Aston Martin Virage History
The Aston Martin Virage, when it debuts at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2011, sits between the luxurious DBS and the super-sporty DB9 in the Aston Martin lineup. Really, every Aston Martin is a blend of luxury and and sport; the Virage, as the company sees it, completes the range.
Virage is French for either "bend, turn, curve" or "change in orientation." Aston Martin chose the name first because it begins with a V, which comes from the Vantage engine of the 1950s. Suggestions for the new car's name came from the factory employees, Aston Martin owners, and the Aston Martin Owners Club. Chairman Victor Gauntlett and the company's directors liked Virage best. It's that simple.
The Aston Martin V12 Vanquish played a huge role in returning this classic British carmaker to both financial success and technological sophistication. Of course, any good Aston Martin has to have drop-dead gorgeous styling, and the Vanquish does not disappoint. But on top of classic Aston design cues such as the unique grille shape and low hood line, it added a shot of bravado that included muscular fenders and a wide, squat stance. It is certainly the most masculine of Aston's classic designs.
It’s not every day you get handed the keys to one of the hottest cars on the planet, a tank full of gas and the chance to play James Bond for a couple of days. Everyone has their own dream but no can argue that having an Aston Martin DB9 to play with is something special. With its scintillating V12 engine, beautiful lines, and an elegant interior that’s steeped in luxury and exclusivity, it becomes easy to understand why motoring pundits the world over have proclaimed the DB9 as a slice of automotive heaven.
Read ahead to see what we thought of the Aston coupe, and be sure to look out for our review of the V8 Vantage in the following month or so.
At long last, after a wait of six years, the Vantage version of the DB7 was unveiled at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show. Restyled by the original designer, Ian Callum, the exquisite poise of the DB7 was transformed with 'beefed up' flanks, new sills, larger nose air intake with revised grill and lights plus a new rear bumper. Under the surface, the chassis was 'beefed up' too and featured completely new front and rear suspension. Up until then, the Vantage derivative of an Aston Martin car has featured a tuned version of the standard engine; for the first time ever, the DB7 Vantage had a brand new engine and was significantly different from the i6 car. And what an engine - 6.0 litres of it - the first ever production Aston Martin to be fitted with a V12.
There's an absurd scene in Goldeneye, where agent 007 races a hottie through the winding roads above Monte Carlo. James Bond is behind the wheel of a DB5. The girl is driving a Ferrari 355. Guess who wins? Preposterous. That said, if you're not the type of person to take an informed view on the relative merits of Aston's straight six vs. Ferrari's 32-valve 8-cylinder power plant, or the handling implications of conventional vs. electronically damped suspension, the scene made perfect sense. Handsome Bond in beautiful car duels beautiful girl in gorgeous car. That's more than enough information for the average moviegoer.
The Aston Martin DB2 had been on sale five years before Aston Martin began contemplating a successor. Christened Aston Martin DB4, it was all-new, which helps explain why it took three years to be finalized, delaying its public launch until autumn 1958.
Key personalities behind the new Aston Martin DB model were general manager John Wyer (who would mastermind the birth of the Ford GT40 in the 1960s), chassis designer Harold Beach, and engine designer Tadek Marek. David Brown himself took a major step forward by agreeing to the development of an entirely new car, for every major component in the DB4 was new, and there was never any thought of compromise by using carryover parts.
Wyer concentrated as much of the new model’s manufacturing and assembly as he could in the modernized Newport Pagnell factory. One unanticipated consequence, however, was that longtime stylist Frank Feeley declined to move to Buckinghamshire, forcing Aston Martin Lagonda to seek outside design help.
The differences between a sports car and a GT car are subtle but undeniable. In the way it looks, the way it sounds, and the way it feels, a sports car telegraphs a message of outright performance. If you drive a car to its absolute limit down a challenging road and find yourself grinning from ear to ear, chances are you're in a sports car, something like a Lotus Elise or a Ferrari F430. A GT car's mission, on the other hand, is to provide effortless performance, driving pleasure, and comfort over long journeys driven at triple-digit speeds. During a drive from, say, London to the south of France, you should be able to remain relaxed yet inspired behind the wheel, while your passenger should feel pampered and at ease. Aston Martin does GT cars as well as any automaker. Its DB9 coupe features a powerful twelve-cylinder engine, a cosseting cabin, and gorgeous, understated styling. But now Aston has a new top-of-the-line model, the DBS. So, is it a GT, or is it a sports car?
Business is going good at Aston Martin and will probably go better in the future with the announced Vantage V12 RS and the DBS Convertible. Latest drawnings show us the Aston Martin AM V10 and we have to say it looks good! But sorry for everybody who was already dreaming, this car is a computer design and it will stay that way. On the other hand we are not taking away all hope because sources say that Aston Martin is working on a middle-engined V10 supercar.
We’ve all been there: deeply smitten by a witty, intelligent, urbane, drop dead gorgeous potential partner. Whether it’s an actual acquaintance or a distant celebrity, their innate hotness sets our souls ablaze. And then, eventually, familiarity breeds contempt. The wit becomes tiresome, the intelligence debatable, the urbanity mundane and the beauty– well that stays. Despite the obvious physical attractions, the time eventually comes when you realize that true love tends to forget. And yes, I’m talking about the Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
Virage is French for either "bend, turn, curve" or "change in orientation." Aston Martin chose the name first because it begins with a V, which comes from the Vantage engine of the 1950s. Suggestions for the new car's name came from the factory employees, Aston Martin owners, and the Aston Martin Owners Club. Chairman Victor Gauntlett and the company's directors liked Virage best. It's that simple.
