![]() | It has been suggested that this article should be split into a new article titled Talk:Aston_Martin_Virage#Separate_and_split_Virage's_year_2010 . (discuss) (April 2024) |
Aston Martin Virage | |
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![]() 1991 Aston Martin Virage | |
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Aston Martin Lagonda Limited |
Production |
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Body and chassis | |
Class | Grand Tourer (S) |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Aston Martin V8 Vantage (1977) |
Successor |
The Aston Martin Virage is an automobile produced by British luxury automobile manufacturer Aston Martin as a replacement for its V8 models. Introduced at the Birmingham Motor Show in 1988, [1] it was joined by the high-performance Vantage in 1993, after which the name of the base model was changed to V8 Coupe in 1996.
The V8-powered model was intended as the company's flagship model, with the 6-cylinder DB7, introduced in 1994, positioned below it as an entry-level model. Although the DB7 became available with a V12 engine and claimed a performance advantage, the Virage remained the exclusive, expensive and hand-built flagship of the Aston Martin range. It was replaced in 2000 with the Vanquish. By the end of the 2000 model year, 1,050 cars in total had been produced. The V8 Vantage name reappeared on a new entry-level model in 2005.
A new Virage model was introduced at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, to fit into the middle of Aston Martin's then current lineup but was discontinued in 2012 due to many similarities between the brand's other models.
Virage | |
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Overview | |
Production |
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Assembly | United Kingdom: Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire |
Designer | John Heffernan, [3] Ken Greenley [3] |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 2-door 2+2 coupé |
Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
Powertrain | |
Engine |
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Transmission |
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Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,610 mm (102.8 in) |
Length | 4,735 mm (186.4 in) |
Width | 1,855 mm (73.0 in) |
Kerb weight | 1,790 kg (3,946 lb) |
When compared to the preceding V8, the design was fresh and more modern. The Virage was more similar in design language to the Lagonda than the V8 it replaced. Indeed, the chassis was an evolution of the Lagonda's, with a de Dion tube rear suspension, located by triangulated radius rods and a Watts linkage, and a double wishbone unit at the front. [4] To cut costs, many of the less-important pieces came from other companies, as had been the case for Aston Martin automobiles of the past. The sleek headlights and taillights were sourced from the Audi 200 and the Volkswagen Scirocco respectively, while General Motors, Jaguar, Citroën and Ford provided the steering column, climate control panel, wing mirrors and dash switches. In fact, Ford had purchased Aston Martin and Jaguar shortly before the Virage debuted and it became the first model to be introduced under the new ownership.
The Virage was a large, heavy car in spite of its all-aluminium body, but the 32-valve 5.3 L (5,340 cc) V8 engine's 494 N⋅m (364 lb⋅ft) torque elevated its performance to near sports car levels. "Acceleration just never seems to run out", claimed Sports Car International during a first test. They also praised the "eager and quicker revving" nature of the 330 hp (246 kW; 335 PS) engine with its Callaway-designed heads and Weber-Marelli fuel injection. "Nothing sounds quite like an Aston V8," they concluded. The 1,790 kg (3,946 lb) car could attain a top-speed of 254 km/h (158 mph). The automatic variant could accelerate to 97 km/h (60 mph) from a standing start in a claimed 6.5 seconds (7.4 seconds for the manual version). [1] [2] The catalyzed European-spec engine produces a claimed 310 PS (228 kW) at 5300 rpm, and period tests claimed 8 seconds to reach 100 km/h (62 mph) for the automatic version. [5] An engine power upgrade to 350 hp (261 kW; 355 PS) was announced at the 1996 Geneva Motor Show. [6] English actor Rowan Atkinson owned Virage Coupé chassis 50010 which featured on the front cover of Car May 1990. In the article he commented how the modern climate control system provided heating efficiency beyond the veteran Aston Martin driver's dreams and could not believe warm air would emanate from the footwell within 90 seconds of start up. This car also appeared in the beginning of his 1991 TV series The Driven Man . [7] Other celebrity owners included Lennox Lewis, Elton John and Chris Eubank.
The five-speed ZF Friedrichshafen manual was fitted to about forty per cent of the cars produced. The more popular automatic option was the Chrysler three-speed Torqueflite transmission. For the 1993 model year, the three-speed unit was replaced by a four-speed automatic unit. [6] The six-speed manual from the Vantage also became optional at the end of the Virage's production run. [8] Aston Martin had prepared for an annual production rate of 275 examples. [5] In the end, the totals averaged about a third of that during the model's seven-year lifespan (including the Volante).
