Aston Martin Virage

Aston Martin Virage

Recommended. Aston Martin adds the Virage between the DB9 and DBS. It's no half way house though - the Virage is the best of the three.

There are few real surprises in the car industry, but Aston pulled off a genuine one at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show when it unveiled the Virage. With its styling only mildly tweaked over its DB9 relative the new Aston was quickly overlooked at a show where an all-new Ferrari and Lamborghini were among the debuts. Ignoring the Virage, though, is to do a disservice to the extensive work Aston has done to create this car.

Reviving a badge last used in the early 1990s, the Virage slots in between the existing, recently facelifted DB9 and more extreme DBS. Its specification underlines its position in the range, with its 6.0-litre V12 increasing marginally in power to produce a maximum output of 490bhp.

With a shape as universally revered as the DB9 to begin with, Aston's designers have been understandably subtle with the styling revisions. There are headlamps borrowed from the Rapide, situated in re-profiled front wings. Around the back there's a new rear bumper and exhaust housing, while the Virage's flanks feature a more definite swage line under the doors and more obvious vents in the front wings. Large 20-inch alloy wheels with Carbon Ceramic Matrix brakes behind them complete the visual changes outside.

The interior follows the same improvement agenda, with minor tweaks adding up to a more cohesive whole. The single biggest leap forward though is the adoption of an entirely new Aston Martin and Garmin developed sat nav system. It replaces the horrifically outdated system that remains elsewhere in Aston's range.

It's under the skin where the Virage really exhibits the work Aston has undertaken to develop this new car. The newly developed Adaptive Damping System is a revelation, with its supple ride yet brilliant control allowing the Virage to carry its easily gained pace with impunity. It does so while retaining the grand touring credentials of its DB9 relation, while adding some of the more intoxicating pace and involvement of the DBS. Job done then.