Aston Martin Virage 2011 Review

Aston Martin

Aston Martin introduces the new Virage - supremely elegant and powerful, yet juxtaposed as an understated sports car. Beautiful, dynamic and prestigious, the Virage combines outright sports car performance with luxury, comfort and refinement.

The front mid-mounted V12 engine’s torque delivery provides outstanding performance, coupled with the car’s inherent agility and perfect weight distribution delivering the ideal balance between outright sports car performance and trademark sporting luxury exemplified by modern Aston Martins.

Aston Martin’s own bonded aluminum ‘VH’ architecture that forms the backbone of the marquee’s sports cars, takes inspiration from the aerospace industry where weight reduction is the ultimate goal. The front wings distinguish the Virage from its stable mates housing a new modern interpretation of the Aston Martin iconic side strake housing six LEDs elegantly forming the side repeater.

The Virage and Virage Volante are on sale now, available from Aston Martin’s global dealership network spanning 132 dealerships in 41 countries.

The Aston Martin Virage is a new model for 2011, but it's essentially just a DB9 with slightly different styling, more power and a variation of the Rapide's adaptive suspension.

The styling also has been massaged, though it's tough for even Aston Martin aficionados to tell the Virage apart from the DB9, despite the fender vents. Ah, perhaps it's the $28,000 extra that Aston Martin charges. Hmm, looks like the 2011 Aston Martin Virage isn't the only product of such automotive evolution.

The 2011 Aston Martin Virage is available in coupe and convertible body styles, the latter of which is known as Volante.

Besides an available Bang & Olufsen BeoSound audio system, the Virage's options are limited to design and customization items. The rear-wheel-drive 2011 Aston Martin Virage is powered by a 6.0-liter V12 that produces 490 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. Aston Martin estimates the Virage will go from zero to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. The 2011 Aston Martin Virage comes with antilock carbon-ceramic brakes, traction and stability control, front side airbags (which protect head and torso) and parking sensors. Easily deciphered buttons combine with a central LCD screen to create a user-friendly interface, and the Virage is the first Aston to get a greatly improved Garmin-sourced navigation system.

Unfortunately, the Virage maintains the ornate Aston Martin gauges and their strange oppositely rotating dials (the speedometer needle swings clockwise; the tachometer goes counter-clockwise). For larger items, the trunk is actually quite generous for an exotic sports car. The 2011 Aston Martin Virage is surprisingly easy to drive, with decent outward visibility and a traditional automatic transmission that delivers smooth shifts without the jerkiness associated with fancier automated manuals.

The steering is precise, and the car's 50/50 weight balance assures neutral handling. While the DB9 and DBS both have adjustable suspensions, the Virage goes a step further with a suspension that automatically adapts to road conditions.

The Virage is another sport touring coupe, and Aston Martin says it fits between the DB9 and DBS. Aston Martin says the Virage will come with a new navigation system, 6.5-inch high-resolution display, Bluetooth hands-free, USB and a 700-watt audio system. Aston Martin will announce more details at the Geneva Motor Show.