In January 1992, Aston Martin introduced a conversion service, upgrading the car into a Virage 6.3. As the name implies, the centerpiece of the conversion was a bored and stroked 6.3 L (6,347 cc) V8 derived from the AMR1 racing car. This engine has a power output of between 456 and 500 hp (340 and 373 kW; 462 and 507 PS) at 6,000 rpm and 480 lb⋅ft (651 N⋅m) of torque at 5,800 rpm, allowing the car to attain a top speed of 175 mph (282 km/h).
Other changes included 14-inch (356 mm) ventilated disc brakes, the largest used in a passenger car until the Bentley Continental GT, and 18 inch wheels. Visually, the 6.3 had wide flared bumpers, low sills and air dams, and side air vents.
A shooting brake (estate) version of the Virage was offered in limited numbers. It debuted at the March 1992 Geneva Motor Show. Unlike prior Aston Martin Shooting Brake models, however, the Virage was produced in-house by the company's Works Service, with six believed to be constructed in total. The cars were priced at £165,000. The cars are believed to have retained Virage chassis numbers, except two that received chassis numbers of the type "DP/2099". [9]
The Lagonda Saloon is a long-wheelbase four-door Virage model that was built in very limited numbers to customer orders, reviving Aston Martin's long-dormant second marque. Introduced in 1994, it was manufactured by Aston Martin Works Service with a 12 in (305 mm) chassis extension, although two were ordered with an 18 in (457 mm) extension. The name refers to the four-door Aston Martin Lagonda. The Lagonda Virage cost about £250,000 and only eight or nine are believed to have been produced, with some being conversions of regular Virages. Six of these cars were ordered by the royal family of Brunei. [10]
The five-door Lagonda Virage Shooting Brake debuted at the same time as the Lagonda Virage. It was made by Aston Martin Works Service in only one or two examples, and has been spotted bearing "Vacances" badging at the rear. A further six cars were made for a royal family from the ground up, adding a 406.4 mm (16 in) extension to the chassis of a standard Virage. [11]
A less extreme (compared to the Vantage) V8 Coupe replaced the standard Virage from 1996 onwards having the updated styling inherited from the more powerful Vantage. Lacking the superchargers and the more aggressive body style of its sibling, the engine in the V8 Coupe has a power output of 350 hp (261 kW; 355 PS) [12] and 369 lb·ft (500 N·m) of torque. [13] [14] In total, 101 examples of the V8 Coupe were built from 1996 through 2000.
The V8 was also subject to coachbuilt conversion by Aston Martin's Works Service department. Dubbed the Sportsman estate, only three were made using existing V8 Coupes as a base. No mechanical modifications were made and the Estate retained the V8 Coupe's engine and mechanicals. [15]
Virage/V8 Volante | |
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Overview | |
Production |
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Assembly | United Kingdom: Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire |
Designer | John Heffernan, Ken Greenley |
Body and chassis | |
Body style |
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Powertrain | |
Engine | 5.3 L V8 |
Transmission |
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Dimensions | |
Wheelbase |
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The convertible version of the Virage, called the Virage Volante debuted at the 1990 Birmingham Motor Show as a strict two-seater, but a 2+2 version was shown at the 1991 Geneva Motor Show. [1] Production examples, first appearing in 1992, were all to feature 2+2 seating. Sources state that either 224 or 233 examples had been produced when production ended in 1996. The last 11 examples already had the naturally aspirated 1995 version of the engine found in the later V8 and V8 LWB Volante models with the improved four-speed and overdrive Torqueflite automatic and a power output of 359 PS (264 kW; 354 hp), which may be part of why there is some disagreement to the production numbers.
1992 was also when Aston Martin introduced its 6.3-litre "Works Service" package, which included wider fenders to accommodate the larger OZ wheels and 14-inch disc brakes, additional vents, deeper sills, and other appearance modifications. This was immediately available on the Coupé as well as the Volante. [16] Aston Martin soon introduced a strictly cosmetic version called the Wide Body featuring the regular 5.3-litre engine; this was mainly intended for the United States market as the 6.3 was not certified for sale there. 13 of these were built for the United States, whereas only seven regular Virage Volantes were delivered there. In contrast to the Wide Body Volante, the Prince of Wales chose to equip his 1994 Volante with the standard bodywork coupled with the 456 hp (340 kW; 462 PS) 6.3-litre engine and a manual transmission. [17]
A new V8 Volante Long Wheelbase, with updated styling of the V8 Coupe was produced from 1997 to 2000 on a chassis lengthened by 200 mm (7.9 in). Only 63 units were built by the time production came to a halt.
