Aston Martin Virage
The Aston Martin Virage was Aston Martin’s replacement for the last decades of the V8 models. Presented at the Birmingham Motor Show in 1988, which was accompanied by high-performance Vantage in 1993, and the name of standard car was changed to V8 in 1996.
Aston Martin Virage V8 was conceived as top model of the company, with the 6-cylinder 1994 Aston Martin DB7 slotted below it. Although the Aston Martin DB7 switched to a V12 engine and claimed the performance crown, this V8 model (by then in Vantage form) remained the exclusive, expensive king and hand built Astons. It was replaced in 2000 with the Vanquish. The Aston Martin V8 Vantage name reappeared on a new entry-level model in the late 2005 model year 2000, 1050 of all Virage related models had been produced. A new generation Virage was introduced in the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, to fit in the middle of the current Aston Martin lineup.
Aston Martin Virage Design
Compared with the previous V8, the Aston Martin Virage design was fresh and modern. It seemed more like a Lagonda than the V8 it replaces. In fact, the chassis was Lagonda evolution, with a rear suspension of Dion tube, which is triangulated by radius rods and Watts linkage, and a unit double wishbone front. To reduce costs, many of the less important pieces came from other companies, as had been the case for many a past Aston. The headlights and taillights were elegant Audi 200 and Volkswagen Scirocco units, respectively, while General Motors, Jaguar and Ford introduced the steering column, the climate control panel, and switches on the board. In fact, Ford bought Jaguar and Aston Martin Virage debuted shortly before.
The Aston Martin Virage was a large and heavy car despite its aluminum body, but the 32-valve 5.3 L (5340 cc) V8 engine of 494 N · m (364 lbs ft) high torque performance at levels near the car super. “Acceleration never seems to run out,” said Sports Car International on a first test. They also commended the nature “anxious and faster speed” of 335 hp (246 kW, 330 hp) with their heads Callaway designed fuel injection and Weber-Marelli. “Nothing sounds quite like an Aston V8,” they concluded. The 1790 kg (3946 lbs) car could reach 158 mph (254 km / h). The automatic could reach 60 mph (97 km / h) standing in about 6.5 seconds. An upgrade to 354 hp (260 kW, 349 hp) was announced at the Geneva Motor Show 1996.
The ZF five-speed manual was a pretty rare option, only installed on about fifty Virages. The most popular choice was automatic three-speed Chrysler Torqueflite transmission. For 1993 the three speeds was replaced by a four-speed automatic unit. The six-speed manual Vantage also became optional at the end of the production cycle Virage
Aston Martin Virage Volante
The Aston Martin Virage Volante convertible debuted at the 1990 Birmingham Motor Show as a strict two-seater, but 2 + 2 version was presented at the 1991 Geneva Motor Show. Examples of production, from 1992, were all to offer 2 +2 seating. Sources claim that between 224 and 233 examples had been produced when the series ended in 1996 On 11 example (hence the difference between 224-233) and had the naturally aspirated 1995 engine version afternoon and V8 LWB V8 Volante with improved four-speed overdrive Torqueflite and 354 horsepower (264 kW). A new Aston Martin V8 Volante, with a design based on the supercharged V8 Vantage Coupe and was built from 1997 to 2000 on a lengthened chassis style. 63 V8 Volante long chassis were built. The last variant to be built Virage was the ultra-limited Aston Martin Virage Volante 2000 Nine of these high-performance convertibles were produced, one of them in the long wheelbase chassis.
Aston Martin Virage (2011-2012)
In February 2011 it was revealed that a new Aston Martin Virage would be launched at the Geneva Motor Show. Based on the Aston Martin DB9, the Aston Martin Virage was designed to sit in the narrow gap between the basic version and the flagship Aston Martin DBS.
Aston Martin Virage Convertible
