Wednesday 23rd February 2011

New Aston Martin Virage Revealed

1990s Virage badge revived; car to sit between Aston DB9 and DBS

---

This is the Aston Martin Virage. It's a new super-GT and most definitely not a replacement for the DB9. (At least that's what Aston reckons, we'll have to see what this does to the DB9's sales figures before we believe them...)

Rather, Aston is placing the new Virage - which revives the 1990s model name - slap bang between the DB9 and DBS. Power from the 6.0-litre V12 is therefore pegged at 490bhp (exactly mid-way between the DB9's 470bhp and the DBS's 510bhp), combined with 420lb ft of torque. That translates to a 0-62mph sprint of 4.6secs and a top speed of 186mph.

Treading a thin line that's more focused than the DB9 but more refined than the DBS can be no easy task, but the Virage attempts this with a mix of refinements and sporting touches.

The standard-fit six-speed Touchtronic auto is a nod to a more relaxed driving style, for example, while the carbon-ceramic brakes hint at a more hardcore tone.

The Adaptive Damping System (ADS), meanwhile, has been tweaked to select up to five different stiffness settings within normal mode, and a further five stiffer settings within sport mode. A 'Sport' button on the facia also allows the driver to select a sharper throttle response, faster gearchanges, and means the gearbox holds onto ratios without automatically shifting up at the limiter.

Although in essence very similar to a DB9 (indeed, all Aston's creations stem from the company's 'VH' platform architecture), to distinguish the Virage from its V12 coupe brethren, Aston has borrowed the front lights from the Rapide, while a less fussy front bumper and side sills clean up the over look of the car. At the rear, a body-coloured blade within the rear diffuser helps to accentuate the width of the car.

Inside, an integrated Garmin sat-nav with a simpler joystick control has been introduced (anybody who has wrestled with a recent Aston Martin navigation system can surely only applaud that). As well as sat-nav, standard equipment includes heated seats (Sports seats only), cruise control, and Bluetooth telephone preparation.

The Virage is anticipated to be priced at around £150k, in between the £125k DB9 and £175k DBS, something Aston Martin will confirm at the Geneva show, where the Virage will be on display alongside the new V8 Vantage S and the Cygnet city car.

 

[TAHodgson]

When are Aston Martin going to reveal a new design? I mean I know theres such a thing as a house style, but all the models look the same!! Not saying they look bad at all, just something fresh is needed!

[Rawwr]

Oh *yawn* another boring Pors... wait, I got that all wrong.

[sparks_E39]

Gorgeous, but utterly pointless.

[j_s14a]

It just looks like the others. I much prefer the original, especially the V600 LM version.


Last of the proper hand built Astons (ie, the special ones)

[sparks_E39]

j_s14a said:

It just looks like the others. I much prefer the original, especially the V600 LM version.

I would buy this car first if I won the lottery.

[cathalm]

What the hell!!!!

[will261058]

Gave it a 10 because its an AM and its gorgeous but Im not sure what the point of this car is.

[sparks_E39]

They should really stop making the DB9 soon, 8 years old now.

[Fetchez la vache]

Aston in brand new design shock.
Oh wait..

[jimbobsimmonds]

Beautiful, but time aston mixed it up a bit... db9 replacement in the next few years i hope...

[robsco]

Not to be negative or anything, but is that really a different car to the DB9? Or is it a DB9 with Peugeot 308-esque headlights?

[Hellbound]

Perhaps this is their way of appeasing all the Cygnet haters among the ranks...

[anonymous-user]

It basically is a facelifted DB9 with a 20bhp tune though isn't it?

Edited by MSTRBKR on Wednesday 23 February 01:04

[hornetrider]

I must confess to not liking the skirts/lower spoilers. Looks very... ummm... Mansory/Veilside?!

[dtrump]

hornetrider said:

I must confess to not liking the skirts/lower spoilers. Looks very... ummm... Mansory/Veilside?!

+1

I like the headlights, but they arent exactly better, just the same but ever so slightly different

IMO they would have been better just doing nothing

[mybrainhurts]

AM, you are confusing me. Please stop it....

[vaggeli89]

i hear a dead horse being flogged...

rapide headlights, a stupid kerb-scraping big-mouth bumper and 20bhp, big woop.

since fisker left NOTHING impressive has come out of the aston design department.

dbs is OTT, chrome lights on everything look ridiculous, v12 vantage styling is OTT and the rapide concept was gorgeous, real thing with stupid headlights is merely "good looking"

luckily the engineers are still doing some impressive things. 4.7 engine, v12 vantage etc etc

original db9 and v8 were the most timeless and well balanced car designs the worlds seen in the last 30 years.

and dont get me started on the cygnet!!!!

BRING BACK FISKER!!!! he knew about elegance and got the refinement into the design language callum never quite managed to attain (although the path he started them on was brilliant)

Vag out.

[Kong]

I'm not one of these people who slate AM because all of their cars look so similar. If they look good (which they all do) then why rush to change?

Whilst i like this car, it does seem pointless. Other manufacturers have given cars facelifts with bigger changes than this from a DB9!

[muppet42]

I've always liked the DB9 and indeed the DBS though - maybe it was the Bond factor with the latter even if he did roll it or crash it into a bunch of Alfa's. And even with all the add on bits, I still think this incarnation's a bit of a looker

Do kind of wish they'd make something radical though and as touched on already, not the Cygnet

[Or888t]

Bit of a piss take really.
Split exactly in the middle of the range, and it's blatently not a new car reeally is it?!