Following on their V8 Volante junior car, Aston Martin built a half-scale junior car version of the Virage Volante as well. It received a handmade aluminium body, leather interior, and a 160-cc Honda engine; this children's car cost as much as a brand new Mercedes-Benz 190E. [18] Ten examples were built in total.
Vantage/Le Mans | |
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![]() Aston Martin Vantage V550 | |
Overview | |
Production |
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Assembly | United Kingdom: Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire |
Designer | John Heffernan |
Body and chassis | |
Body style |
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Powertrain | |
Engine | 5.3 L twin-supercharged V8 |
Transmission | 6-speed ZF manual |
As with many other Aston Martin models, a high-performance Vantage model of the Virage would later be introduced. First shown at Birmingham in September 1992, the Vantage was produced from 1993 through 2000 and, like many other Aston Vantage models would soon become the only variant available. The Virage name lasted just a few years, with its final descendants inheriting the simple and familiar V8 name.
The Vantage had new styling with only the roof, doors and wing mirrors shared with the Virage. The wing mirrors were later replaced in favour of the ones from the Jaguar XK8/XKR. The Vantage is wider, lower, used four round tail lights (later adopted for the base V8 Coupe), and featured new rear suspension and interior electronics. Like the 6.3, the Vantage used record-sized 362 mm (14 in) brake discs and 18 inch wheels. [8]
The biggest change to the Vantage was inside the engine compartment. The 5.3 L (5,341 cc) V8 engine now used twin superchargers. Power output was now 550 hp (410 kW; 558 PS), and the torque was equally high at 555 lb⋅ft (752 N⋅m) at 4,000 rpm. Top speed was 300 km/h (186 mph), with acceleration to 97 km/h (60 mph) taking 4.6 seconds. [8] Customers cars could be returned to Works Service starting in 1998 to be converted to V600 specifications, where the engine was upgraded to 600 hp (447 kW; 608 PS) at 6,200 rpm and 600 lb⋅ft (813 N⋅m) of torque at 4,400 rpm. [19]
In 2000, Aston Martin's Works Service unit also built nine bespoke Vantage Volante models (convertibles), one of which was built to long wheelbase specifications.[ citation needed ]
The new European emission and safety regulations made Aston Martin decide to end production of the V8-Vantage line and the final model was called "V8 Vantage Le Mans". Honoring Aston Martin's 1959 victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the prototype of a limited run of 40 was presented in Geneva in 1999 on the 40th anniversary of the win.
All Le Mans Vantages were sent back after delivery to have the engine modifications to deliver 612 PS (450 kW; 604 hp) and 820 N⋅m (605 lbf⋅ft) of torque, and were supported by a suspension reinforced with special Koni shock-absorbers and stiffer anti-roll bars. The bodywork featured a blanked-out front grille and modified side vents – replicating the side vents of the Le Mans winning DBR-1 – as well as a bigger front spoiler and rear skirt. [20] The interior was reworked with a large rev-counter, a special Titanium finish on some parts, and features such as heated windshield, parking radars, traction control, heated electric seats, and full Connolly leather upholstery with matching Wilton wool carpets. Wheels were the same Dymag magnesium units as seen on most V600s. Performance included a claimed top speed of 320 km/h (199 mph) and 0 to 100 km/h acceleration being achieved in 3.9 seconds. The keyholder was in sterling silver and a map from Newport-Pagnell to the legendary Le Mans track was provided in the delivery documents. Each car was made upon special commission and fitted with a number plate indicating also the name of the first owner. [21]
The Virage would not become available in the United States until the summer of 1990 and the Virage Volante convertible became available later in 1992. The later V8 Coupe version and the Virage Vantage were not officially offered for sale in the US. Availability was ended after the 1993 model year, due to the lack of passenger airbags and inability to meet emissions regulations. [22]
Aston Martin Virage | |
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Overview | |
Production |
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Assembly | United Kingdom: Gaydon, Warwickshire |
Designer | Marek Reichman |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 2-door coupe 2-door convertible |
Layout | Front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
Platform | |
