The Giza pyramids. The Eiffel tower. Cameron Diaz. Certain things age well, with enduringly fresh styling that’s resistant to the capricious ebbs and flows of fashion.
If you were feeling uncharitable you could accuse Aston Martin’s newest chariot, the Virage, of being just another spin on a styling theme first introduced on the Vantage six years ago. But the fact that (in this writer’s humble opinion) this styling theme has remained as fresh as Eskimo lettuce, and as head-turning as Miss Diaz herself, makes a compelling reason for Aston Martin not to fiddle with the design.
My sentiments were shared by the large number of motorists and pedestrians who snapped the pearlescent white Virage with their camera cellphones when I drove it in Johannesburg recently. Elegant and assertive without being too aggressive, the finely-curved coupé tends to stop people in their tracks.
DISTINCTLY SPORTY EDGE
The aluminium-bodied Virage is based on the Aston Martin DB9 and sportier-edged DBS, but is positioned in-between. The intention was to create a fine gentleman’s sportscar that has the polished manners of a grand tourer with a distinctly sporty edge, and I think they’ve succeeded.
The engine behind the devilishly sexy grille is the same 5.9-litre V12 that powers the other two models, but tuned to deliver 365kW and 570Nm which the factory says is good for a sea level 0-100km/h sprint of 4.6 seconds along with a 299km/h top speed.
Enthusiastically hoofing the throttle delivers very spirited forward progress and great tractability, allowing you to out-sprint and out-overtake most other road users at leisure.
An automatic six-speed Touchtronic2 auto transmission ensures hot-knife-through-butter gearshifts, with paddles on the steering wheel for those who wish to flick manually. The transmission’s rear-mounted in a transaxle layout, and a limited-slip differential ensures maximum traction out of tight corners.
MILD TO WILD
To tune it into your driving mood the Virage’s suspension, throttle sensitivity and gearshift points can all be adjusted from mild to wild at the press of a button, while the exhaust-bypass valves also open earlier to liberate the V12’s vocals. While suitably sonorous, the Virage delivers its war cry in a polite and polished manner, without being over-the-top loud.
Apart from the enthusiastic acceleration the Virage’s meaty steering is a high point of the driving experience. It’s not electronically over-assisted and doesn’t leave you feeling detached from the intricacies of driving.
The carbon ceramic discs fitted as standard are stupendously effective too, and can take repeated racetrack punishment without fading.
ELEGANCE AND AGGRESSION
If I was expecting walnut-veneered, earthy tones in the cabin, the Virage delivered the opposite to warm-and-cosy. It’s a very techno look with plenty of aluminium and clear glass, but without feeling too clinical because it’s presented with the brand’s typically expensive-looking, double-stitched flair.
The glass key fob - auto jewellery unique to Aston Martin - is a delightful touch.
It’s a car that marries elegance and aggression. Beautiful, but with a fierce kick lurking ‘neath that charming facade - kinda like Miss Diaz in Charlie’s Angels.
The Virage is available in South Africa as a coupé selling for R2.8-million and a Volante (convertible) for R3-million. - Star Motoring