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Will these be 007's new wheels in the 23rd James
Bond film next year? Aston Martin previews the Virage
ahead of the Geneva Motor Show...
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Aston Martin Virage Unveiled
24th February 2011
The Aston Martin Virage combines the presence and formidable
performance of a V12-engined sports car with the comfort, convenience
and prestige of a true luxury car. Delivering an intoxicating blend
of imperious pace and cosseting sensory indulgence, every journey
is an experience to savour. Built around Aston Martin’s proven
all-aluminium structure for lightness and strength and powered
by a bespoke version of
the company’s iconic V12 engine, the Virage offers a new
twist to Aston Martin’s unique brand of performance.
Mated exclusively to a six-speed ‘Touchtronic 2’ automatic
transmission complete with paddle-shifters it is effortless to
drive in town and country alike, but offers the potential for
true driver involvement when the mood or opportunity arises.
In addition huge carbon ceramic brakes offer increased durability
and fade resistance for absolute stopping power.
In order to deliver the very highest standards of ride comfort
and handling the Virage features Aston Martin’s Adaptive
Damping System (ADS). Using electronically controlled dampers
that automatically adjust to provide the optimum settings to
suit driver input, speed and road surface quality, ADS also has
switchable Sport mode for maximum confidence during spirited
driving. These two modes broaden the Virage’s abilities
to impressive new levels. In its default setting ADS delivers
a beautifully supple ride, yet show it a challenging stretch
of road and a push of the ADS button into Sport mode enables
the Virage to step-up its game brilliantly.
Neatly fusing the full-blooded performance and striking looks
of a thoroughbred sports car with the effortless character and
lavish appointments of a luxury GT, the Virage is the perfect
choice for the discerning driver who demands comfort but also
desires genuine dynamism.
Performance
Hand-assembled at Aston Martin’s purpose-built engine facility
in Cologne, displacing 6.0-litres and delivering 490bhp and 570Nm
(420lb ft) of torque the Virage’s V12 engine is one of
the all-time great powerplants. Like all Aston Martins the Virage
is constructed using advanced techniques and lightweight materials.
The Virage also has its
engine mounted as far back in the chassis as possible for a front-mid-engined
configuration, which brings inherent advantages in both ride
and handling
Design
Assertive but not aggressive, elegant, graceful and quiet potency
characterise the design of the Virage. Its beauty and class are
as obvious as its formidable performance potential, yet there
is something impressively understated about the way in which
it draws your gaze. Where other designs ‘shout’ at
you the Virage’s clean lines and muscled physique have
rare visual magnetism.
A new hand-finished stainless steel grille, with elements shaped
like wing sections, new intake meshes and striking double xenon
headlights give the Virage a handsome face. A pair of recessed
bonnet vents provide subtle clues as to the rear-set positioning
of the front-mid-mounted V12 engine and are available in a choice
of two styles for added personalisation. The bolder of the two
options features a stepped design, reminiscent of a shark’s
gills, bringing added animation to the detailing.
In Volante form the Virage’s lines retain all the fluidity
and poise of the Coupe whether its roof is up or down. Made from
fabric and incorporating an additional layer of Thinsulate® material
to further muffle wind noise and give additional protection from
the elements, the electrically powered hood can be lowered or
raised with one touch of a button, at speeds of up to 30mph.
When stowed, the roof sits beneath a flush fitting tonneau cover
for optimum style and unobscured rearward vision.
Control
Every aspect of the Virage has been honed to make it effortlessly
capable. Sharing the same core Vertical-Horizontal (VH) architecture
as every series production Aston Martin the Virage is built around
a strong, lightweight aluminium structure that forms the ideal
basis for a perfectly balanced high performance car.
In addition to aluminium other advanced lightweight materials
such as magnesium and carbon composites have been used to keep
weight to a minimum. By mounting the engine as far back as possible
and mating it to a rear-mounted transaxle the Virage has near
perfect weight distribution. This results in some 85 per cent
of the vehicle mass being located between the front and rear
axles for an unrivalled sense of agility, stability and predictability.
The fitment of Carbon Ceramic Matrix (CCM) brakes brings benefits
beyond the obvious. More durable and with a greater resistance
to fade these CCM brake discs are also 12.5kg lighter than an
equivalent conventional cast-iron disc set-up. This significant
saving in unsprung weight and rotational mass improves both vertical
wheel control for greater ride comfort and also improves steering
response and braking performance thanks to a reduction in the
gyroscopic effect of a heavy brake disc spinning at high speed.
Measuring 398mm in diameter at the front and 360mm at the rear
these exceptional brakes also give the Virage tremendous stopping
power.
Craftsmanship
When it comes to craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail
an Aston Martin is like a fine piece of furniture, a Swiss watch
or a bespoke tailor-made suit. Nothing is rushed. Quality, and
not the clock, dictates the pace, whether it’s in the process
of assembling the engine, painting and polishing the bodywork
or stitching the upholstery. When it comes to building an Aston
Martin, perfection is the only acceptable standard.
Perhaps the finest example of this ethos is the Virage’s
leather interior. Even by Aston Martin’s standards it has
had extensive time and skill lavished upon it. New combinations
of colour and texture seduce and delight your senses, while an
expert machinist stitches every seam for absolute accuracy and
consistency. A bold new pinstripe welt on the seats and door
inserts is a feature unique to the Virage. A method taken from
hand-made shoe design, it’s a striking and hugely labour-intensive
technique, and something that adds yet more richness and craftsmanship.