Doors | Swan |
Related | |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 5.9 L AM11 V12 |
Transmission | 6-speed ZF 6HP 26 (Touchtronic II) automatic |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,741 mm (107.9 in) |
Length | 4,719 mm (185.8 in) |
Width | 1,905 mm (75.0 in) (without mirrors) |
Height | 1,280 mm (50.4 in) |
Kerb weight | 1,740–1,890 kg (3,836–4,167 lb) |
The Virage debuted in March 2011 at the Geneva Motor Show, [23] resurrecting the name first used on the model produced between 1989 and 2000. [24] The official series manufacture of the Virage coupe began in the same month [25] at the Gaydon facility in Warwickshire, England. Aston Martin stated that two hundred hours were spent on each unit at the Gaydon facility, seventy hours of which were on the interior. [26]
Designed by Aston Martin's design director Marek Reichman, [27] the Virage is based upon the "vertical/horizontal" platform, which employs extensive use of robust bonded aluminium. [28] The body structure comprises aluminium, magnesium and composite materials, [29] and its kerb weight ranges from 1,740 to 1,785 kilograms (3,836 to 3,935 lb). [30] [31] The Virage also incorporates anti-roll bars [29] and double wishbone suspension positioned at both the front and rear. [32] [33] The car's dynamics were refined through a new adaptive damper system that can switch through ten stiffness settings in the "Normal" and "Sport" modes. [23] The Virage's rear-wheel drive system with a front-mid engine layout improves weight distribution and performance. [34] [35] The Virage uses a 5.9-litre V12 engine, [32] shared with the DB9. [36] It generated 490 horsepower (370 kW) at 6,500 revolutions per minute (RPMs) and 420 pound-feet (570 N⋅m) at 5,750 RPMs. [37] [35] The DB9 can accelerate from 0 to 97 km/h (60 mph) in 4.6 seconds and has a top speed of 299 km/h (186 mph). [23] [28]
The Virage is considered both a grand tourer [38] [39] [40] and a sports car. [35] [41] It measures 4,719 millimetres (185.8 in) in length, 1,905 millimetres (75.0 in) in width, 1,280 millimetres (50 in) in height, and features a wheelbase that is 2,741 millimetres (107.9 in) long. [33] The Virage was designed to occupy the narrow space between the smaller DB9 and the larger DBS. [42] [43] It incorporates a two-door coupe body style, [31] and was available in both a two-seater or a 2+2 design. [23]
The Virage features a six-speed paddle shift automatic transmission developed by the technology company ZF Friedrichshafen called the "Touchtronic II", which is mounted in a rear transaxle. [44] The DB9 launched with 508 millimetres (20 in) wheels, with the front ones measuring 216 millimetres (8.5 in) in width and the rear ones at 279 millimetres (11 in). [33] Featuring P245/35R20 tyres in the front with P295/30R20 in the rear, [33] the DB9 includes carbon ceramic brakes with six-piston front callipers developed by Brembo. [45]
The Virage Volante is the convertible version of the Virage coupe model. The car's boot capacity is 172 L (6 cu ft), a 6.5 per cent decrease from the coupe. [46] The Volante version is 105 kilograms (231 lb) heavier, elevating its kerb weight to 1,890 kilograms (4,170 lb). [47]
In September 2014, Zagato revealed a one-off shooting brake at the Chantilly Arts & Elegance Concours d’Elegance. The car is based on the Aston Martin Virage. It was commissioned by a European client. It follows the same design cues as the Aston Martin DBS Coupe Zagato Centennial and Aston Martin DB9 Spyder Zagato Centennial. [48]
Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars and grand tourers. Its predecessor was founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. Steered from 1947 by David Brown, it became associated with expensive grand touring cars in the 1950s and 1960s, and with the fictional character James Bond following his use of a DB5 model in the 1964 film Goldfinger. Their grand tourers and sports cars are regarded as a British cultural icon.
The Aston Martin Vanquish is a grand tourer introduced by British luxury automobile manufacturer Aston Martin in 2001 as a successor to the Aston Martin Vantage (1993).
The Aston Martin DB9 is a two-door grand touring car produced by the British automaker Aston Martin.
The Aston Martin Lagonda is a full-size luxury four-door saloon manufactured by British manufacturer Aston Martin between 1974 and 1990. A total of 645 were produced. The name was derived from the Lagonda marque that Aston Martin had purchased in 1947. There are two distinct generations, the original, the short lived 1974 design based on a lengthened Aston Martin V8, and the entirely redesigned, wedge-shaped Series 2 model introduced in 1976.
