for the sake of it. Where is the point?
That's why.
Hundred grand, what am I going to buy? Probably an R8, which'll go harder, handle better, ride smoother, work more of the time, and look better (imo).
The DB9 and co might look good, but it's not the only great shape man can possibly create. Get your f
king finger out aston. I don't want to see that fking grill and headlight combo for another 50 years.The Porsche analogy is wrong.
The 911 is one model with several variations on the theme. The entire Porsche range looks quite different from one another, although all drawn from a common design language. The Cayman, the Cayenne, the 911, the Boxster.
Line them up and they are all identifiably Porsche, but each different.
But with Aston range it's essentially the same design.
Line up a DB9, a DBS, a V8, a Rapide and a Virage...and they're all but identical.
The 911 is one model with several variations on the theme. The entire Porsche range looks quite different from one another, although all drawn from a common design language. The Cayman, the Cayenne, the 911, the Boxster.
Line them up and they are all identifiably Porsche, but each different.
But with Aston range it's essentially the same design.
Line up a DB9, a DBS, a V8, a Rapide and a Virage...and they're all but identical.
PunterCam said:
Everyone who wanted one has had one now
I see an Aston most days
work more of the time
I don't want to see that grill and headlight combo for another 50 years.
If everyone who wants one has one, why does the factory even exist I see an Aston most days
work more of the time
I don't want to see that grill and headlight combo for another 50 years.
70% of the Aston, Land Rover & Jaguar production goes out side this little island of ours. None of them can make export models quick enough!I do 40k/yr all over the country and am luck to see one of any type of Aston a week. Different story for Porsche, High end Audi & BMW's. Could be the area's I go I guess.
Ironically the grill & light combination has been an Aston signature for more than 50 years already
I guess something touched nerve with you
mikey k said:
If everyone who wants one has one, why does the factory even exist 70% of the Aston, Land Rover & Jaguar production goes out side this little island of ours. None of them can make export models quick enough!
I do 40k/yr all over the country and am luck to see one of any type of Aston a week. Different story for Porsche, High end Audi & BMW's. Could be the area's I go I guess.
Ironically the grill & light combination has been an Aston signature for more than 50 years already
I guess something touched nerve with you
Agreed, the grille and headlight design is what makes it instantly recognisable as it drives past - like the double kidney design for a BMW or the cathedral grille of a Rolls Royce. Haven't you noticed the headlights from a DB9 are completely different to a Virgage? 70% of the Aston, Land Rover & Jaguar production goes out side this little island of ours. None of them can make export models quick enough!I do 40k/yr all over the country and am luck to see one of any type of Aston a week. Different story for Porsche, High end Audi & BMW's. Could be the area's I go I guess.
Ironically the grill & light combination has been an Aston signature for more than 50 years already
I guess something touched nerve with you
Yawn. Another DB9, sorry DBS, sorry DB7.
The shape has been about since 1995 and the engine since 1999. It's time they moved onwards.
As another poster has stated, Jaguar, for £100k have upped the game immeasurably with the direct injection supercharged 5 litre XKR. I'd rather have one of those than this 'new' aston tbh.
The shape has been about since 1995 and the engine since 1999. It's time they moved onwards.
As another poster has stated, Jaguar, for £100k have upped the game immeasurably with the direct injection supercharged 5 litre XKR. I'd rather have one of those than this 'new' aston tbh.
Article says
For the record, the £150k Virage - which is designed to plug the gap between £125k DB9 and £175k DBS
now if there is ever a market that is screaming out to be filled its that 50K bracket between these two cars, and they have done it in such an outstanding and original way.
Getting bored with the DB9 styling, they all look far to similar, the RS Focus paint job doesn't help it much either, Astons should be about subtle power & effortless performance not all look at me, look at me, leave that to lambo.
For the record, the £150k Virage - which is designed to plug the gap between £125k DB9 and £175k DBS
now if there is ever a market that is screaming out to be filled its that 50K bracket between these two cars, and they have done it in such an outstanding and original way.
Getting bored with the DB9 styling, they all look far to similar, the RS Focus paint job doesn't help it much either, Astons should be about subtle power & effortless performance not all look at me, look at me, leave that to lambo.
Jgtv said:
Article says
For the record, the £150k Virage - which is designed to plug the gap between £125k DB9 and £175k DBS
now if there is ever a market that is screaming out to be filled its that 50K bracket between these two cars, and they have done it in such an outstanding and original way.
Getting bored with the DB9 styling, they all look far to similar, the RS Focus paint job doesn't help it much either, Astons should be about subtle power & effortless performance not all look at me, look at me, leave that to lambo.
Like I said, it won't be long IMHO before the DB9 and DBS mysteriously drop off the price lists.For the record, the £150k Virage - which is designed to plug the gap between £125k DB9 and £175k DBS
now if there is ever a market that is screaming out to be filled its that 50K bracket between these two cars, and they have done it in such an outstanding and original way.
Getting bored with the DB9 styling, they all look far to similar, the RS Focus paint job doesn't help it much either, Astons should be about subtle power & effortless performance not all look at me, look at me, leave that to lambo.
If you're in the market for a £12,500 car you can probably just about justify bumping it up nearer £15k if you're buying on finance anyway. The interest would probably do that for you anyway if you wanted it for long-term ownership.
If you're the kind of person who can contemplate spending £125k on a car, you probably won't care much about £150k. This is a firm who expect people to buy a Cygnet for £30k as an extra on the DB9 options list after all.
And if you were going to buy a DBS (which you weren't, because it's undercut by all its rivals, selling poorly and probably costing A-M a shedload of money in the process), a £15k cut for a better-looking, more modern car all-round is going to come as a welcome relief.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff