2012 Aston Martin Virage Review

The next cool thing: We head to Spain to review the 2012 Aston Martin Virage.

Ronda, Spain — There are, perhaps, a handful of car manufacturers that stand above the rest in terms of cool factor. Now, the cool factor is difficult to pin down because it’s largely subjective, but given that this particular soapbox is mine, allow me to provide my thoughts on the criteria.

The ultimate cool factor comes down to this: heritage, design, racing success, and exclusivity. Tick all four boxes, and you’re in like flint; fall down in just one of the categories, and you run the risk of being an also-ran. Allow me to expand on this theory.

2012 aston martin virage review
2012 Aston Martin Virage. Photo: Aston Martin

Related: Aston Martin DB9 GT Bond Edition for the 007 Fans

While manufacturers such as Porsche or Mercedes-Benz or BMW have some undeniably cool cars in their fleet, they also have some models that miss the mark—mainly because of such mundane considerations as functionality and affordability. (And since when was functionality or affordability ever cool?) On the other hand, let’s take a glance at Aston Martin.

First, their cars are expensive across the board—the cheapest rings in at over $135K—so they’ve covered the exclusivity angle. Racing success? They contested the very first Le Mans 24 Hours in 1931 and have returned, on and off, ever since, scoring numerous top finishes along the way. Design: some of the sexiest cars in the business, full stop. Heritage? Check: in business since 1913 and arguably stronger than ever. (And let’s not forget: the preferred ride of a certain secret agent.)

2012 aston martin virage review
2012 Aston Martin Virage. Photo: Aston Martin

Being considered ultra-cool is very good for the health of any brand—and the purveyors of fine automobiles at Aston Martin Lagonda Limited know this all too well.

Example: On the surface of it, the 2012 Aston Martin Virage may not appear to make a lot of sense. After all, they already had no fewer than three V12-powered sport coupes in the line-up (the V12 Vantage, DB9 and DBS), so the addition of a fourth seems more than a little curious.

2012 Aston Martin Virage. Photo: Aston Martin

Combine this with the fact that all four are based on the same platform, all have roughly the same acceleration (give or take) and all share a striking family resemblance (more or less), and you have the potential for some genuine confusion.

Allow me to shed some light: The Virage slots into the Aston Martin roster, in terms of both price and performance, directly above the venerable DB9 and directly below the raucous DBS. (For the purposes of this explanation, it’s best to disregard the V12 Vantage, which is more of a purebred sports car than a sport coupe better suited to touring.)

Aston Martin Virage Power and Performance

2012 aston martin virage review
2012 Aston Martin Virage. Photo: Aston Martin

Let’s take a closer look: The 6.0-litre V12 shoehorned under the car’s deliciously carved hood develops 490 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. All this power and torque is routed to the rear wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission. The estimated time for the Virage to reach 100 km/h from a standing start is 4.6 seconds, while the top speed is a credible 299 km/h.

The act of taking the next gear manually is accomplished using paddle shifters, and the effect is suitably racy, particularly when the engine is allowed to soar above 4,000 rpm when it takes on a far more menacing tone. Sure, the second gear is too low, or the third gear is too high (take your pick), but otherwise, the acceleration is certain, uninterrupted, and no small amount of fun.

2012 aston martin virage review
2012 Aston Martin Virage. Photo: Aston Martin

All the heavy-duty components of the Virage (engine, transmission) are placed towards the centre of the sleek coupe to preserve a perfect 50:50 weight distribution and, thus, contribute towards razor-sharp handling. While this latest Aston is no slouch in terms of pace (see above), it’s in the handling department where the car truly shines.

The car is equipped with an adaptive suspension system with no fewer than five settings ranging from extreme performance to supreme comfort. Powering along a dusty, marbled, secondary road in rural Spain at some 150 km/h, the Virage simply sticks around corners.

2012 Aston Martin Virage. Photo: Aston Martin

Even in the sportiest setting, the suspension system absorbs every imperfection in the road, allowing the car to settle quickly and completely, and leaving the driver feeling in total control. Similarly, the steering delivers a dissertation on precision: Neither too numb nor too direct, it exhibits just the right degree of feel and refinement for this type of car.

The 2012 Aston Martin Virage is not for everyone—and that’s the point. With a starting price of around $225,000 for the coupe (a convertible version called the Volante will cost more), it’s got that exclusivity factor built right in.

2012 aston martin virage review
2012 Aston Martin Virage. Photo: Aston Martin

But if you have the means, the Virage is certainly capable of generating temptation: Far less expensive than the DBS and with a chiseled exterior design that makes the DB9 look a bit staid, this newest Aston is a fine addition to the manufacturer’s offering.

Plus, if you happen to be behind the wheel of a Virage on a deserted stretch of road under a blue Spanish sky, you may just find yourself cackling like a madman at the thought of your good fortune. I know I did.

Pros:

  • Sleek styling
  • Precise handling
  • Aston Martin cachet

Cons:

  • Makes the DB9 redundant
  • looks too much like other Aston Martins

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Author:
Mark Hacking
Mark Hackinghttps://www.markhacking.com/
Mark Hacking is an award-winning car, motorcycle and motorsports journalist whose work has appeared in Azure, enRoute, Intersection, NUVO and Toro, among many others. He is the former editor of Performance Racing News, the former managing editor of DRIVEN, and a member of both the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada and the Motor Press Guild of California. An avid racer, Mark is a three-time podium finisher at Targa Newfoundland and, this past season, raced in the VLN Series at the Nürburgring with the factory Aston Martin team. His motto in life: Drive fast, take chances.