The Aston Martin DB7 is a car that was produced by British luxury car manufacturer Aston Martin from September 1994 to December 2004. It was designed by Ian Callum and Keith Helfet as a grand tourer in coupé and convertible bodystyles. The prototype was complete by November 1992 and debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1993. The six-cylinder DB7 was positioned as an "entry-level" model below the hand-built V8 Virage introduced a few years earlier. This model was the most-produced Aston Martin automobile up to that point in time, with more than 7,000 built before it was replaced by the DB9 in 2004.
The VH Platform is Aston Martin's automobile platform that underpinned their grand tourers and sports cars. It served as the basis for Aston Martin's production cars up until the introduction of the Aston Martin DB11 in 2016, which featured an all-new bonded-aluminium platform that would underpin future Aston Martins. The VH platform was used in all of Aston Martin's lineup at the time excluding the One-77, which uses Carbon Architecture and the Cygnet which is based on the Toyota iQ. There are four variations of the VH platform.
The Aston Martin DB5 is a British grand tourer (GT) produced by Aston Martin and designed by Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera. Originally produced from 1963 to 1965, the DB5 was an evolution of the final series of DB4. The "DB" designation is from the initials of David Brown who built up the company from 1947 onwards.
The Aston Martin DB6 is a grand tourer made by British car manufacturer Aston Martin and was produced from September 1965 to January 1971. The "DB" designation is from the initials of David Brown who built up the company from 1947 onwards.
Lagonda is a British luxury car brand established in 1906, which has been owned by Aston Martin since 1947. The trade-name has not had a continuous commercial existence, being dormant several times, most recently from 1995 to 2008, 2010 to 2013, and 2016 onward.
The DB4 is a grand tourer that was produced by Aston Martin from 1958 until 1963..
The Aston Martin DBS is a grand tourer produced by the British manufacturer Aston Martin Lagonda Limited from 1967 to 1972.
The Aston Martin V8 is a grand tourer manufactured by Aston Martin in the United Kingdom from 1969 to 1989. As with all traditional Aston Martins, it was entirely handbuilt – with each car requiring 1,200 man-hours to finish.
The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is a British grand tourer, a higher performance version of the Aston Martin V8. It was hailed at its 1977 introduction as "Britain's First Supercar" for its 170 mph (270 km/h) top speed. Its engine was shared with the Lagonda, but it used high-performance camshafts, increased compression ratio, larger inlet valves and bigger carburettors mounted on new manifolds for increased output. Straight-line performance was the best of the day, with acceleration from 0–60 mph (97 km/h) in 5.3 seconds, one-tenth of a second quicker than the Ferrari Daytona.
The Aston Martin Vantage is a series of hand-built sports cars from the British automotive manufacturer Aston Martin. Aston Martin has previously used the "Vantage" name on high-performance variants of their existing GT models, notably on the Virage-based car of the 1990s. The modern car, in contrast, is the leanest and most agile car in Aston's lineup. As such, it is intended as a more focused model to reach out to potential buyers of cars such as the Porsche 911 as well as the exotic sports and GT cars with which Aston Martins traditionally compete.
The Aston Martin DBS is a grand tourer based on the DB9 and manufactured by the British luxury automobile manufacturer Aston Martin.
The Aston Martin DB11 is a car produced by British marque Aston Martin from 2016 to 2023. A grand tourer, it debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2016 as a replacement to the DB9. It is the first model launched in Aston Martin's 'second century' plan and the company's tie-up with Daimler AG.
The Aston Martin Vantage is a two-seater sports car built by British manufacturer Aston Martin since 2018. It replaces the previous model which had been in production for 12 years.
The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera, also sold as the Aston Martin DBS, is a grand touring car produced by British manufacturer Aston Martin since 2018. In June 2018, Aston Martin unveiled the car as a replacement to the second-generation Vanquish. It is based on the DB11 V12, but featuring modifications that differentiate it from the DB11 lineage. The DBS name was previously used for a model built from 1967 to 1972 and for the DB9-based DBS V12 between 2007 and 2012. In addition, the car also uses the Superleggera name which is a reference to Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera, who helped Aston Martin develop their lightest grand tourers in the 1960s and 1970s.
Aston Martin has made a number of mechanically similar V8 engines over the years, since the first one used in the Aston Martin V8 in 1969. They have been both naturally-aspirated and supercharged.
Although there may be a whiff of familiarity about the Virage, this is, without question, a very fine GT car