Monday, Mar 21st, 2011 @ 6:46 p.m. Aston Martin debuted its all-new Virage at the Geneva Motor Show at the start of the month, hoping to bridge the gap between the entry-level DB9 and the high-performance DBS.
To help demonstrate exactly what the Virage is capable of, the iconic automaker took to some mountain passes, complete with a soundtrack befitting of a James Bond film and let the cameras roll.
(More after video)
The Virage
The Virage nameplate recalls a modestly successful V8-powered coupe, convertible and shooting brake (four were made) offered during the 1990s. Aston Martin’s Virage utilizes the latest version of the automaker’s VH aluminum platform, along with power output and pricing that also fits perfectly between the DB9 and DBS.
Aston Martin’s hand-crafted 6.0-liter V12 rests under the car’s elongated hood, where it puts out 490 horsepower and 420 lb-ft. of torque. A six-speed Touchtronic II automatic transmission is mounted on the transaxle for 50:50 weight distribution.
To put the power to the ground, a new Adaptive Damping System offers ten settings split between normal and sport modes to offer drivers touring or performance-oriented driving. A dashboard-mounted Sport button further sharpens throttle response and speeds up gear changes in addition to holding gears closer to redline.
Carbon ceramic brakes are standard across the board for the Virage.
While its look is clearly derivative of Aston Martin’s post-DB7 offerings, the car does get an aluminum front grille and front fascia inspired by the One-77. New fender-mounted side strakes include six LEDs for the turn signal repeater. Aston Martin’s signature “swan wing” side doors rise to the occasion to allow entry to a typically Aston Martin interior wrapped in Bridge of Weir leather.
Aston Martin says that 70 man hours go into making each interior alone. Unlike the DB9 and DBS, the Virage gets a more intuitive navigation system with a 6.5-inch high resolution display. Previous models have relied on rather outdated software dating back to Aston Martin’s former Ford ownership. Heated seats, a 700-watt audio system and Bluetooth are all standard.
Ordering is already open at the automaker’s 132 global dealerships.
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If you have to ask whether the new Aston Martin Virage is really worth roughly 30 grand more than the near identical-looking DB9, here's a tip: Don't ask Ulrich Bez. The mercurial German, who's headed Aston since 2000, has little time for those who don't appreciate the subtle nuances that define the individual models in the company's 14-car lineup, all of which, apart from the stubby Toyota iQ-based Cygnet, look remarkably similar. "Our cars look like Aston Martins," he says defiantly. "If you don't like the look, buy another car." As Aston Martin design director Marek Reichman walks you around the new Virage, showing you a new surface here, a new line there, and all the fresh detailing in the new headlights, grille, and front and rear fascias, it is possible to appreciate how different this car is from the DB9 and DBS models that bracket it in terms of price, power, and performance. But in today's ADD-addled world, you can't help but wonder whether anyone will notice. To all but the aficionados, this new Aston looks pretty much like every other new Aston of the past 10 years.
It's much the same when you drive it. If you've spent a lot of time in Astons recently, you'll immediately appreciate that the Virage is a little quicker and a little more athletic than the DB9, yet feels smoother and more refined. It's like a DBS dipped in molasses; the underlying edginess is coated with a sweet layer of tactile linearity that is truly delightful. A new inlet manifold has liberated an extra 20 hp compared with the DB9, pushing the output of the hand-built 6.0-liter V-12 under the hood to 490 hp at 6500 rpm. The extra power has come at the expense of some torque -- it's down 23 lb-ft compared with the DB9's V-12 -- but the shorter final drive ratio appropriated from the DBS helps make the most of the engine's appetite for higher revs. Aston Martin claims the Virage will cover the 0-60-mph sprint in less than 4.5 seconds, and on the road it delivers smooth, elastic thrust right through the rev range.Get a free and easy new car price quote in minutes.
