Above: Aston Martin Virage Coupe
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Above: Aston Martin Year of the Drago
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The Aston Martin Virage

Revived in 2011, the Aston Martin Virage is truly stunning, and a welcome addition to the Aston Martin range of some of the most beautiful cars on the road.

Sitting between the DBS and DB9, the Virage is available in two models, the Coupe and Volante convertible. Standard equipment includes heated seats (Sports seats only), cruise control, satellite navigation, Bluetooth telephone preparation, and the 700W Aston Martin Premium Audio System with Dolby™ Prologic II™ and full iPod™ Integration.

The Virage is powered by a hand-assembled, naturally aspirated, V12 engine. The V12 displaces 6 litres and delivers 490 bhp and 570 NM (420 lb ft) of torque, with eighty-percent of peak torque being attained at just 1500 rpm. With a top speed of 183 mph and acceleration from 0-62 mph in 4.6 seconds, the Virage is one of the fastest GTs in the world.

Like the V8 Vantage S and DB9, a manual gearbox is not available for the Virage but is available as an option on the DBS. The standard ‘Touchtronic 2’ 6-speed automatic gearbox is controlled by highly polished dedicated glass switches for park, reverse, neutral, and drive mounted in the facia. Operable in automatic mode or manual mode, using magnesium leather clad paddle shifters mounted on the steering column, the automatic gearbox is well suited for drivers in the traffic-prone Washington D.C. Metropolitan area.

For more spirited driving, the Virage features a Sport mode. With a push of a dedicated glass switch, the Virage becomes even more eager to please. The Virage is also equipped with a new Adaptive Damping System (ADS). Each damper has five individual computer controlled stiffness settings. Sensors placed around the car are continuously monitored to determine the most appropriate settings at any given time. By pressing a glass ADS switch, the driver can override the system and instruct the system to place the dampers into a firmer range of settings.

With the construction and pot hole ridden roads in the region, the 200 plus man-hours spent handcrafting each Virage becomes readily apparent. The fit and finish of the Virage is truly top notch. When encountering any bumps in the road, the Virage felt exceedingly sturdy without a creak or rattle to be heard.

The Virage provides great feedback and a feeling of being connected to the road, without the need to sacrifice comfort. Road imperfections while noticeable, were not intrusive and never detracted from the driving experience. The Virage is so comfortable to drive that it is surprisingly suitable as a daily driver.

The optional Bang & Olufsen audio system, which fortunately was equipped in the test driven model, sounded so crisp that it was hard to decide between listening to the roar of the V12 engine and the thirteen active speakers, including two acoustic lenses that enable a wide (180°) horizontal dispersion of high frequencies. The two acoustic lenses even rise out of and retract into the dashboard when the sound system is powered on/off.

The fit and finish of the Virage is not only skin deep. Each car is painted and finished by hand with up to nine applications of paint, taking more than fifty man-hours. Seventy man hours of expert craftsmanship are spent on the interior of each Virage. As a result, everything in the Virage exudes unbridled luxury, such as the inviting aroma of the expertly hand stitched seven hides of the finest Bridge of Weir leather.

The Virage is not your typical car, and its operation is no exception. To start the Virage, the glass ECU is inserted into a slot provided between the dedicated glass transmission switches. When inserted into the key slot, the ECU doubles as the Engine Start/Stop button. Holding down the brake pedal and pressing in the ECU causes the V12 to roar to life.

Limited Edition

For 2012, to commemorate the most auspicious year in the Chinese Zodiac, the Virage is available in the Year of the Dragon 88 Limited Edition. Aston Martin unveiled the Dragon 88 at the 2012 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition. This limited edition is only available to a privileged 88, and only on the DBS, Virage, and V8 Vantage S models.

Each limited edition model incorporates details and designs inspired by traditional Chinese dragon imagery, including exclusive color and trim combinations, a gold theme, and a headrest embroidery design based on the left-most dragon on the Nine-Dragon Wall in Beihai Park, Beijing. The limited edition comes with more standard features, such as the acclaimed 1000W Bang & Olufsen audio system.

From the blissful sounds of the engine and Bang & Olufsen audio system, luxurious interior, high performance, and exquisite styling, the Virage is definitely worth considering for anyone with the means (suggested retail price of test-driven model, $232,905.00). Luckily for anyone interested, there is an Aston Martin dealership located in Tysons Corner, Virginia with a new six-car showroom scheduled to be completed this fall.