Aston Martin Virage

Overview

The Virage was the car to bring Aston Martin into the competitive 1990s. The V8 had soldiered on for long enough and was struggling to compete by the mid 1980s. The replacement retained the front mounted V8 engine driving the rear wheels, platform chassis and hand formed aluminum skin over a steel structure. The four seater Virage GT was unveiled in 1988 and was joined by the convertible Volante version soon after.

Over time the Virage was phased out and the standard car was restyled with many styling cues from the Vantage and called simply the V8 Coupe (we still include it in this family for our analysis). If you wanted something extra special, you could call the Works team or any number of third party specialists to create something a little nuttier and more expensive.

The 1990 Aston Martin cars were definitely falling further behind the competition, keeping the company alive thanks to their strong handbuilt V8’s, very exclusive build numbers and their aggressive and very British looks.

The Virage showcased a more modern and aerodynamic design compared to its predecessors, while still retaining the distinctive Aston Martin elegance. The body was a departure from the earlier, more angular designs, featuring more rounded contours that reflected the automotive design trends of the late 1980s and 1990s. It was hand-built, with a body crafted from aluminum to keep the weight down, yet it was still a heavy car by contemporary standards.

Under the hood, the Virage was equipped with a 5.3-liter V8 engine, which was an evolution of the V8 used in previous models. This engine was capable of producing around 330 horsepower, allowing the car to reach 0 to 60 mph in around 6.5 seconds, with a top speed of around 158 mph (254 km/h). Later in its production run, Aston Martin introduced the Virage Vantage in 1993, a more powerful version with a twin-supercharged V8 engine, significantly boosting performance.

The production of the Virage was limited, making it a rare sight. Aston Martin manufactured fewer than 1,100 units of the Virage, adding to its exclusivity and appeal among collectors. The Virage played a crucial role in Aston Martin's history, bridging the gap between the classic V8 models and the more modern designs that followed. It laid the groundwork for future models like the DB7 and the Vanquish, which continued to evolve Aston Martin’s blend of performance and luxury.

The Aston Martin Virage is remembered as a symbol of transition for the marque, embodying a period where traditional craftsmanship began to meet the technological advancements of the late 20th century, setting the stage for the future of luxury performance cars from the brand.