Additional stitch detailing along the doors leads your gaze around
the cockpit, its smooth flow wholly reliant on the talent and
dexterity of our expert leatherworkers. The result is an interior
of exquisite quality and genuine artistry.
Engineering
Focussing on minimising mass from the start of the design process
results in a car that has natural athleticism. Acceleration and
braking, steering response and fuel efficiency all benefit from
such a philosophy. Freed from the dulling effects of excess weight
the Virage - like all Aston Martins - has a purity and
energy that marks it out as a truly engaging and exciting car
to drive. It feels alive as only a car with true sporting credentials
can.
Specifications
Body
Two-door coupe or soft-cover convertible top body style with
2+2 seating
Extruded bonded aluminium VH body structure
Aluminium, magnesium alloy and composite body
Extruded aluminium door side-impact beams
Single bi-xenon headlamps with integrated LED side lights and
direction indicators
LED rear lamps and side repeaters
Engine
All-alloy, quad overhead camshaft, 48-valve, 5935 cc V12
Front mid-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive
Fully catalysed stainless steel exhaust system with active bypass
valves
Compression ratio 10.97:1
Max power 365 kW (497 PS/490 bhp) at 6500 rpm
Max torque 570 Nm (420 lbft) at 5750 rpm
Acceleration 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 4.6 seconds
Maximum speed 186 mph (299 km/h)
Transmission
Rear mid-mounted, Touchtronic 2 six-speed automatic
gearbox with electronic shift-by-wire control system
Alloy torque tube with carbon-fibre propeller shaft
Limited-slip differential
Final-drive ratio 3.46:1
Steering
Rack and pinion, power-assisted steering, 3.0 turns
lock-to-lock
Column tilt and reach adjustment
Wheels and Tyres
20" 5-spoke alloy silver painted wheels
Front 8.5 x 20" Pirelli P Zero 245/35
Rear 11 x 20" Pirelli P Zero 295/35
Suspension
Front Independent double wishbones incorporating
anti-dive geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube
adaptive dampers
Rear Independent double wishbones with anti-squat and anti-lift
geometry, coil springs, anti-roll bar and monotube adaptive dampers
Adaptive damping system
Brakes
Front Ventilated Carbon Ceramic discs, 398 mm diameter
with six-piston calipers
Rear Ventilated Carbon Ceramic discs, 360 mm diameter with four-piston
calipers
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with Track mode
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
Emergency Brake Assist (EBA)
Traction Control (TC)
Standard Specification
Full-grain leather interior
Alcantara headlining
Walnut facia trim and Iridium Silver centre console finish
Memory seats and exterior mirrors (three positions)
Electrically adjustable Sports seats with side airbags
Powerfold exterior heated mirrors
Dual-stage driver / passenger front airbags
Heated seats (Sports seats only)
Heated rear screen
Automatic temperature control
Organic Electroluminescent (OEL) displays
Trip computer
Cruise control
Hard Disk Drive (HDD) satellite navigation system
Bluetooth telephone preparation
Glass ECU
LED map-reading lights
Front and rear parking sensors
Tyre-pressure monitoring
Alarm and immobiliser
Remote-control central door locking and boot release
Battery disconnect switch
Tracking device (UK only)
Boot-mounted umbrella
In-car entertainment
700W Aston Martin Premium Audio System
with Dolby® Pro Logic
II®
Integrated Apple iPod® connector
USB connector with Waveform Audio Format (WAF), Windows Media
Player (WMA) and MPEG (MP3) audio file compatibility
3.5 mm auxiliary input socket
Satellite radio system (USA only)
Exterior Options
20" 5-spoke alloy Graphite painted wheels
with diamond-turned finish
20" 10-spoke alloy Liquid Silver painted wheels
20" 10-spoke alloy Silver painted wheels with diamond-turned
finish
20" 10-spoke alloy Graphite painted wheels with diamond-turned
finish
20" 10-spoke alloy Satin Black painted wheels with diamond-turned
finish
Titanium' finish bonnet and side strake meshes
Bonnet louvres with 'Titanium' finish side strake meshes
Interior Options
2+0 seating (Coupe only)
Lightweight seats with six-way electrical adjustment (must be
ordered in conjunction with 2+0 seating configuration, not
available with heated seats feature)
Alternative facia trim finishes: Mahogany, Piano Black, Tamo
Ash, Nexus Alloy, Double Apex Alloy
Matching wood door trim (not available with alloy facias or B&O
BeoSound audio system options)
Personalised sill plaques
1000 W Bang &Olufsen BeoSound audio system with ICEpower
technology
Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror
Auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror with garage door opener
(Europe only)
Alarm upgrade (volumetric and tilt sensor)
Satellite radio system (Canada only) (excludes subscription)
Tracking device (UK Category 5)
First-aid kit
Trinket tray
Dimensions
Length 4703 mm (185.2”)
Width 1904 mm (75.0”) excluding mirrors; 2061 mm (81.1”)
including mirrors
Height Coupe 1282 mm (50.5”)
Height Volante 1289 mm (50.7”)
Wheelbase 2740 mm (107.9”)
Front track 1586 mm (62.4”)
Rear track 1581 mm (62.2”)
Turning circle 11.6 m (38 ft) (kerb to kerb)
Boot capacity Coupe 184l (6.5 cu ft)
Boot capacity Volante 152l (5.4 cu ft)
Fuel capacity 78 litres (17.15 UK gal/20.6 US gal)
Kerb weight Coupe 1785 kg (3935 lb)
Kerb weight Volante 1890 kg (4166 lb)
